Outlook Anthony Bender
Anthony Bender continues to dominate in a high-leverage setup role for the Marlins
Bender has been in excellent form, posting a stingy 1.98 ERA and an impressive 15.82 K/9 over his last 30 days of work. The 42-39 Marlins currently sit third in the NL East and are riding a two-game win streak into a critical weekend series. With Andrew Nardi and Josh Ekness on the injured list, Bender’s role as the primary setup man in the Miami bullpen is more secure than ever.
Looking at his full season performance, Bender’s 3.37 ERA and 1.20 WHIP are outperforming our season projections, while his strikeout efficiency has spiked significantly compared to previous years. While his current 13.15 K/9 may see some slight regression toward his career baseline, his high-leverage usage is bankable given the Marlins' reliance on him to bridge the gap to the ninth inning.
The Marlins conclude their week with a three-game series in St. Louis starting tonight, and our models project Bender to contribute nearly two holds over these remaining matchups. He has already earned a hold this week and remains a priority play in leagues that reward relief appearances outside of traditional saves. Expect him to be busy against a Cardinals team that is also fighting for a Wild Card spot. Verdict: Start.
Updated 1 day ago
