The Marlins placed Bender on the paternity list Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Bender will be allowed to spend three days away from the team while he spends time with his expanding family. Tyler Zuber was recalled from Triple-A Jacksonville in a corresponding move to fill the open spot in Miami's bullpen.

Bender struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Saturday to record his third save of the season in a 3-1 win over the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough continues to mix and match his high-leverage options, as none of them have really stepped up to seize the closing job. Calvin Faucher blew a save chance in the ninth inning Friday, while Ronny Henriquez worked the eighth inning both Friday and Saturday, leaving the ninth to Bender in the latter contest. Two of Bender's saves on the season have come since July 7, and he's riding an 11-appearance shutout streak in which he's posted a 0.62 WHIP and 10:4 K:BB over 11.1 innings with two wins and five holds. That impressive stretch could earn him more save chances, but it could also make him a prime candidate to get moved at the trade deadline.

Bender recorded one out to pick up the save in Monday's 5-1 win at Cincinnati.

EDGE Analysis

After Miami reliever Lake Bachar, who collected a save Saturday against Milwaukee, failed to collect a three-inning save this time out by finishing the ninth inning, Bender entered with two outs and two runners on to wrap things up. The 30-year-old required only three pitches to fan Reds outfielder Austin Hays and notch his second save of the season. The Marlins bullpen has been difficult to navigate, with seven different relievers tallying saves so far, led by Calvin Faucher (eight) and Ronny Henriquez (five). Henriquez remains the favorite to garner future chances based on his recent usage, but Bender, with his 2.11 ERA in 38.1 innings, could enter the mix as well.

Bender (1-5) took the loss Thursday against the Phillies, giving up one run on one hit in two-thirds of an inning.

EDGE Analysis

After entering a 1-1 game with one out in the eighth inning, the right-hander left a 96.7 mph sinker over the middle of the plate that Kyle Schwarber crushed 428 feet to right-center field for the winning run. Bender hasn't struck out a batter in five straight appearances, and all three of the homers he's served up this season have come in June. Over 6.1 innings this month, he's stumbled to a 7.11 ERA and 3:2 K:BB, although he has managed to collect four holds in seven trips to the mound.

Bender worked a scoreless seventh inning without a walk or a strikeout to record his eighth hold of the season in Tuesday's win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander entered the game to protect a 3-0 lead and needed only nine pitches (seven strikes) to dispatch Pittsburgh's 5-6-7 hitters. Bender has a career-low 20.0 percent strikeout rate through 27.1 innings this season and a 10.0 percent walk rate that's just a tick below the career-worst 10.3 percent mark he posted in 2022, but he's generating enough weak contact to make it work, posting a 1.98 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He hasn't recorded a save since April 1, however, and seems stuck in a setup role ahead of current top closing option Calvin Faucher.

Bender (1-2) took the loss Sunday against the A's, giving up a run on two hits in an inning of relief. He struck out two.

EDGE Analysis

Entering a 2-2 tie to begin the ninth inning, Bender served up a one-out triple to rookie Nick Kurtz before Tyler Soderstrom ripped an RBI single back up the middle. Jesus Tinoco worked a scoreless seventh inning and Calvin Faucher a clean eighth, and while it's encouraging the manager Clayton McCullough held Bender back for a potential save situation in the ninth, the right-hander's performance of late hasn't warranted that trust. Bender's been tagged for a run in four of his last nine appearances, posting a 4.15 ERA, 1.73 WHIP and 8:5 K:BB in 8.2 innings over that stretch with two losses and two blown saves against zero saves and just one hold.

Bender gave up a hit in a scoreless eighth inning to record his second hold of the season in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander continues to be a reliable -- if not exactly dominant -- high-leverage arm in the Marlins' bullpen. Bender has a 1.80 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 7:5 K:BB through 10 innings with one win and one save in addition to his holds, but he hasn't been called upon to protect a ninth-inning lead since April 1. Calvin Faucher and Jesus Tinoco appear to be the preferred closing options for manager Clayton McCullough at the moment.

Bender (1-1) was charged with a blown save and a loss Friday as the Marlins fell to the Nationals, giving up one run on two hits and a walk in the eighth inning. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

The Marlins' bullpen squandered a 4-2 lead over the final two frames in an eventual 7-4 loss, with Bender throwing most of the gas on the fire. After Anthony Veneziano put the first two hitters aboard to begin the eighth, Bender got the call and walked the bases loaded before serving up a one-out double to Nathaniel Lowe that cleared the bases. The run was the first charged to Bender in 6.1 innings this season, but his 3:3 K:BB has been far from dominant. Calvin Faucher hasn't pitched since Tuesday and might be in line to get Miami's next save chance, although his 8.31 ERA and 3:4 K:BB over 4.1 innings don't make him an appealing high-leverage option right now either.

Bender walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday during a 4-0 win over Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

While it wasn't a save situation, it was still another sign that the right-hander is viewed as the best high-leverage option in the bullpen right now by the Marlins. Calvin Faucher, Bender's main competition for closing duties, recorded the final two outs of the eighth Saturday. Bender hasn't given up a run in four appearances to begin the season, but his 2:2 K:BB in 3.2 innings has been far from dominant.

Bender retired the only two batters he faced to earn a save against the Mets on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Bender entered the game with two runners on base and needed just four pitches to close out the 4-2 win. Anthony Veneziano originally began the ninth inning before getting into trouble. Bender is the first Marlin to record a save this season, and the bullpen situation seems pretty fluid. He's turned in 2.2 scoreless innings in three appearances.