MIAMI -- Marlins high-leverage reliever Anthony Bender is done for the season, manager Clayton McCullough announced following Tuesday night’s 7-4 loss to the Cardinals at loanDepot park.
Earlier in the day, Miami placed Bender on the 15-day injured list with right tibial stress reaction (retroactive to Monday) and recalled lefty Cade Gibson from Triple-A Jacksonville.
According to the National Institutes of Health, “medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) is a frequent overuse lower-extremity injury in athletes and military personnel. MTSS is exercise-induced pain over the anterior tibia and is an early stress injury in the continuum of tibial stress fractures. It has the layman's moniker of ‘shin splints.’”
Bender pitched twice over the weekend in Boston, most recently working out of trouble in Sunday’s ninth inning to collect his fourth save of the season.
Bender said on Wednesday that he had grown accustomed to the chronic pain in the mornings, but it reached a tipping point following the series finale at Fenway Park. He will rest and recover over the next couple of months and be ready for Spring Training in February.
“I think it was just everything, just pitching,” Bender said. “Just a pitching injury. Not one certain pitch, not a certain throw, just over time, something that came out, probably started in Spring Training, not knowingly, and didn't really have the time to recover from it. More of a bone issue than a muscle issue.”
The 30-year-old Bender, who was the subject of trade rumors ahead of the Trade Deadline, recorded a 204 ERA+ and leads Miami in holds (19). He was just 11 1/3 innings (50) and nine appearances (51) shy of his single-season career highs.
Bender became the third key contributor to land on the IL in as many days, joining Graham Pauley and Kyle Stowers. Miami’s relief corps has been without lefty Jesus Tinoco (right forearm strain) and Andrew Nardi (lower back inflammation) for an extended period.
In Bender’s absence, the Marlins will need another reliever to step up in the later innings. Righties Ronny Henriquez and Calvin Faucher have been the club’s main closing options, with righties Lake Bachar and Tyler Phillips primarily used in the middle frames.
“We're going to miss Anthony,” McCullough said. “You look at his entire body of work this year, and he really put together a fantastic season. Unfortunate to be missing Anthony, but guys will have to step up and contribute.”
Added Bender: “You always want to stay healthy throughout the season. It's a big task. Season's long, it's grueling. Finishing with no injuries is always a great feeling. So, we'll try again next year.”
Gibson hopped on a plane to Miami around noon and arrived ahead of Tuesday’s game, joining Josh Simpson as the only southpaws in the bullpen.
After posting a 1.80 ERA through the first 17 outings of his big league career, the 27-year-old Gibson scuffled over his next 10 games (7.45 ERA) and received a demotion to Triple-A Jacksonville on Aug. 8. He worked with Jumbo Shrimp pitching coach Rob Marcello on keeping his momentum going to the plate and being confident in his stuff.
In two outings for Jacksonville after getting sent down, Gibson tossed three scoreless innings.
“It was just consistency of being in the zone, not trying to be too perfect and kind of getting back to when I was first here in May,” Gibson said. “It was more like being on the attack, trying to keep guys off-balance and not [being] too picky. Just throw it in the zone and whatever happens, happens. I kind of tried to get too picky towards the end when I got sent down. So just working on that.”
After right-hander Edward Cabrera was chased in the fifth on Tuesday, Gibson helped out the bullpen by tossing a career-high 3 2/3 innings on 42 pitches. He allowed an unearned run on no hits with two strikeouts.
Miami needed just one other arm -- righty Tyler Zuber -- to throw a scoreless ninth to finish the game.
“Give me the ball and I just try to go out there and do my best,” Gibson said. “I thank God every day for a healthy body, and [I'm] just trying to keep that health through the rest of the year. I take pride in the opportunity to pitch anytime, anywhere. It doesn't matter where, so just glad to be able to get back out there and kind of save some arms.”