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Okert will operate as the Astros' opening pitcher in Monday's series opener against the Dodgers, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Okert will make his first start of the 2026 campaign, helping bridge the gap in Houston's rotation ahead of Peter Lambert's expected start Tuesday. The right-hander has appeared in 16 contests so far this season, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with nine strikeouts over 14 innings. It's unclear who will follow Okert out of the bullpen as the team's bulk pitcher against Los Angeles, but Colton Gordon is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Sugar Land and handle that role.
Okert agreed to a one-year, $2.325 million contract with the Astros on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander had a successful first year in Houston during 2025, recording one save and 11 holds with a 3.01 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 84:19 K:BB across 71.2 innings. Okert should operate as part of the setup mix for the Astros again in 2026.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Serving as opener Tuesday
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Okert will serve as the Astros' opening pitcher in Tuesday's game versus the Marlins, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Okert will cover the first inning or two before handing things off to AJ Blubaugh, who is expected to be the bulk reliever. The left-handed Okert has had a dynamite season out of the Astros' bullpen, registering a 2.90 ERA and 59:11 K:BB over 49.2 frames.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Excellent start to season continues
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Okert allowed one hit with no walks and no strikeouts across two scoreless innings Monday against the Royals.
Monday's outing was Okert's 17th of the season and his 15th scoreless appearance. He's backed that up with an excellent 24:3 K:BB across 22 innings. Despite his success, Okert hasn't typically been used in high-leverage spots and has only two holds on the campaign.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Contract selected
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The Astros selected Okert's contract from Triple-A Sugar Land on Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Okert earned a bullpen spot following a stellar spring in which he tossed 10.2 scoreless innings with a 16.2 K:BB. He will be utilized in middle relief.
Astros' Steven Okert: Signs minors deal with Houston
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Okert signed a minor-league contract with the Astros on Nov. 5.
Okert appeared in 44 games for the Twins in 2024, putting up a 5.09 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 35.1 innings -- his worst statistical season since 2017. The 33-year-old southpaw will have an opportunity to bounce back with the Astros organization, though he will likely need to redeem himself at Triple-A Sugar Land before getting a chance to pitch for Houston.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Outrighted to Triple-A
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The Twins outrighted Okert to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday.
Okert cleared waivers after being designated for assignment and will remain in the organization as left-handed relief depth. He holds a 5.09 ERA and 33:16 K:BB over 35.1 frames this season at the major-league level.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Dropped from 40-man
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The Twins designated Okert for assignment Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.
Okert will lose his spot in the Twins' bullpen after posting a 5.09 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 35.1 innings on the season. Scott Blewett was promoted from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the open roster spot.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Returns from bereavement leave
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The Twins reinstated Okert (personal) from the bereavement list Monday.
Right-hander Randy Dobnak was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster for Okert, who was away from the team for the past week while tending to the personal matter. Okert has mostly operated as a middle-relief arm for the Twins this season, logging a 4.45 ERA and 1.48 WHIP to go with three wins, one save and six holds over 30.1 innings.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Away from team
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The Twins placed Okert (personal) on the bereavement list Monday.
Okert will be away from the team for up to seven days as he tends to personal issues. In his stead, Josh Winder was called up from Triple-A St. Paul to serve out of the bullpen. Okert has a 4.45 ERA in 30.1 innings with the Twins this season.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Opening Wednesday's contest
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Okert will serve as the Twins' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Phillies, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
Wednesday will mark Okert's first start of the season and just the third of his MLB career. The 33-year-old southpaw has recorded more than three outs in just three of his 34 appearances this season, so he's unlikely to work more than two innings before giving way to David Festa, who is expected to be called up from Triple-A St. Paul to serve as a bulk reliever.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Scoreless inning in win
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Okert allowed one hit and one walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning in Saturday's 5-1 victory over the Mariners.
Okert started the season somewhat slowly with a 3.97 ERA and six walks in 11.1 innings in his first 13 outings. He's since posted a 2.57 ERA with just four walks in 14 innings since May 11. While his 8.5 K/9 is down from an 11.2 K/9 last season, he's still been productive with a low 2.6 BB/9 and 1.11 HR/9. He's become a steady setup man for the Twins but isn't used in many high-leverage situations to earn holds or saves.
Okert earned the save in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Dodgers, allowing one hit while recording a strikeout in a scoreless inning.
It's the first save in seven big-league seasons for Okert. The Twins appear to be utilizing a committee approach in the late innings with Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the injured list. Griffin Jax, Minnesota's primary high-leverage option, worked the eighth inning Wednesday against the middle of the Dodgers' lineup. The left-hander Okert has allowed one run on five hits and a pair of walks while logging seven strikeouts through his first four innings this season.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Was set for save chance
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Okert threw a scoreless ninth inning in Wednesday's win at Milwaukee with a walk and three strikeouts. He would have be in line for a save had the Twins not scored in the top of the ninth inning. "At that point in the game, Okert with the experience was probably the answer," manager Rocco Baldelli told the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Griffin Jax, who has Minnesota's only save with Jhoan Duran (oblique) on the injured list, was used in the eighth inning against the heart of the Brewers' lineup. While Okert isn't likely to get many save chances, he appears to be in the high-leverage mix and could see some ninth-inning opportunities when Baldelli is playing matchups.
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Twins' Steven Okert: Headed to Minnesota
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The Twins acquired Okert from the Marlins on Sunday in exchange for utility player Nick Gordon, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert spent the last three seasons in Miami, most recently compiling a 4.45 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with 73 strikeouts over 58.2 innings in 64 appearances, including two starts, in 2023. The southpaw will now look to carve out a late-inning role with the Twins heading into his seventh major-league campaign.
Marlins' Steven Okert: Avoids arbitration with Marlins
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Okert signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Marlins on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Okert threw a career-high 58.2 innings in 2023 and maintained a 4.45 ERA to go along with a 1.26 WHIP. His 73:24 K:BB was more impressive, and he should shoulder a heavy workload in the Marlins' bullpen once again in 2024.
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