Okert (hamstring) is not included on the Astros' wild-card roster against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
Okert has been out since early September while recovering from a strained right hamtring. He threw a bullpen session Monday, but it wasn't enough to convince the Astros he was ready. Okert could be in play for the ALDS, should his club advance.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Could return for wild-card round
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Okert (hamstring) threw a bullpen session Monday and could be included on the Astros' wild-card series roster against the White Sox, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Okert has been shelved since early September with a right hamstring strain, but it sounds like the Astros could get one of their better relievers back in time for the playoffs. The left-hander has logged a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 68:14 K:BB over 67.2 innings this season.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Won't return in regular season
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Okert (hamstring) will not return from the injured list before the end of the regular season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Okert has been dealing with a hamstring strain since Sept. 4 and isn't scheduled to resume throwing off a mound until next week. He'll then require additional bullpen sessions and PFP drills before being cleared to return, and there simply won't be enough time to squeeze all of that in before the regular season ends Sept. 27. The door is still open for him to return at some point during the postseason, if the Astros secure a spot.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Shelved by hamstring strain
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The Astros placed Okert on the 15-day injured list Friday with a right hamstring strain, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
It's unclear when Okert was hurt, but he hasn't pitched since Monday. He's been dynamite out of the Houston bullpen this season, logging a 2.13 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 68:14 K:BB over 67.2 innings. Bryan King will absorb Okert's spot on the roster and in the bullpen.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Notches sixth hold
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Okert secured his sixth hold Thursday after pitching a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in a 5-1 win over Texas. He hit a batter but did not allow any hits or walks.
Okert entered in the seventh inning and recorded the final out of the frame before returning for the eighth, when he induced a popout and plunked a batter before being pulled. It was the 34-year-old's third straight scoreless appearance out of the bullpen. The left-hander holds a 3.75 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 21:8 K:BB through 24 innings on the campaign.
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Astros' Steven Okert: Set to open Monday's contest
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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 17 contests so far this season, posting a 4.20 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 10 strikeouts over 15 innings. The Astros haven't specified whether a pitcher will work in bulk relief behind Okert, but Ryan Weiss is the freshest arm in the bullpen who's capable of covering multiple innings.
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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.
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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: 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: Earns first save
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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.
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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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Marlins' Steven Okert: Hit with loss as opener
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Okert (3-1) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, coughing up three runs on four hits in only one-third of an inning.
Getting the nod as the opener in a bullpen day, Okert gave up doubles to the first two batters he faced before Anthony Santander crushed a slider over the center-field fence. Long balls have been an issue for the southpaw reliever lately -- he's served up three homers in his last 9.1 innings, posting a 6.75 ERA and 1,39 WHIP over that stretch despite a 13:2 K:BB. Okert already has 10 holds and three wins in 38 appearances on the season, but his grip on a set-up role could be tenuous.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Opening on Sunday
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Okert will serve as an opener for the Marlins on Sunday in Baltimore, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Johnny Cueto seems to be a good bet to serve as a bulk reliever in the game. Okert has been fantastic for the Marlins this season, holding a 2.53 ERA and 43:11 K:BB over 32 relief innings.
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Marlins' Steven Okert: Needs two more rehab outings
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Okert (groin) is scheduled to make a pair of rehab appearances at Triple-A Jacksonville on back-to-back days this week before being activated from the 15-day injured list, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Okert's ability to pitch on consecutive days will be the final hurdle he needs to clear before the Marlins are comfortable adding him back to the big-league bullpen. The 31-year-old should profile as one of the Marlins' top left-handed options out of the bullpen after he logged a 2.98 ERA over 51.1 innings while gathering 19 holds in 2022.
