B737-800
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Inflight Event / Encounter Loss Of Aircraft Control; Inflight Event / Encounter Wake Vortex Encounter
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Regained Aircraft Control; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Procedure
Descending around 13;500 [feet]; [aircraft] hit the wake turbulence of B787 heavy. Had 9 mile spacing. Autopilot disengaged. Aircraft went into upset recovery; I was Pilot Flying; [I announced] 'My aircraft' [and] took over manually. Stabilized aircraft; was cleared descend via. [I] had to offset and depart STAR to gain control; notified ATC; ATC vectored us for RNAV 26R.  Landed uneventfully; no injuries; no damage. Winds were just right to put us into the wake; spacing was adequate however we encountered wake anyway. [When using] descend via following a heavy; ATC should provide offset vectors and descent instructions to keep above and upwind of heavy. Recommend a 1;000 ft. difference above the heavy as we follow it in for approach with an offset of 2 miles upwind. That should keep a good separation to avoid wake.
Reporter stated that even with 9 miles spacing the wake was significant.
B737-800 Captain reported encountering wake turbulence on descent into MIA in trail of a B787.