The Arizona Diamondbacks have placed left-handed pitcher A.J. Puk (elbow) on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow inflammation. The 29-year-old last appeared in a contest on April 17 and did not show any signs of an injury. Through his first eight innings of the campaign, Puk has posted a 3.38 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. He has tallied four saves, two holds, and held a 12:2 K:BB. Puk has typically alternated save opportunities with right-hander Justin Martinez. However, with Puk hitting the injured list, fantasy managers should expect Martinez to be the clear top ninth-inning option in the desert. In addition, this will likely open eighth-inning duties for Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks. Both relievers are viable targets in deeper formats that reward holds.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher A.J. Puk earned his fourth save of the campaign on Thursday afternoon during their 6-4 victory over the Miami Marlins. The southpaw entered the contest in the final frame. Puk allowed a leadoff double to designated hitter Griffin Conine. However, he would then retire the next three batters he saw to shut the door. He would tally one punchout. Throughout the early part of the campaign, the Diamondbacks have provided both Puk and right-hander Justin Martinez with save opportunities. However, Puk appears to be the slight leader in the committee as he has earned four of the six saves. Across eight innings of work, Puk has struck out 12 batters and held a 3.38 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP. He remains a solid option in all standard formats as he should continue to see ample save opportunities on a competing Diamondbacks team.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher A.J. Puk closed out his team's 5-2 win on Sunday to earn his third save of the season. He has pitched six innings in six games this season and has three saves and two holds. He had a three-run lead when he entered on Sunday and struck out the side, although he did let the tying run come to the play after hitting Joey Ortiz with a pitch and walking pinch hitter Isaiah Collins. He buckled down and struck out the top two hitters in the Brewers' lineup, though, fanning Brice Turang and then getting Jackson Chourio swinging at a high fastball to end the game. Puk and Justin Martinez continue to share closing duties for the Dbacks and are in a platoon in the eighth and ninth innings, based on the matchup. Both have been effective this season, and the situation allows them to each produce both holds and saves.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher A.J. Puk had a wild ride in the ninth inning against the Yankees on Wednesday night, but he managed to close out the team's second straight win in the Bronx. Puk entered the ninth inning with nobody out after Ryan Thompson allowed singles to Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge. Puk got Jazz Chisholm Jr. to fly out to RF but then allowed the inherited runners to score on a three-run blast off the bat of Anthony Volpe. The home run made the score 4-3 but Puk was able to retire Austin Wells and strike out Jasson Dominguez to secure the win and earn his second save. He is the only member of the Diamondbacks bullpen with a save this season and seems to be in the primary closer role ahead of Justin Martinez at least for now.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher A.J. Puk converted the team's first save opportunity of the season in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Yankees. Puk came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three. He got the first two outs on strikeouts, allowed a solo home run, and got the final out on a line-out. The 29-year-old came into the season jockeying for save opportunities with Justin Martinez, who struck out the side in the eighth inning of the game. Both players offer plenty of strikeout upside, although Martinez did spend some time last season as the team's closer and recently signed a five-year, $18 million extension. The Diamondbacks should see plenty of save opportunities this season, so until one player grasps the closer's role, both are worth rostering in at least all roto leagues at this time.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, left-handed relief pitcher A.J. Puk and the Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to a one-year, $2.95 million contract to avoid salary arbitration. Puk began the 2024 campaign in the Miami Marlins rotation but struggled as he posted a 9.22 ERA and a 2.63 WHIP across four starts. He was then placed on the injured list with a shoulder injury and was moved back to the bullpen when he returned. Puk returned to form in the bullpen and was eventually shipped to Arizona to help them down the stretch. Across 57 2/3 innings of relief, the southpaw posted a stellar 1.72 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP. He struck out batters at a strong 29.9% rate and generated an impressive 2.72 xERA and a .197 xBA, which were both within the 90th percentile among qualified pitchers. Fantasy managers should expect Puk to compete for save opportunities with Justin Martinez in the Arizona bullpen in 2025.
Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher A.J. Puk was called upon to hold a one-run lead versus the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. Originally, Ryan Thompson started the ninth inning but got into trouble which forced manager Torey Lovullo to change pitchers. Puk got the final two outs of the game to earn himself his second save of the season. The closer role is wide open in Arizona right now. That being said, Puk could be in line for more save chances if he continues to pitch well.
Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk Closes Door Against Pirates
Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander A.J. Puk got the final two outs of the team's 6-5 victory over the Pirates on Sunday. The newly-acquired reliever notched his second save of the season and first with the Diamondbacks after the team shifted from Paul Sewald in the closer role. Sewald got the win after pitching a scoreless sixth inning Sunday. Puk has been pretty good since joining Arizona before the trade deadline and could be an interesting arm if he continues to get save opportunities. He struck out one in his two outs during Sunday's outing and has six strikeouts over four innings with his new team and has given up just one run.
The Arizona Diamondbacks are acquiring left-handed reliever A.J. Puk from the Miami Marlins for infield prospect Deyvison De Los Santos and outfield prospect Andrew Pintar. Puk has been a lights-out setup man for the Marlins since transitioning back to the bullpen this year following his disastrous stint as a starter, posting a 2.08 ERA and 0.76 WHIP with 33 strikeouts and six walks over his last 30 1/3 innings. The 29-year-old southpaw, who is making $1.8 million in 2024, has two more years of arbitration eligibility before he can become a free agent and will join Joe Mantiply as the only lefties in the D-backs' bullpen. Puk has closing experience and gives Arizona another option in high-leverage situations alongside stopper Paul Sewald as the club looks to make a postseason push, and his fantasy value remains virtually unchanged with the move. If anything, his stock slightly drops since he could've taken over as Miami's closer if Tanner Scott were dealt.
Miami Marlins relief pitcher A.J. Puk closed out the Detroit Tigers in Tuesday's extra-inning win, tossing a clean 10th inning for his first save of the year. It was actually closer Tanner Scott who was called upon for the ninth inning in a scoreless game, which indicates he's still the preferred ninth-inning man, but this was certainly an encouraging performance out of Puk. The 29-year-old left-hander pumped in nine of this 13 pitches for strikes in Tuesday's sharp outing and just his second appearance since coming off the injured list with a shoulder issue, lowering his ERA to 8.40 with a 2.40 WHIP and a ghastly 12:17 K:BB across 15 innings for the Marlins this season. Puk is worth keeping an eye on in all fantasy leagues, as he appears to be the next in line for save opportunities out of Miami's bullpen in situations where Scott may be unavailable.
A.J. Puk
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Diamondbacks
