Puk was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with left elbow inflammation.
Puk secured his fourth save of the season during his most recent outing against Miami on Thursday, but he appears to have come away from his appearance with elbow troubles. The left-hander will now be sidelined for at least 15 days, though the Diamondbacks will have a better idea of how long his recovery will take once he undergoes an MRI on Monday, per Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona. Justin Martinez will likely become the primary option for saves while Puk is out.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Notches save No. 4
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Puk struck out one and allowed a hit during a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Marlins.
Puk was handed a 6-4 lead and managed to escape unscathed after giving up a leadoff double to Griffin Conine. The left-hander has now secured four of Arizona's six saves this season, giving him a slight edge in the closer committee over Justin Martinez, who converted the other two and closed out the seventh inning Thursday. Puk needed 21 pitches to get through the frame and has now thrown 36 pitches over the past two days, which could affect his availability for Friday's series opener versus the Cubs.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Collects third save
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Puk picked up the save in Sunday's 5-2 victory over Milwaukee, pitching a scoreless inning with three strikeouts and a walk.
The flamethrowing southpaw required 24 pitches to polish off the Arizona win, as he allowed two baserunners to reach via a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Puk last completed a save April 2, with Justin Martinez, a right-hander, picking up a pair in between. Puk and Martinez are likely set to continue sharing save opportunities based on matchups against opposing lineups.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Earns eighth-inning hold
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Puk allowed one hit and struck out one over one inning to earn a hold in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.
Puk worked around a hit and a stolen base to record his second hold of the season. He entered the eighth inning with two lefties due up and served as the bridge to Justin Martinez, who recorded the save. It was the second straight save situation where Puk worked the eighth and Martinez the ninth. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named a closer and appears to be calling on the lefty Puk or righty Martinez depending on the matchups.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Hangs on for second save
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Puk picked up a save against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one batter over one inning.
Arizona held a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, initially rendering Puk's services unnecessary. However, Ryan Thompson allowed the first two batters in the frame to reach base, at which point Puk was called upon to put out the fire. He instead stoked the flames by serving up a one-out, three-run homer to Anthony Volpe, but the lefty reliever then retired the final two batters he faced to close things out for Arizona. It's noteworthy that Puk got his second save chance in two days while Justin Martinez pitched the eighth inning Tuesday, though it also bears mentioning that in both instances Puk was brought in at a point when the Yankees were due to send up multiple left-handed batters. Manager Torey Lovullo hasn't yet announced a full-time closer, and he may opt to determine save chances based on matchups; that said, Puk appears to at least be the Diamondbacks' closer of choice when the situation calls for a lefty, though he's now allowed two homers over his first three outings of the campaign.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Secures first save
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Puk allowed a solo home run in one inning but earned a save over the Yankees on Tuesday. He struck out two.
Puk was tasked with protecting a 7-4 lead in the ninth inning. He struck out the first two batters he faced before coughing up a solo shot to Ben Rice. Puk has punched out four batters in two innings but has also allowed a pair of hits and a walk. He converted the first save for Arizona this season and appears to be the main candidate for ninth-inning work.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Makes season debut
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Puk allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Sunday's 10-6 win over the Cubs.
It wasn't a save situation for Puk, who made his season debut in the top of the ninth inning after the Diamondbacks took the lead an inning earlier, courtesy of an eight-run rally. Nothing has changed with respect to Arizona's closer situation. Manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named one and will continue to trot out Puk and Justin Martinez for late-game, high-leverage situations.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: No closer named yet
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo may not name a closer before the start of the regular season, leaving Puk, Justin Martinez and Kevin Ginkel as candidates to earn saves, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Lovullo insists that his preference is to have one primary closer, but he feels all three candidates are throwing the ball well. He wants to take more time, possibly into the regular season, to evaluate options. Lovullo also mentioned Joe Mantiply while musing on various matchup scenarios for the late innings.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Throws scoreless inning
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Puk walked one and struck out one over a scoreless inning in Monday's split-squad game against the Angels.
Arizona had its top two closer candidates working in separate split-squad games Monday. Both Puk and Justin Martinez worked scoreless innings, and both have pitched worthy of being the team's primary closer to start the regular season. Puk owns a 1.50 ERA with three walks and nine strikeouts over six Cactus League innings. Martinez has the same number of walks and strikeouts over the same number of frames, but a 4.50 ERA thanks to one bad outing. Kevin Ginkel (1.69 ERA) could also factor into the closing decision. Settling on a closer is one of the items on manager Torey Lovullo's to-do list in the final week of spring training.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Continues blemish-free spring
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Puk allowed one hit and struck out two over one scoreless inning in Saturday's spring game against the Reds.
Puk worked a scoreless fifth inning and has yet to allow a run over four Cactus League innings. He's given up two hits and two walks while striking out five. The left-hander was followed by righty Justin Martinez, who gave up three runs over a third of an inning. The two are considered the front-runners for save opportunities this season in Arizona.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Part of closer auditions
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Puk struck out two over a scoreless third inning in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo trotted out his three potential closers Tuesday, with Puk's inning sandwiched by Kevin Ginkel (second inning) and Justin Martinez (fourth). All three pitched scoreless frames. Martinez was the primary closer over the final two months last season but had a shaky September and walked more than four batters per nine innings. Meanwhile, Puk was electric after being acquired at the trade deadline, posting a 1.32 ERA and 0.73 WHIP with two saves over 30 outings with Arizona.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Collects third save
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Puk gave up a hit and struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning Friday to record his third save of the season in a 7-4 win over the Brewers.
A Diamondbacks reliever hadn't recorded a traditional save since Sept. 3, but with the team protecting a three-run lead Friday, Justin Martinez was deployed in the seventh inning to face the heart of the Brewers' order, while Ryan Thompson got the eighth and Puk handled the ninth. If Martinez is moving into a highest-leverage role rather than being held back for the ninth, it could open up a save chance or two over the final week of the season for Puk, who is on an impressive roll -- he's hasn't been tagged for a run since Aug. 2, posting a 0.53 WHIP and 34:3 K:BB over his last 20.2 innings with two saves and five holds.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Winds up with save
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Puk picked up the save Sunday against Pittsburgh, striking out one during two-thirds of a perfect inning.
Puk took over with runners on the corners and one out after Ryan Thompson yielded an RBI single to Bryan Reynolds to bring the Pirates within one run. Puk got the Diamondbacks out of the jam, retiring Oneil Cruz and Bryan De La Cruz to end the game and pick up his first save for Arizona. With Paul Sewald being removed from the closing role, it's been Thompson who's received the first two save chances. However, Thompson has allowed a run in both appearances, which could open the door for Puk to see some ninth-inning work.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Pitches in sixth inning
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Puk allowed one run on three hits over one-third of an inning in Friday's 9-8 win over the Pirates.
Puk entered to clean up a mess made by Kevin Ginkel in the sixth inning but couldn't prevent the Pirates from taking the lead. Both Puk and Ginkel were speculated as options to close out games after manager Torey Lovullo announced earlier in the day that Paul Sewald would no longer be the club's closer. Ryan Thompson eventually closed out the win after Arizona retook the lead, but Lovullo, who did not specifically name a replacement for Sewald, trusts all three of those relievers.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Opening for saves
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Puk and Kevin Ginkel are the favorites for save opportunities after Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo removed Paul Sewald from the closer role Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Puk has recorded a hold and has five strikeouts in three scoreless appearances since being acquired by Arizona last week, and the closer role is now open after Sewald's rough July. Lovullo didn't name a replacement, but Puk and the right-handed Ginkel are the likeliest candidates to take over. Ryan Thompson could also be involved.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Makes Arizona debut
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Puk allowed one walk and struck out one over a scoreless eighth inning in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Pirates.
Puk made his debut for the Diamondbacks after being acquired from the Marlins on Thursday. The left-hander was brought in to face the top of the Pirates order, which included three right-handed batters, so it would seem manager Torey Lovullo is comfortable using the new reliever against all hitters. Puk becomes the second lefty out of the bullpen along with Joe Mantiply, who typically gets opponents' toughest lefties and can now get a break. Puk will join other setup arms, like Kevin Ginkel, Justin Martinez and Ryan Thompson.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Heading to Arizona
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The Diamondbacks acquired Puk from the Marlins in exchange for Deyvison De Los Santos and Andrew Pintar on Thursday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
After beginning the season in Miami's rotation and posting a 9.22 ERA in four starts, Puk was moved to the bullpen upon returning from the injured list in mid-May. He's been dominant in a relief role this season, logging a 2.08 ERA and 0.76 WHIP with a 33:6 K:BB in 30.1 innings. He'll provide needed fortification to the back of the Diamondbacks bullpen, as closer Paul Sewald has struggled for much of July. Puk seems likely to start out in more of a setup role but could be a factor for saves, especially if Sewald is unable to get back on track.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Hit with loss in relief
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Puk (0-7) took the loss Sunday against the Guardians, coughing up three runs on three hits in a third of an inning.
Entering the game in the seventh inning with the score tied 2-2, Puk gave up a couple one-out singles before Tyler Freeman got hold of a sweeper on the inside corner of the plate and pulled it over the left-field fence. Puk's fortunes haven't improved much since he came off the IL in mid-May and returned to the bullpen -- over his last 11 innings, he's stumbled to a 4.91 ERA with a 6:3 K:BB.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Returns from injured list
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The Marlins activated Puk (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Monday.
It's been a little more than three weeks since Puk landed on the IL with left shoulder fatigue, but he's ready to return after yielding two runs with a 7:0 K:BB over 3.2 innings across his four minor-league rehab appearances. Puk struggled mightily as a member of the Miami rotation earlier this season, but he'll be used in relief in his return from the IL and should eventually see usage in high-leverage spots.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Starts up rehab assignment
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Puk (shoulder) made the second appearance of his rehab assignment with the Marlins' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate Monday, striking out two over a scoreless inning.
Puk has turned in identical two-strikeout perfect innings in the FCL since he started up his rehab assignment Friday. The left-hander broke camp as a member of the Miami rotation, but after turning in a 9.22 ERA and 2.63 WHIP over his four starts before landing on the injured list April 20 with shoulder fatigue, he'll work out of the bullpen once the Marlins activate him. Puk could settle into a high-leverage role in front of closer Tanner Scott right away upon his return to the big club.
