Puk gave up a hit and struck out the side in a scoreless ninth inning during Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Royals.
The Marlins erased a save opportunity by scoring three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, but with Puk already warmed up, manager Skip Schumaker elected to stick with his closer for the top of the ninth. It was the southpaw's first appearance since coming off the injured list Tuesday, and it looks like he'll immediately bump Dylan Floro back to setup duty despite being sidelined for nearly a month. Puk sports a 2.87 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and impressive 22:3 K:BB through 15.2 innings on the season.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Activated from injured list
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Miami activated Puk (elbow) from the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Puk will return to the Marlins' bullpen Tuesday night against the Royals after missing a little over three weeks due to a mid-May diagnosis of left elbow nerve irritation. He had been operating as Miami's primary closer prior to the IL stint and should eventually recapture a share of that role, though Dylan Floro probably remains worthy of rostering in most fantasy leagues as the situation unfolds.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Heads out on rehab assignment
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Puk (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Double-A Pensacola, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Puk could reclaim a majority share of the Marlins' closer role by the weekend, assuming all goes well on the farm. He had posted a sharp 3.07 ERA and 19:3 K:BB through 14.2 innings this season with Miami before landing on the injured list May 14 due to left elbow nerve irritation.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Throwing bullpen Saturday
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Puk (elbow) will throw a 20-pitch bullpen session before Saturday's game against the Angels, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Puk continues to work his way back from nerve irritation in his left elbow. If things continues to go well for the southpaw, he could be back as Miami's closer around the start of June, but he also may need a rehab assignment before he's ready to return to action.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Throwing from 90 feet
Rotowire
Puk (elbow) has upped his throwing distance to 90 feet, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
The left-hander was placed on the 15-day injured list Sunday with left elbow nerve irritation, but the fact he's already resumed throwing is a positive sign. Puk could be back as the Miami closer before the end of May.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Placed on IL with nerve irritation
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Miami placed Puk on the 15-day injured list Sunday with left elbow nerve irritation, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Puk last pitched Wednesday against the Diamondbacks, with manager Skip Schumaker previously attributing the southpaw's absence to a case of dead arm. Miami provided an updated diagnosis for Puk on Sunday, and he'll now be in line to miss at least a couple weeks while he recovers from he nerve issue. With the southpaw unavailable, Dylan Floro and Tanner Scott will likely see most of the save opportunities for the Marlins.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Dealing with dead arm
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Manager Skip Schumaker said Puk is experiencing some dead arm and may not be available Sunday against the Reds, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
The left-hander hasn't pitched since Wednesday in Arizona, when he picked up his sixth save of the season with a scoreless ninth inning. The Marlins have a team off day Monday, so it wouldn't be surprising if Schumaker tries to say away from Puk during Sunday's series finale in an attempt to get him two extra days of rest. Tanner Scott and Dylan Floro are the likely options to step in for a save chance if Puk is unavailable.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Notches sixth save
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Puk gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth inning Wednesday to record his sixth save of the season in a 5-4 win over the Diamondbacks.
The southpaw helped make history by locking down the victory, as the Marlins are now 12-0 in one-run games to begin the season -- the longest winning streak in games decided by one run in modern baseball history. Puk has been scored upon in only three of 15 appearances this season, and he's emerged as a solid closing option for Miami with a 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 19:3 K:BB through 14.2 innings.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Blows first save
Rotowire
Puk (3-1) blew his first save of the season and took the loss Saturday as the Marlins were downed 4-2 by the Cubs, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits over one-third of an inning. He struck out one.
The southpaw was victimized by bad luck and bad defense, as Yuli Gurriel committed an error to open the inning before Trey Mancini got credit for a double on a routine fly that Peyton Burdick lost in the sun. Puk has now been tagged for multiple runs in two straight appearances after reeling off a 10-inning scoreless streak, bumping his ERA on the season up to 3.46. However, his 15:3 K:BB through 13 IP remains strong, and he seems to be in little danger of losing his grip on the closer's role for Miami.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Grabs fifth save
Rotowire
Puk picked up the save in Sunday's 4-3 victory over the Cubs, tallying a strikeout in a scoreless inning.
Puk has now pitched 11 consecutive scoreless innings. He's allowed just one run this season, coming on Pete Alonso's homer on March 31. Puk is a perfect 5-for-5 in save chances with a 0.75 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 13:2 K:BB. He's firmly established himself as the full-time closer in Miami.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Earns second win
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Puk (2-0) earned the win in Thursday's 5-4 victory over Atlanta, striking out one in a scoreless inning.
The Marlins brought Puk into the game in the eighth inning down 4-0, getting their closer some work as he hadn't pitched since Saturday. However, the southpaw would end up with the win after the Marlins rallied for five runs in the bottom half of the frame. The 28-year-old has been solid early in the season, allowing just one run in 10 innings while going 4-for-4 in save chances with a 0.80 WHIP and 10:2 K:BB. Puk seems to have locked down the closing role in Miami.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Collects fourth save
Rotowire
Puk walked one and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Saturday to record his fourth save of the season in the second game of a doubleheader sweep of the Guardians.
After the Marlins took the matinee 6-1. The nightcap proved to be a tighter affair, but Puk was able to preserve a 3-2 victory. Since being scored upon in his Miami debut, the southpaw reliever has reeled off seven straight appearances without allowing an earned run to lock down the closer role, and on the season Puk sports a 1.00 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB through nine innings.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
We've had to dance around the issue with save opportunities being so scarce for the Marlins, but after his second save in as many days (and third overall), I'm ready to say A.J. Puk is the closer. Every one of his seven appearances has been to finish out a game, and he's never once entered prior to the ninth inning. And while the Marlins may not make for ample save chances, Puk is a better reliever than they've tried in the role in recent years, a hard-throwing lefty with a genuine swing-and-miss arsenal. Manager Skip Schumaker telegraphing the role so plainly makes it easy to invest in Puk at a time when so many bullpens offer so much uncertainty.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Earns third save
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Puk picked up the save Tuesday against the Giants. He allowed one hit while striking out two in a scoreless ninth inning.
Puk worked around Wilmer Flores' leadoff single, striking out a pair to secure his third save of the season and his second in as many days. The left-hander has pitched seven consecutive scoreless innings since allowing a run in his first outing of the season. Puk appears to have claimed the lead closing job in Miami, with Dylan Floro pitching the eighth Tuesday. The 27-year-old Puk is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB through eight innings to start the year.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Secures second save
Rotowire
Puk recorded his second save of the season Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning in the win against the Giants.
Puk entered the game in the ninth inning, protecting a slim 4-3 lead in the series opener with San Francisco. The 27-year-old started the inning by giving up a single to Joey Bart but quickly regained his composure and retired LaMonte Wade, Brandon Crawford and Thairo Estrada to secure his second save of the season. While Puk's performance is a positive sign for the Miami bullpen, he will likely continue sharing the closer role alongside Dylan Floro and Tanner Scott.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Notches extra-inning win
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Puk (1-0) picked up the win in Wednesday's 3-2 extra-inning victory over the Phillies, giving up one hit and striking out two over two scoreless innings.
After Dylan Floro worked a shutout eighth inning, Puk entered a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth and needed only 23 pitches (18 strikes) to record his six outs. The southpaw has looked good to begin his Marlins tenure, posting a 3.60 ERA and 6:1 K:BB through his first four appearances and five innings with a win and a save. While manager Skip Schumaker figures to play matchups to some extent in the late innings, Puk has been his top high-leverage option so far.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
There really isn't a doubt that the best reliever in the Marlins bullpen is newly acquired A.J. Puk, who had a 3.12 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 for the Athletics last season. So when he's also the one called in for the team's first save chance, as happened Friday, it's easy to dream big. Officially, the Marlins are taking a by-committee approach to the ninth inning, so an investment in Puk now may ultimately end in frustration. Or he could be a breakout closer who becomes a reliable source of saves for you. Him having an early foothold makes him worth the gamble.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Collects first save of season
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Puk recorded his first save of the season Friday, giving up a run on one hit and striking out two in the ninth inning of a 2-1 win over the Mets.
Called upon to protect a 2-0 lead, Puk served up a solo shot to Pete Alonso on a 95 mph fastball that caught too much of the plate, but he also whiffed Francisco Lindor and Mark Canha. Dylan Floro worked the eighth inning with the Mets' 8-9-1 hitters due up, and while it might be too early to draw any conclusions about new manager Skip Schumaker's tendencies, the fact that Puk was held back for the heart of New York's order is a strong sign he's viewed as the Marlins' top relief arm.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Dominant spring continues
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Puk walked one and struck out three in a scoreless eighth inning during Friday's split-squad game against the Cardinals.
The southpaw continued an outstanding spring that has seen him post a 7:1 K:BB through three scoreless innings. Puk figures to be one of the Marlins' top high-leverage relievers this season and in the mix for saves as new manager Skip Schumaker deploys a closer committee, but the fact that Dylan Floro worked ahead of him Friday in the sixth inning -- when St. Louis still had most of its starters in the lineup -- could be a sign the right-hander remains ahead of Puk in the pecking order.
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Marlins' A.J. Puk: Makes spring debut
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Puk (groin) struck out two over a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 7-2 win over the Nationals in Grapefruit League play.
Puk, whom the Marlins acquired in February in a deal that sent outfielder JJ Bleday to Oakland, made his spring debut over the weekend after he had been slowed by left adductor tightness in the early stages of camp. Prior to being dealt to Miami, Puk was expected to compete for a spot in Oakland's rotation, but the lefty's new organization appears to view him as a candidate for a high-leverage role out of the bullpen. The Marlins look set to enter Opening Day without a designated closer, so Puk could quickly enter the mix for saves if he can consistently turn in dominant outings like the one he turned in Friday.
