A.J.

Puk

Puk might have done better here if he hadn’t gone 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA as a starter to open last season. After moving back to the pen, he had a stellar 1.72 ERA in 57 2/3 innings for the Marlins and D-backs. He should again be an elite reliever, but he’ll probably take a backseat to Justin Martinez when it comes to saves, at least initially.

Puk allowed a hit, so whether he struck out the side or not is up to you. Regardless it was a strong outing for the 29-year-old southpaw, and it gives Puk his third save and first since August 2. Puk has outstanding stuff, and if ever given a full-time closer role, it’s easy to see him ranking among the better closing options as long as he stayed healthy.

Martinez got the call to protect a narrow one-run margin in the 10th inning after Ryan Thompson was saddled with a blown save the previous inning when he surrendered a game-tying sacrifice fly that sent the contest to extra innings. He intentionally walked José Ramírez to put runners on the corners before striking out Josh Naylor and David Fry to preserve the victory. The hard-throwing 23-year-old righty should continue to factor into Arizona’s closing mix alongside Thompson and newly-acquired A.J. Puk moving forward, which makes him an interesting addition in deeper mixed leagues where every potential save is extremely valuable.

Ryan Thompson started the ninth inning here and got into trouble. So, Torey Lovullo called on Puk with Oneil Cruz up and two men on. Puk challenged Cruz with fastball after fastball and worked his way back from a 3-0 count to strike him out before getting Bryan De La Cruz to pop out to end the game. This closer job is up for grabs right now and Puk may have done enough to earn another shot at it.

Lovullo didn’t rule out the possibility of Sewald regaining the role eventually, but the Diamondbacks are going to turn to some of their alternatives moving forward. It was Ryan Thompson who was summoned to protect a two-run lead on Friday night in Pittsburgh, but we’re assuming Justin Martinez, Kevin Ginkel and newly-acquired A.J. Puk will be in the mix for save chances moving forward.

Puk was a bust as a starter at the beginning of the year, which has left him with mediocre numbers, but since coming off the IL and returning to the pen in May, he has a 2.08 ERA and a 33/6 K/BB ratio in 30 1/3 innings. He should be an excellent setup man for the Diamondbacks, who will have him under control through 2026. With Tanner Scott almost certainly to follow Puk out of town, Calvin Faucher now might be the favorite for saves in Miami in August and September.

It’ll be slugging prospect Deyvison De Los Santos heading to Miami along with minor league outfielder Andrew Pintar. It’s a phenomenal landing spot for Puk to settle in as a high-leverage complement to veteran stopper Paul Sewald. The 29-year-old southpaw has been a revelation in relief over the last few months since moving to a full-time relief role back in mid-May, compiling a sparkling 2.08 ERA and 33/6 K/BB ratio across 30 1/3 innings (28 appearances). Meanwhile, the Marlins pick up an extremely intriguing power-hitting prospect in De Los Santos, who boasts a stratospheric 1.011 OPS with 28 homers in 87 games this season between Double-A Amarillo and Triple-A Reno. The biggest question he’ll need to answer for fantasy managers is whether his plate skills are strong enough to survive at the highest level.

He’s back! After Puk was a disaster as a starting pitcher to begin the year, the Marlins transitioned him back to the bullpen while he was on a rehab assignment and then immediately thrust him into high-leverage outings. Tanner Scott did pitch the ninth in a tie game on Tuesday, but he also allowed one hit and walked one which has been par for the course for him this year. For his part, Puk allowed three soft fly outs to strand the extra runner in the bottom of the tenth inning and secure the save. There’s certainly a chance he claims back the closer role from Scott, so he should be added in all leagues just in case.

Puk was a starter before going down with shoulder fatigue, but that went badly and he should be in the pen for good now. He might wind up closing for the Marlins later this season if and when Tanner Scott is traded, though if he’s throwing well, it’s very likely that Puk will be sent elsewhere, too.

Puk has been shifted back to the bullpen indefinitely after scuffling out of the gate in Miami’s starting rotation and has looked sharp in a couple rehab appearances in relief. The 29-year-old southpaw figures to return at some point in the next few weeks, if not sooner.