A.J. Puk DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Arizona Diamondbacks left-handed reliever A.J. Puk (elbow) is throwing out to 75 feet, according to manager Torey Lovullo. It is to be determined when he'll throw a bullpen session, but Puk hasn't had any setbacks to this point as he makes progress from inflammation in his left elbow that has kept him out since April 17. The 30-year-old southpaw is not eligible to return from the 60-day injured list until July 1, so he has a ways to go before he'll be able to rejoin the back end of Arizona's bullpen. When healthy, though, Puk is one of the club's top options for saves. The former first-rounder had a 3.38 ERA, a 1.25 WHIP and four saves while striking out 12 and walking two in eight innings over his first eight appearances this year before his injury. Until Puk is able to return from the IL, expect right-hander Justin Martinez to see the lion's share of save opps in the desert.

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said on Monday that left-handed reliever A.J. Puk (elbow) is expected to pick up a baseball later this week or early next week and resume throwing. Puk complained of left-elbow stiffness after his outing on April 17 and underwent an MRI exam before being placed on the injured list on April 19 with left-elbow inflammation. The 30-year-old southpaw was later shifted to the 60-day IL on May 1, which means he cannot return to the major-league roster as a late-inning bullpen piece until early June. In the meantime, the D-backs could get righty reliever Justin Martinez (shoulder) back from his IL stint later this week. Whenever Puk is able to return to the Snakes, the D-backs figure to continue mixing and matching with him and Martinez in save situations. Puk had a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, four saves and 12 K's in eight innings pitched before his injury.

The Arizona Diamondbacks transferred left-handed reliever A.J. Puk (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on Thursday, according to the team. Puk is on the shelf with a left-elbow flexor strain, although he won't need to go under the knife. Still, the 30-year-old southpaw is facing an extended absence, and Arizona's bullpen could be in trouble with right-hander Justin Martinez (shoulder) landing on the IL on Thursday. Fantasy managers may want to expect a closer-by-committee setup in the desert now with sav options including Ryan Thompson (he picked up the save on Wednesday, Shelby Miller and Kevin Ginkel. Puk will surely be in the mix for save chances again when he's fully healthy, but that might not be until sometime in June. He had a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, four saves and 12 strikeouts in eight innings before his injury.