NL West: Martinez locked in as ARI closer after Puk injury?

Arizona Diamondbacks

The elbow injury for Diamondbacks' LHP A.J. Puk looks to have solidified the position of RHP Justin Martinez as the team's closer for the time being. Puk hit the 15-day IL after experiencing left elbow inflammation following his April 17 appearance. He underwent an MRI on April 21 and the Diamondbacks are seeking a second and potentially third opinion on the results prior to making any announcement on a prognosis. This certainly doesn’t appear promising for a short stint on the IL.

But Martinez was unavailable in the Diamondbacks' April 22 game against the Rays with what is being described as shoulder fatigue. He has not pitched since April 17. Manager Torey Lovullo said Martinez is “very, very close” to 100%,...

Almost!

You’re just a few clicks away from accessing this feature and hundreds more throughout the year that have a singular goal in mind: Winning your league. Subscribe to BaseballHQ.com here!

Already a subscriber? Sign in here

More From PT Tomorrow

Using BaseballHQ's exclusive Playing Time Metrics to examine usage trends across the NL East.
May 14 2026 11:17am
Isaac Collins has struggled vs. LHP, and it might be time for the Royals to give Jac Caglianone another shot at everyday at-bats. Plus, Sam Antonacci's rise in CHW, Angel Martínez's platoon splits in CLE, an opportunity for Matt Vierling in DET, and why the Twins won't play Ryan Jeffers more.
May 14 2026 3:06am
Vaughn Grissom and Oswald Peraza are forcing the issue to change the platoon situation in Anaheim.
May 13 2026 3:05am
Cedric Mullins' struggles are cutting into his PA totals - could a loss of his job be next? Plus, more looks at how current trends are affecting our Playing Time metrics from around the AL East.
May 12 2026 3:05am
This week, we assess the playing time outlook for three NL West call-ups, and make the argument for two more AAA reinforcements on the horizon.
May 9 2026 3:06am

Tools