Puk (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks over four innings against the Angels. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Puk's transition to a starting pitcher hasn't gone according to plan thus far -- the 28-year-old left-hander has allowed eight runs (six earned) through just six innings in his first two starts. While Puk has had success out of the bullpen in the majors, the Marlins seem set on having him remain in the rotation, at least while Braxton Garrett (shoulder), Edward Cabrera (shoulder) and Eury Perez (elbow) are sidelined. Puk's currently lined up for a tough road matchup versus the Yankees in his next outing.

Puk (0-1) took the loss Friday against the Pirates, giving up four runs on three hits and six walks over two-plus innings. He struck out only one.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first career start in the majors after 142 relief appearances, Puk's nerves may have gotten the better of him as he managed to throw only 33 of 68 pitches for strikes. Things went completely off the rails for the left-hander in the third inning, when he put the first four batters aboard with a walk, a double, a wild pitch, another walk and a single before getting the hook. The Marlins are strapped for healthy rotation options to begin the season, so Puk likely won't head back to the bullpen just yet, but he'll need to regain his focus quickly if he wants to keep his current role when the likes of Braxton Garrett (shoulder) and Edward Cabrera (shoulder) are ready to make their 2024 debuts.

Puk struck out six over 3.1 scoreless innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals. He allowed five hits and a walk.

EDGE Analysis

The 28-year-old southpaw has yet to make a start during his big-league career, with all 142 of his appearances to date coming in relief, but Puk is making a very compelling case to begin the season in the Marlins' rotation. He's delivered a 15:4 K:BB through 8.1 spring innings with a 0.00 ERA, and his emergence makes it easier for the team to give Braxton Garrett (shoulder) the time he needs to get 100 percent healthy, rather than pushing him to be ready for Opening Day. If Puk carries his spring success into the regular season, he could be hard to dislodge from a starting role, but he also hasn't thrown more than 66.1 innings in a season since 2017, when he was working his way through the Oakland system.

Puk is a "heavy favorite" to open the season in the Marlins' rotation with Braxton Garrett (shoulder) unavailable, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Puk has wowed early on this spring as he transitions from reliever to starter, firing five scoreless innings with a 9:3 K:BB. Garrett is healthy now but needs time to be built back up following some missed time with left shoulder soreness, so the Marlins need a fill-in likely for at least a couple starts. Puk hasn't started a game since 2021 or been a full-time starter since 2017, so staying healthy and effective over the long haul would be a difficult ask. However, he appears ready to be plugged into the rotation, at least on a short-term basis.

Puk gave up one hit and two walks over three scoreless innings in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

With Braxton Garrett (shoulder) not expected to be ready for Opening Day, the Marlins have a vacancy in their rotation, and Puk is making a compelling early case to win it. Through his first five spring innings, the 28-year-old southpaw has delivered a 9:3 K:BB and a 0.00 ERA. Puk hasn't started a game at any level since 2021 and hasn't been a full-time starter since a stint at Double-A in 2017, but the plan to stretch him out in camp has gone without a hitch so far, and he tossed 27 of 46 pitches for strikes Monday.

Puk struck out three and walked one over two scoreless, no-hit innings during Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

New York's lineup didn't feature many regulars beyond Francisco Alvarez, and Puk breezed through the top part of the order on 26 pitches (18 strikes). The 28-year-old lefty is getting stretched out for a potential rotation spot in camp after making his first 142 career big-league appearances in relief, but Puk was a starter in the minors prior to moving to the bullpen due to injury and control concerns. Even if he pitches well in longer stints this spring, his chances of winning an Opening Day rotation spot could ultimately be determined by the health of the Marlins' other options.

Puk spent the offseason preparing to be a starting pitcher, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

All 142 of the southpaw's career appearances in the majors have come in relief, but Puk was drafted as a starter and was beginning to get stretched out by Oakland prior to the February 2023 trade that sent him to Miami. The Marlins have other lefty options in their bullpen, including Tanner Scott and Andrew Nardi, while the team's rotation will be missing Sandy Alcantara (elbow) in 2024. Braxton Garrett (shoulder), Trevor Rogers (lat) and Max Meyer (elbow) could also be uncertain for Opening Day, so Puk might have an open path to a rotation spot if he looks good in the role during camp, but at this stage it still seems more likely he'll begin the season in the bullpen. The 28-year-old displayed control issues in the minors while starting, but he posted a 5.4 percent walk rate last year along with a 32.2 percent strikeout rate. If his stuff holds up while working longer outings, the 2016 first-round pick has the talent -- and potentially the opportunity -- to put together a breakout season.

The Marlins and Puk avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.8 million contract Thursday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

It was Puk's first year of arbitration eligibility. The left-hander saved 15 games while posting a 3.97 ERA and 78:13 K:BB over 56.2 innings in 2023. The Marlins plan to send Puk to camp as a starter, but the odds of him returning to relief would appear high.

The Marlins plan to stretch Puk out during spring training as they consider him for a rotation spot, Isaac Azout of SBNation.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

All 142 appearances for Puk at the major-league level have come in relief, but he initially began his pro career as a starter with the Athletics. At this point, it seems like a long shot that Puk can be healthy and effective as a starter, but the Marlins are at least willing to give it a test drive.

Puk (7-5) earned the win Saturday against the Pirates, allowing one run on three hits over two innings while striking out three. He did not issue any walks.

EDGE Analysis

Puk entered the game in the bottom of the fourth and struck out two of the first four batters he faced to get through the inning. However, the lefty reliever got himself into trouble in the fifth after surrendering a leadoff double to Ke'Bryan Hayes to open the frame, which would lead to one run coming across for the Pirates. Fortunately for Puk, the Marlins' offense would come through with two runs in the bottom of the inning, helping him secure his seventh win of the season as Miami clinched only its fourth playoff berth in franchise history. It marked the second time this season in which Puk went for two innings and he's now allowed multiple hits in three of his last four appearances.