J.J. Putz could be back with the Diamondbacks before season’s end

Jul 31, 2013; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher J.J. Putz (40) throws a pitch during the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

According to Jack Magruder, Arizona Diamondbacks beat writer for FOXSportsArizona.com, reliever J.J. Putz threw a Thursday bullpen session and will throw a simulated game today. This is good news especially with the Diamondbacks having a 73-73 record and only being nine and a half games out of the NL Wild Card; there is still a slim chance.

But if Putz’s simulated game doesn’t go well today then best bet is to not let him pitch for the rest of the season. But Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson has other plans for Putz, he said, “I hope and expect him to come back this year.” If the Diamondbacks fall out of the wild card race, is it worth to bring him back?

If the Diamondbacks bring him back, he can get some more work in on the major league level. If the Diamondbacks don’t bring him back then he can be fresh for the 2014 season and the team can make a run for the NL West crown.

So far this season, in 35 games, Putz has a 2.43 ERA, six saves, 32 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings pitched. Not bad numbers at all but he has given up four home runs and walked 15 batters. Those numbers will have to go down considerably if he wants to be an eighth or ninth inning guy consistently.