MLB Player News

Palencia (shoulder) joined the Cubs for their road trip in Pittsburgh and threw off a mound Monday for the first time since landing on the injured list Sept. 8, the Associated Press reports.

Prior to being deactivated after he was diagnosed with a left shoulder strain, Palencia had emerged as the Cubs' closer and converted 22 of 25 save chances while logging a 3.00 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 51 innings on the season. The right-hander is without a definitive timeline for a return from the IL, but the fact that he's resumed mound work leaves the door open for him to be activated before the regular season comes to an end Sept. 28. In addition to completing another side session or two, Palencia will likely need to face hitters in live batting practice or in a brief minor-league rehab assignment before the Cubs add him back to their bullpen.

Amaya (ankle) is set to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, MLB.com reports.

Amaya isn't considered fully recovered from the left ankle sprain he suffered Aug. 13, which he sustained in his first game back from the injured list after he had been shelved since late May due to a left oblique strain. However, Amaya has made enough progress in his recovery from the ankle injury to run the bases, so he'll serve as a designated hitter for Iowa on Tuesday. Manager Craig Counsell is hopeful that Amaya will resume catching for Iowa later in the week, and if all goes well, the 26-year-old could rejoin the Cubs for the final week of the regular season.

Gage (0-1) took the loss in Monday's 8-1 defeat to the Diamondbacks, allowing one earned run on one hit and one walk across one relief inning.

Gage entered the game in the fifth inning and retired three of the four batters he faced, walking one. However, he gave up a double to begin the sixth and was subsequently removed. The right-hander has allowed five runs in his last three appearances, giving up six hits and two walks while hitting one batter in 2.2 innings during that span. He has recorded a 3.97 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 21:9 K:BB across 22.2 innings in 23 appearances with San Francisco this season.

Peguero allowed two earned runs on one hit and two walks across one-third of an inning in Monday's 8-1 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Peguero entered the game in the sixth inning with a runner on second. The right-hander then walked back-to-back batters before allowing a single and being replaced. Over 11 appearances this season, the 28-year-old owns a 1.84 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 11:6 K:BB across 14.2 innings.

Adams is absent from the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

It will be Jorge Alfaro doing the catching for the Nationals in the first game. Adams should be back behind the dish in the nightcap.

Bell is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against Atlanta.

Bell will get some rest in the first game but should be back in there for the nightcap. Andres Chaparro will cover first base and bat third in the first game of the twin bill.

Alvarez is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Nationals.

Alvarez will likely be back at third base for the nightcap, but he will begin the first game of the double dip on the bench. Vidal Brujan is at third base for Atlanta in the matinee.

Ozuna is not in the lineup for the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

Atlanta will go with Ronald Acuna in the designated-hitter spot and Eli White in right field for the first game of the twin bill. Ozuna will likely be back in the lineup for the nightcap.

Soroka tossed two scoreless innings of relief in Monday's 4-0 win over the Pirates. He walked two batters and struck out two.

Soroka was activated from the injured list before the game after missing a little more than a month of action due to a right shoulder strain. The veteran righty made 16 starts for Washington earlier this year and one with Chicago after coming over at the trade deadline, but it appears that he'll now fit into the Cubs' bullpen in a long-relief role. It's a hit to Soroka's fantasy value, though he did excel as a long reliever for the crosstown White Sox last season, posting a 2.75 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 36 innings.

Hodge allowed a hit and two walks while retiring two batters in the ninth inning of Monday's win over the Pirates before getting lifted for Brad Keller, who recorded the final out of the game.

Hodge got the ninth inning staked to a 4-0 lead, so it wasn't a save opportunity, but he quickly made trouble for himself by loading the bases. The Cubs then turned to Keller for the final out, and he managed to earn his second save of the season by cleaning up Hodge's mess. Hodge continues to struggle with a 5.81 ERA and 1.52 WHIP across 31 innings this year, and Monday's poor effort won't help the righty earn any more high-leverage work in Chicago's bullpen.