The Cubs reinstated Palencia (shoulder) from the injured list Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Palencia has been sidelined since Sept. 8 due to a strained right shoulder, although he pitched in a rehab game Saturday, during which he gave up an unearned run and struck out two batters over two-thirds of an inning. The Cubs will now likely aim to get him a few more big-league appearances before he serves as the team's primary closer during the postseason. Jordan Wicks was optioned to the Arizona Complex League in a corresponding move.
Palencia (shoulder) will be activated Tuesday or Wednesday, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.
The Cubs want to get their closer on the mound as the regular season winds down to see if he is ready for the postseason. The 25-year-old has made one appearance during his rehab assignment, which commenced Sept. 20 in a game where he allowed one run in 0.2 innings.
Palencia (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Saturday and allowed one unearned run on two hits while striking out two batters in two-thirds of an inning.
Iowa's season will come to an end Sunday, so Palencia may need to face hitters in a simulated game or two to prove his right shoulder strain is no longer a concern before the Cubs bring him back from the injured list. Prior to suffering the injury and landing on the shelf Sept. 8, Palencia led the Cubs with 22 saves. Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge have been sharing the closer's role in Palencia's absence.
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.
Palencia (shoulder) played catch Friday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
It's the first time he's thrown since he suffered a right shoulder strain Sunday and landed on the 15-day injured list Monday. It's a good sign that he's already playing catch, and the Cubs will map out a rehab plan for Palencia based on how he comes out of Friday's throwing session. Palencia will be eligible to return Sept. 23, but it's too soon to know whether he has a chance to be back by that date. Andrew Kittredge has the lone save for the Cubs since Palencia went down, and Brad Keller is also expected to be in the mix to close games.
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Sent to IL with shoulder strain
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Palencia on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right shoulder strain, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The Chicago closer will hit the shelf after he experienced tightness in his shoulder during his relief appearance against the Nationals on Sunday, when he was dealt the loss and his third blown save of the season after failing to retire any of the five batters he faced while giving up four hits -- including two home runs -- and one walk. The Cubs haven't yet offered up a timeline for Palencia's return, but as a pitcher who's heavily reliant on high velocity and now coming back from an arm injury, he seems likely to be sidelined beyond the minimum 15 days. Manager Craig Counsell hasn't provided word on his plans for the ninth inning while Palencia is on the shelf, but Brad Keller, Andrew Kittredge and Caleb Thielbar have been pitching effectively in high-leverage spots of late and could be the Chicago relievers most likely to factor into the mix for saves over the next few weeks.
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