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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: On track for activation Friday
Rotowire
Palencia (elbow) will be reinstated from the 60-day injured list ahead of Friday's game in Seattle, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
The Cubs have deemed Palencia fit to rejoin the big club after he capped his five-appearance minor-league rehab assignment on a high note Sunday, when he gave up one hit and struck out three of the four batters he faced for Triple-A Iowa. Palencia had been serving as the Cubs' primary closer prior to landing on the shelf June 16 due to a right elbow flexor strain, but it's unclear if he'll immediately reclaim those duties upon his return. Jacob Webb has been lights out at the back of the Chicago bullpen, converting seven consecutive save chances while permitting no runs over his last 23 appearances.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Nearing return from IL
Rotowire
The Cubs are expected to activate Palencia (elbow) from the 60-day injured list in the coming days, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The Cubs haven't committed to an exact date for Palencia to return from the IL, but manager Craig Counsell told reporters Tuesday the 26-year-old right-hander will be activated "soon." A right flexor strain has sidelined Palencia since mid-June, but he won't have a defined role upon his return, per Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com. It appears that, for now, the Cubs prefer keeping Jacob Webb as the main closer, with Palencia getting some work in high-leverage situations.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Cubs transferred Palencia (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Monday, Vinnie Duber of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
The move appears to be a procedural one to open up a spot on the Cubs' 40-man roster for Owen Miller, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Iowa on Monday. Palencia has been on the shelf since mid-June due to a right flexor strain but was cleared to embark on a rehab assignment in early August. Across five minor-league outings, he's allowed five runs on two hits and six walks while striking out six across 4.1 innings. Palencia will need more rehab appearances before being cleared to return to the majors, where he's expected to reclaim his role as the Cubs' closer.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Starting rehab assignment Wednesday
Rotowire
Palencia (elbow) is slated to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
After completing bullpen sessions and live batting practice sessions without issue over the past couple of weeks, Palencia has been cleared to advance to the final step in the rehab program for his mild right flexor strain, which has kept him on the shelf since June 16. Palencia has endured a tough-luck 2026 campaign, as he also missed time earlier in the season due to a lat strain and has received just three save chances -- converting them all -- in 19 appearances, despite seemingly being locked in as the Cubs' closer. Palencia still looks like a good bet to step back in as the Cubs' closer once he returns from the injured list, though he may need to pitch well during his rehab assignment in order for manager Craig Counsell to formally appoint him for that role.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Closing in on rehab assignment
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Palencia (elbow) is scheduled to throw an up-and-down bullpen session Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Counsell noted that Palencia felt great after completing a side session Sunday, prompting the Cubs to clear the right-hander to take another small step forward Tuesday with a bullpen session that more closely simulates a game. Assuming that goes well, Palencia could face hitters in live batting practice later in the week before heading out on a minor-league rehab assignment in the first week of August. The 26-year-old has been on the shelf since June 16 due to a mild right flexor strain, after he had previously missed about three weeks earlier in the season on account of a lat strain.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Could return in mid-August
Rotowire
Manager Craig Counsell said Friday that Palencia (elbow) is hopeful to return to the Cubs' bullpen in mid-August, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Counsell noted that Palencia has been slow to progress through his rehab program, as he's had to repeat a few steps along the way, so his absence could potentially extend into late August or September if he continues to show minimal progress. In the meantime, Jacob Webb and Trent Thornton will be in the mix for saves in Chicago.
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Will be out through All-Star break
Rotowire
Palencia (elbow) is progressing in his rehab from elbow tendinitis, but he won't be activated from the injured list until after the All-Star break, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Palencia landed on the injured list June 16 and hasn't thrown since. Per MLB.com, the righty reliever could begin a throwing program at the beginning of the coming week, but he's nonetheless expected to remain out of action until after the All-Star break. Jacob Webb and Trent Thornton have each logged saves since Palencia went down, and Caleb Thielbar is also in the temporary closer mix.
Palencia was diagnosed with a mild flexor strain in his right arm Saturday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.
Manager Craig Counsell said that Palencia will be shut down from throwing for about a week, at which point the team will re-evaluate him. A clearer timeline for his return to the bullpen may emerge once he's cleared to begin a throwing program. In the meantime, Caleb Thielbar, Jacob Webb and Phil Maton all could be in the mix for saves.
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Placed on IL with inflamed elbow
Rotowire
The Cubs placed Palencia on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right elbow inflammation, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Palencia picked up the win Monday versus the Rockies, tossing a scoreless top of the ninth inning before the Cubs walked it off in the bottom of the frame. However, he's now on the IL for the second time this season after missing time earlier this year with a lat strain. The Cubs could lean on a committee approach at closer while Palencia is sidelined, with Caleb Thielbar, Phil Maton and Jacob Webb all in the mix.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Strikes out side, earns win
Rotowire
Palencia (2-1) worked around a walk to toss a scoreless inning of relief and earn the win in Monday's 5-4 victory over the Rockies. He struck out three.
After a leadoff walk in the top of the ninth inning, Palencia proceeded to strike out the next three Colorado hitters on 14 pitches. The righty then earned the win when the Cubs scored twice in the bottom of the ninth to erase a 4-3 deficit. Palencia is still sitting on only three saves, though he's mostly pitched well with a 2.70 ERA and 19 strikeouts across 16.2 innings this season, and the save opportunities should come if Chicago gets back on track following a rough patch.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Takes first loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Palencia (1-1) didn't record any outs and allowed a run on two hits and a walk to take the loss in Wednesday's 3-2 defeat to the Rockies.
Working in a 2-2 game in the bottom of the ninth inning, Palencia walked the leadoff hitter, then allowed a pair of quick singles to take his first loss of the season. The flamethrowing righty is still searching for his first save since May 14 as the Cubs have struggled lately, but Palencia is pitching well overall with a 2.87 ERA and 16 strikeouts across 15.2 innings this year. He should remain locked in as Chicago's unquestioned closer despite the small hiccup.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Sharp again in non-save opportunity
Rotowire
Palencia tossed a scoreless inning of relief with a strikeout in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Athletics.
Palencia has been good this year with a 2.13 ERA and 13 strikeouts across his 14 appearances, but he's still stuck on three saves and hasn't recorded one since May 14. Chicago is just 4-13 since that date, which has limited the righty's opportunities to close things out. Palencia remains a talented reliever capable of racking up plenty of saves, though he'll need his team to get back on track.
Palencia tossed a scoreless inning of relief to secure the save in Thursday's 2-0 win over Atlanta. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
Palencia allowed his first two runs of the season his last time out Sunday, but he bounced back by recording his third save of the year. Outside of that one hiccup, the flamethrowing righty has been excellent with a 2.25 ERA and nine strikeouts across eight innings of work. Now that he's recovered from an early season lat strain, Palencia appears to once again be locked in as Chicago's closer.
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