Chicago Cubs Get Closer Back from IL
The Chicago Cubs added some reinforcements to their bullpen today. Closer Daniel Palencia was activated from the injured list and added to the active roster ahead of tonight’s game against the New York Mets. Palencia has been out since September 7 with a shoulder injury that landed him on the 15-day IL and left the Chicago Cubs without a designated closer. With Palencia back in the bullpen, the Cubs have a possible solution to a major problem as the postseason rapidly approaches. In a corresponding move, Jordan Wicks has been demoted.
When addressing Palencia’s return to the bullpen, Chicago Cubs Manager Craig Counsell was noncommittal on whether or not Palencia would go right back to being the team’s closer. He emphasized getting Palencia back into a solid rhythm on the mound more so than getting him into save situations for the rest of the regular season. With five games left in the regular season, it will be interesting to see how Counsell chooses to utilize Palencia.
Daniel Palencia Rejoins Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs will be getting some much-needed help in their bullpen tonight in the form of Palencia. The team’s closer has been on the injured list since September 7 while dealing with a pitching-shoulder injury. As the Cubs ramp up for the playoff push, having their closer back with a week left in the regular season is a huge addition for a team trying to make a deep run in October.
With an eye towards October, Palencia is not going to jump right back into the full-time closer role, but once the playoffs start, the plan is for Palencia to be the pitcher Counsell goes calls on to shut down ball games. Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge have been sharing the closing duties in Palencia’s absence, and could continue to see closing opportunities in the postseason depending on Palencia’s progress.
In 2025, Palencia has a 1-6 record, 3.00 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, and 22 saves. The 25-year-old Venezuelan right-hander is in his first year as the closer of the Chicago Cubs. He took over for Ryan Pressly in May and has proven to be an effective high-leverage pitcher. His numbers in 2025 are a little skewed by his last appearance, when he surrendered five runs and failed to record an out before being removed from the game with the shoulder injury that ultimately landed him on the injured list.
Palencia’s Role
Two and a half weeks later, Palencia is back in the bullpen and healthy enough to contribute to the Chicago Cubs’ pitching staff for the rest of the regular season. With such a short runway until the postseason, it will be interesting to see if Palencia has enough time to get back to his midseason form so he can be a lockdown closer in the NL Wild Card three-game series next week. To make room in the bullpen for Palencia, Jordan Wicks was demoted.
While Palencia will eventually get back to the closer role, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that that may not happen immediately.
“I think what’s important for Danny is that we get him outings on somewhat of a little bit of a schedule when we get him activated here,” Counsell said. “So, that’s the most important thing is to get him outings. But I don’t think at this point we’re going to focus on when the outings come, it’s like we got to get him outings, and we got to get probably some rest and things like that. So, we’re going to prioritize just getting him on the mound.”
Palencia’s first chance to get back on the mound comes tonight when the Chicago Cubs take on the New York Mets in the second game of their three-game series at Wrigley Field. Wednesday night’s game will be televised nationally, and could show a huge audience that Palencia is healthy, able to pitch effectively, and could be ready to reassume his role as the team’s closer for the 2025 postseason.
