The Chicago Cubs offense dazzled again as they helped rack up their third straight win on Friday, beating the New York Mets 12-4 at Wrigley Field.
But the ever-growing list of injured pitchers claimed another name before the first pitch of the seven-game homestand was even thrown — and that came on the heels of a worst-case scenario for their young pitching phenom.
The Cubs placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain less than an hour before the Cubs faced the Mets. The Cubs did not make a corresponding move, but manager Craig Counsell expected to have an arm up for Saturday’s matinee against New York.
The right-hander became the 10th pitcher on the 40-man roster to be placed on the injured list. That doesn’t include top pitching prospect Jaxon Wiggins, who was placed on the minor-league seven-day IL earlier in the week with right elbow inflammation after two appearances with Triple-A Iowa.
Palencia threw a bullpen session Friday morning, just two days after he first felt pain in the oblique while playing catch in Philadelphia.
“The bullpen, I feel awesome, I threw 96, 95 (mph),” Palencia said. “It’s just I (felt) something doing my conditioning, so I want to be smart with that and don’t want to push it too much. I don’t want to lose too much time. It’s just that.”
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Edward Cabrera celebrates after finishing off the New York Mets in the sixth inning of a game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on April 17, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Friday morning, Counsell announced right-hander Cade Horton underwent ulnar collateral ligament revision surgery by Dr. Keith Meister, along with receiving an internal brace, which means he’ll be out for 15 to 16 months. There was some optimism that Horton would only need the internal brace, which would have put the timeline at around 12 months.
“I think when something like this happens, the only thing you can do is kind of worry about what’s next,” Counsell said. “You put your head on some big timeframe, and that’s not very helpful. Cade, we talked about just worrying about today and make today the best you can and just keep doing that, and that’s how you, somehow, speed this process along a little. You get too far ahead of yourself, it’s certainly a long recovery, and that doesn’t help.”
Horton exited his second start of the year in Cleveland on April 3 and was placed on the IL the next day. The Cubs’ opening-day starter, Matthew Boyd, landed on the 15-day IL two days later with a left biceps strain. Those injuries compounded a rotation that was already without Justin Steele, who is recovering from elbow surgery last season and is expected back early in the summer, and depth option Jordan Wicks, who is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Iowa on Saturday.
Boyd pitched in a rehab assignment with Triple-A Iowa on Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits in 3 2/3 innings. Both he and Counsell hope he can start on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Everything feels normal for a day after I pitched,” Boyd said before Friday’s game. “Excited for Wednesday, and we’ll just build toward that each day.”
Palencia’s injury is the latest to another arm that figured to be a key leverage piece for Counsell.
Right-hander Phil Maton landed on the 15-day IL on April 8 and is scheduled to throw what Counsell called a “diagnostic bullpen” on Saturday. Right-hander Hunter Harvey hasn’t thrown since he landed on the IL on April 9.
The reliever corps also lost Ethan Roberts earlier in the week in a freak accident while working out, in which he cut his right middle finger. Right-hander Porter Hodge is set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery next week after starting the year on the IL.
Photos: Chicago Cubs 12, New York Mets 4
That leaves only right-hander Jacob Webb and left-handers Hoby Milner and Caleb Thielbar as veteran relievers for Counsell. That trio has a combined 13 saves across 1,052 major-league games.
“We’re going to really have to go in-game and really just think about it during the games,” Counsell said. “I think it’s challenging. It’s going to be different for sure because guys are going to be in different spots than they’re accustomed to.”
It creates opportunities for young arms, like rookie Riley Martin, who pitched a scoreless seventh inning on Friday. He has pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his first five appearances and opened eyes.
“I’ve said this a couple times already, but Riley’s taking advantage of that opportunity and doing something with it,” Counsell said. “When you miss, right now three guys that we were counting on pretty heavily at the end of the game, it’s going to change usage.”
Edward Cabrera turned in a quality start on Friday, allowing three runs on eight hits in six innings of work. He is under the microscope even more after the offseason blockbuster trade the Cubs pulled to acquire him. Still, Counsell said he won’t push Cabrera or any other starter just to relieve his bullpen.
“I think that’s a mistake to do that,” Counsell said. “I think a hitter, maybe, but we’ve got to keep those guys healthy as well. (At) the end of a starter’s outing, they’re fatigued, and we got to make sure we do the right thing by them.”
Andy Martinez is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.