Daniel Palencia is the third key Cubs’ reliever to land on the injured list since last week. Jayden Mack / Getty Images
April 17, 2026 2:05 pm EDT
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list on Friday afternoon with a left oblique strain.
Palencia hadn’t allowed a run in five innings of work this season, while recording one save. Last season, he emerged as the team’s closer in May after veteran Ryan Pressley struggled. Palencia, who had issues with his command early in his career, was impressive for much of last season, posting a 2.91 ERA while racking up 22 saves in 52 2/3 innings.
Palencia hitting the shelf comes at a time when the Cubs bullpen has already suffered multiple key injuries. A week ago, veteran Phil Maton, who had struggled in his four innings this season, hit the IL with right knee tendinitis. On Sunday, the oft-injured Hunter Harvey went on the IL with right triceps inflammation.
Maton is expected to throw a bullpen on Saturday. Harvey hasn’t resumed throwing and the Cubs are waiting for him to be pain-free before he does. All three were looked at as key, high-leverage relievers for a bullpen the Cubs largely had to rebuild over the offseason.
Manager Craig Counsell had recently talked about how bullpens evolve over the course of a season. Injuries provide opportunities for others. With Palencia down, it will be all the more important that others step up and impact the team’s bullpen.
A corresponding move had not been made at the time of publication.
This story will be updated
Apr 17, 2026
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