Daniel Palencia is dealing with right elbow inflammation, joining a growing group of injured Cubs pitchers. Jayden Mack / Getty Images
June 16, 2026 Updated 5:42 pm EDT
CHICAGO — Amid a seemingly never-ending cycle of health issues with their pitchers, the Chicago Cubs placed closer Daniel Palencia on the injured list with right elbow inflammation before Tuesday’s game at Wrigley Field.
The night before, Palencia notched three strikeouts in the ninth inning of what became a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Colorado Rockies. During that sequence, Cubs manager Craig Counsell and an athletic trainer visited the mound to check in with Palencia, who finished a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win.
In the corresponding roster move, the Cubs recalled right-handed reliever Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa.
This latest IL stint has been part of a frustrating season for Palencia. He secured the final out for Venezuela in this year’s World Baseball Classic, closing out Team USA in the championship game. But instead of foreshadowing a big season that establishes him as an elite closer, Palencia has only notched three saves in as many chances for the Cubs. He went on the IL with a strained left oblique in April, and the club’s inconsistencies have limited his high-leverage opportunities in the ninth inning.
The Cubs will have to continue to figure out the team’s pitching puzzle. Four members of Chicago’s season-opening rotation have spent time on the injured list this year, and virtually all of the top names on the projected bullpen depth chart have been sidelined at various points.
This story will be updated.
Jun 16, 2026
Connections: Sports Edition
Spot the pattern. Connect the terms
Find the hidden link between sports terms
Play today’s puzzle