September 8: Palencia has been placed on the 15-day injured list, according to multiple media personnel (including Marquee’s Taylor McGregor). Ethan Roberts has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take the open bullpen spot. Bruce Levine of 670 The Score suggests that Keller is likely to step into the ninth inning while Palencia is on the shelf.
September 7: The Cubs may be looking at going into the postseason without their closer. Daniel Palencia entered the ninth inning of Chicago’s game against the Nationals earlier today, but surrendered five runs and was pulled without recording an out. The team termed Palencia’s ailment “shoulder tightness” at the time of his removal, but manager Craig Counsell told reporters (including Bruce Levine of 670 The Score) following the game that, more specifically, Palencia was suffering from a posterior capsule strain in his right shoulder.
While specifics beyond that diagnosis were few and far between in Counsell’s description of the situation, it seems all but certain that Palencia will require a trip to the injured list and be out for quite a while. Strains can naturally vary in severity substantially, but one relatively recent example of a pitcher dealing with a posterior capsule strain is Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, who was shut down due to a moderate strain in February of 2024. That kicked off what was more or less a lost season for Senga due to multiple injuries, but the initial diagnosis for that strain was expected to shut him down from throwing for three weeks.
A similar timeline would knock Palencia out for, at minimum, the remainder of the regular season and would likely result in him returning this year only if the Cubs make a relatively deep run into the postseason. Of course, it’s possible that Palencia’s capsule strain proves to be a relatively mild one that requires less time off, and it’s not impossible to imagine that he could be back on the big league mound for in time for the tail end of the regular season; a 15-day stint on the injured list, at this point, would allow Palencia to return to action during the club’s final two series of the regular season against the Mets and Cardinals.
However long Palencia ultimately ends up being sidelined, the news is a brutal blow to Chicago. Acquired from the A’s in exchange for Andrew Chafin at the 2021 trade deadline, Palencia made his big league debut in 2023 but has rounded into form as a dominant closer this year. Entering play today, the 25-year-old had posted a 2.12 ERA with a 2.59 FIP and 28.8% strikeout rate in 51 innings of work for the Cubs this year. He’s walked just 7.8% of his opponents faced and picked up 22 saves in 24 opportunities this year to go with six holds. That dominant production convinced the Cubs to back off the from the high leverage relief market. They targeted Andrew Kittredge and Taylor Rogers to bolster their bullpen rather than landing a more surefire closer like David Bednar or Jhoan Duran.
With Palencia seemingly out of commission for the time being, manager Craig Counsell will now have to reconfigure his bullpen for the stretch run. Rogers has struggled since joining the Cubs, but Kittredge figures to be part of the late-inning mix for the Cubs alongside Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, and perhaps Drew Pomeranz. Keller and Thielbar in particular appear likely to be in the conversation for save opportunities given their dominant seasons with the Cubs this year. Keller has a 2.20 ERA and 2.99 FIP in 59 appearances, while Thielbar sports a 2.15 ERA and 2.68 FIP in 58 outings.
Palencia’s injury is the latest frustrating development for a Cubs team that already had both Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker miss todays game due to injuries. Fortunately, Counsell provided a positive update to reporters (including Levine) regarding the status of both hitters. Counsell indicated that Crow-Armstrong, who exited yesterday’s game after fouling a ball off of his shin, could be back in the lineup as soon as tomorrow for the start of the club’s series in Atlanta. As for Tucker, the All-Star hasn’t played since exiting Tuesday’s game against the Braves and Levine notes that he’s unlikely to be back in the lineup tomorrow. Even so, Counsell suggested that his running improved today and that he’s trending in the right direction towards a return to action in the near future.
And for the 5th year in a row the Cubs lack of signing a reliable closer comes back to bite them again and again and again and again and so on…..Tell me whose fault is that again?
Or that guy could have listened to YOU—spent over $70M for YOUR guy that you jammed down our throat all winter and haven’t said a word about since May—remember—Tanner Scott.
$72M—disaster—can’t get anyone out–second in the majors in blown saves (because he missed time).
Wouldn’t be in the playoffs with your guy.
And guys often have rough first years on a new deal plus we haven’t got to the Playoffs yet and he could still dominate the post season. We’ll have to see. So what’s better signing a guy or doing absolutely nothing? I’ll wait.
Quit waiting—you said he didn’t get a closer.
He didn’t do nothing. He built a bullpen—signed Pressly—got rid of him when he was bad and filled it with a guy who been great all year and got hurt.
You continually make stuff up to fit your narrative.
Until today, he did fine… which $72M and your guy hasn’t.
You tend to have ALL the answers, but never a correct one.
IF the Cubs signed Scott and he pitched like he has I guarantee you wouldn’t be saying “it’s a rough first year but he could dominate in the playoffs”.
Obviously you guys have selective memory and are forgetting all the games that were blown because of Pressly and others before Danny even got the job. I haven’t. Not to mention his reliance on rookies to do a job any decent team with Playoff aspirations doesn’t ignore year after year.
Uncle – you are the only one with selective memory…trying to justify how Scott would’ve been a good signing is wild. Relievers by far carry the most variability year-to-year and Scott has been down right awful.
Unc, what these guys are saying about your expressing your desire for Scott is very true. Numerous times you beat the drumb for him. I remember because I drafted Scott in fantasy because I felt like he would have a great year. However I can admit when I am wrong.
You really do have a problem with selective memory, using it to fit your narrative. And not just with Scott. You often definitely do the same, with regards to Hoyer. To ad nauseam.
I said it, I remember I said it and furthermore I’d still take him for what he’s being paid if the Dodgers would give him to me. He’ll be back. As far as Hoyer goes I’m far more sick of you guys constantly defending him so I guess we’re even, Let me look for all the Playoff appearances we’ve made since he’s been in charge, Sorry couldn’t come up with any. Because he wasn’t in charge of jack when the Cubs won. You keep calling Ricketts cheap, Well he spends more than any team in the division and still can’t beat them.
Uncle, just another thing since you keep bringing up the selective memory issue:
This summer it was you, who was giving Hoyer credit for his ability to put together a reliable bullpen almost every year. You said that you had to give him credit for THAT.
I ask you, who signed Keller, Thielbar, Pomeranz – and who traded for Palencia in the first place? But Hoyer missed on one -Pressly.
OK, but Hoyer also took a chance and drafted Horton and also brought in Imanaga, Boyd and to a lesser degree Taillon and Rae.
How can you criticize Hoyer for his decisions on pitching?
I think the Ricketts are the best owners of the Chicago Cubs in many many many decades!
I think you could be on drugs. Ricketts doesn’t care about the teams success, nearly as much as he cares about expanding his kingdom of Rickettsville.
Thee are a lot of people here on something. Anybody who thinks Hoyer is good at anything needs rehab.
Danny has been great this year. This is an injury. What are you talking about
Not since the AllStar break—an 8+ era.
A whole lot of hard contact.
I do wish him well in his recovery.
Palencia seemed to be found gold this season and wasn’t somebody they had necessarily targeted and groomed to be their closer. He went from being JAG to a highly competent leverage arm in the blink of an eye, it seemed to me. (And we see examples like that happen in bullpens all the time, all around the league.) So in that sense the Cubs should be fine regardless, Palencia served his purpose and POOF now he’s gone. Next man up.
Exactly. Any of their good relievers can close out games. Keller, Thielbar, and Pomeranz are capable of getting outs in the 9th. Just as Porter Hodge did last season.
A lot of teams have gone down in flames thinking that. Most notably the Cubs with Alzolay. The truth is not EVERYBODY or ANYBODY can close games. It’s a whole different animal. When you find somebody who can do it successfully you keep him. When you don’t have one and you aspire to be a Playoff team you go find one. The Cubs have never done that in the Hoyer era. Never.
Did you even watch the game yesterday. The broadcasters said that the Cubs were 72-1 when leading after 8 innings going into yesterday.
72-1 !!!!!!!!!
They said that only the Blue Jays, 74-1 and the Royals, 64-0 have been better. Those numbers might be slightly off as im trying to remember what I heard.
Like everyone said above me….they blow a game…you have fire for YOUR narrative…and you run to the keyboard and are the first to respond because you have the tiniest little Crack to shine through.
72-2!!!! I know that reeks of incompetence, lack of desire to win and keyboard fodder….but I think would that take over your Tanner Scott….who by the way LEADS the majors in blown saves after blowing the Dodgers game Saturday when Yamamoto had a no hitter with two out in the 9th and 3-0 lead only to blow it on a walk off hit surrendered by Scott.
It’s someone’s fault that they threw $8.5 million at Pressly, who was clearly washed.
That money could have been used toward a real reliever.
It’s no one’s fault. Ryan Pressly and the Cubs mutually agreed to a contract.
Pressly was traded for in a salary dump by the Astros. The Cubs didn’t have to make that trade.
Uncle Mike
I disagree. Do you really wish that the Cubs had outbid the Dodgers and signed Tanner Scott for five years?
This is really bad, folks. Now, Palencia has seemed a little gassed lately, they might be better off going with Keller or Hodge (Thielbar sometimes?) as closer at this point anyway–but that means those guys can’t be used in set-up roles; it’s legitimate to ask who will get the Cubs to the ninth.
I know some of you think I am the voice of doom–or misunderstand me as some kind of anti-Cubs troll (you have poor reading skills)–but I have to say it: there is a reasonable chance that the Cubs will blow their lead and miss the playoffs altogether, with the Reds or Giants or D-backs or Cardinals snagging the last spot instead. The danger signs of a deep dive for the Cubs are there: weak hitting, injuries, September newbies not helping. It could happen. The Cubs cannot lose their way into the postseason.
There is not a “reasonable” chance with 9 game lead and 19 to go-it’s your nervous defense mechanism as a fan.
They are a weak playoff team that will have to get lucky if they don’t collectively regain confidence. Ditto the Padres-both should root to play each other in the 4/5 WC matchup.
LAD and Mets are sleepwalking, yet still more significant threats to beat overachieving Milw and sudden injury struck Philly.
@cws: A “measurable” chance, then; a “nonzero chance” as they say nowadays. Especially if they get themselves swept in Cincy.
With 19 games to go you really think there is a “reasonable” chance they’ll miss the playoffs? STOP with that tired narrative my gosh. You’ve been spewing that nonsense for months now. They have a NINE game cushion. Alan515253-LPCFSM25 you are something.
Fangraphs has the Cubs locking a playoffs spot at 99%. You’ve explained the 1% so now let’s hear the rest if you’re able to see it or am only focused on 1%.
@YankeesBleacherCreature: I don’t have much faith in Fangraphs or PECOTA or the other simulators: I understand their methods and respect them, but they can’t take into account momentum, or fatigue, or injuries, or the fact that some players’ skills are not the same in September as they were in April.
In a sense, the Cubs’ chances of making the playoffs are 50-50: they either will, or they won’t.
When I look at the schedule, I think the Cubs probably have about a 65-35 chance of making it. Winning even one of the games in Cincy would help; we’ll see if they can.
When I see how bad the Cubs’ hitting is, and it apparently is going to stay that way–I feel pessimistic. But maybe they can win just enough and their pursuers lose just enough for them to squeeze in. Maybe they have banked enough wins. We’ll see.
How about this Alan—since it’s 65/35……I am going to throw $65,000 out into a kitty. If the Cubs miss the playoffs, it’s yours. If they make it, you throw $35,000 in the middle and I get it. That’s called putting your money where your mouth (or protected keyboard) is.
So now we turn to how the Cincinnati series is going to bury the Cubs….keep grasping.
To borrow a line from your alter-ego, the Uncle….”I’ll wait”.
I don’t have $35,000, and beyond that, one of the vices that I’ve never been tempted by is gambling.
We are on the same side: we both want the Cubs to win. I am puzzled that you are so hateful. I have been trained to think that when people act so, it is because they feel threatened–but I think that some people are simply hateful, by their nature.
Why do you call Uncle my alter-ego? I don’t even know the man.
And, “my protected keyboard”? What does that even mean?
Not hateful at all—just confident—perhaps just worn down by your platform of the Cubs are good until they play the Marlins and White Sox and once that failed, the uh-oh here come the Rockies and Orioles—oops, hey let’s turn our attention to the last series against the Reds and so on. It does get tiresome when it’s wrong every single time.
I am all for the opinions here—but when the opinion are platforms—especially when given the opportunity after a tough lose—it’s really not that funny.
Obviously, this year is short but would love to sit with you or unclemike, or drascoo or expat or a bunch of others at a game next year. The invite will alsways be open.
You seem like a reasonable guy–but it is not my problem that you find me “tiresome.” And I think that, while I might be wrong in some of the particulars, I am right in the broad sweep of things. The Cubs, unfortunately, are not very good right now, and the seeds of that were here all along.
I don’t know why we are talking about the White Sox, a trivial institution, but they have about six position players who I’d like to see in the Cubs’ lineup going into the last 19 games.
What is odd to me is that you overreacted so strangely to a rather moderate, mild post on my part: I said that I think the Cubs will probably make the playoffs, based on some wins banked before the offense broke down. I expressed reasonable concern about the upcoming series in Cincinnati; after all, the Cubs recently lost 2 of 3 to the Reds at WF.
The Cubs have 19 games left. I think that if they can win 6 of the 19, and finish 87-75, they will make it. The magic numbers for the 4 teams bunched behind them are 11, 11, 10, and 10, and those teams are going to lose *some* games, so it might add up.
My concern is that the Cubs might not be good enough to win 6 of the last 19. It is a valid concern based on what we have been seeing. But we’ll know soon enough.
Alan is so busy pontificating, he doesn’t have an effing clue what’s going on around him…
The Cubs offense, has definitely been their biggest headache since the AS Break.
Simply put the Cubs offense doesn’t move runners and absolutely has not much of an idea how to bunt. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a leadoff double only to see that guy die on 2nd in a one run game. Counsell always plays for the crooked number to a fault and that’s not winning Playoff baseball when games are tight and it’s win or go home. I’m not sure if Boyd, Imanaga and Horton are good enough to keep Playoff teams down but I like their chances more now than I did 2 months ago. But now the pen is showing some cracks unless Hodge regains his form from last year and Keller can become the Closer. Hoyer has made some good moves, Keller, Kelly, Boyd and Thielbar has been way better than I expected. Kittredge might be a lifeline but we’ll see. The Cubs will obviously make the Playoffs, They can’t miss really unless they go total Gene Mauch Phillies. But they have some bad habits that aren’t really conducive to playing winning baseball in October. Basically I said all season they were built to win the division( But didn’t) but not built to win a WS. I stand by it. Once again we have Tucker rotting on the bench with an injury while Caissie is in ? I wanna say limbo but I think it’s worse than that. Tucker could be getting healthy on the IL for the Playoffs but he’s once again hurting the team while Hoyer tries to justify his dumb trade. Right now there a bunch of ifs but they will play Playoff baseball. If that was their goal then mission accomplished. I would just hope they would be shooting higher and I really wish Ricketts had waited until the end of the season before he handed out extensions. It should have been done BEFORE the season or AFTER not in the middle. Bad move.
Alan
The Cubs have a better record than the Dodgers or Padres. The Phillies have lost Wheeler, Trea and Bohm. The Cubs are almost certain to make the playoffs. Saying otherwise is not fact based. Losing Palencia decreases the likelihood of post-season success, but falling out of the post-season is almost zero.
@Top 100: Almost zero, but only almost–until they start winning some games. They are not going to lose their way into the postseason.
Wiggins time? Why not?
That would be a tad unfair to the kid. They’ve got no choice now but to pull Keller out of his 8th inning job and risk him faltering in the closer role and using Hodge as the 8th inning guy and he’s having an off year. I don’t think Kitteredge is the right guy either. Another failed deadline.
@Uncle: I suspect they will go to Kittredge, and I agree with you, that isn’t a good idea. He has his good moments, but he is not a closer.
Playoffs???? Lucky af if he’s ready for spring training 2026.
Same injury knocked Senga and countless others out 6~7 months.
This is aging well.
Anyone watch Civale pitch vs Cubs as a White Sox player? Was lights out first four innings. He basically refused to go to the pen in Milwaukee but gives the Cubs more value as a closer than a four inning starter. He hasn’t pitched since Sept 1. Based on what I saw a month ago he should be the first player tried in the closers role. Tasked with a job of an inning he might flourish.
Bopper, I agree that Civale should now be used in the pen. And I think that it might work out well. But not in the closers role. Keller, should get that role.
DougDe, maybe you should take the time to check – Before you post.
Does Civale’s fastball clock in at anything past the low 90s? The days of junk-throwing closers a la Doug Jones ended thirty years ago. Civale was acquired to be a mop-up man or, at best, a middle-inning reliever.
Shoulder tightness? I don’t think we see him until Spring Training 2026. Next man up, or whoever has the hot hand really.
I like when he was setup man, and Keller closes.
Bet the pecking order is Kitt>Keller>Thielbar. Cards fan but ngl this is a fun Cubs team and I’m bummed for em. Love an out of nowhere story like Palencia.
What do kitteridge Pomerania keller and thielbar have in common? All were picked up off the scrap heap by hoyer and are nearing end of road except for Keller who has saved face for hoyer and Keller soon to be designated closer. What a joke!
And I’d love to see Keller close for 2 or 3 straight games and see his velocity dips and his arm falls off.
Have you ever played competitive athletics? You sound like an unappreciative novice. And that’s putting it nicely.
we get it, you hate the Cubs (and know little about baseball)
Huge bummer. This isn’t really something you recovery from in a few weeks.
He’s had a really good season. Why would he need some fake excuse for himself?
Most likely going to be Keller in that closer role now. It seemed to be trending that way originally until Palencia took charge and made it his own instead.
There is a part of me that thinks, however, that Kittredge might end up as the closer. He has this calm demeanor on the mound that seems immune to unraveling under pressure, so it might be wise to insert him more often into high-leverage situations.
This is a pretty big blow to the Cubs, but the bullpen has been phenomenal this year, far above expectation, and there’s no reason to believe they won’t step up as a whole.
Of course, the best way to bolster the bullpen is for the offense to pick back up. Sucked losing Tucker after he’d finally turned the corner, and PCA- though still struggling- seemed to be gaining a second wind himself lately. It’ll hurt a lot less to lose a high-leverage reliever if the offense makes high-leverage situations a rare thing.
It made no sense to use him today. He pitched in a losing effort (he didn’t get the loss) but it should’ve been Brad Keller who pitched the 8th or Andrew Kittredge for the 9th. No El Dragòn Daniel Palencia.
Who should care about Keller- big question should be whether Kelly can hit 4 more making it 7 of 9 with 20 or more homers. Yet their offense sucks as compared to the brewers. Incredible!
If anyone but Keller gets the ball in the 9th going forward the Cubs should fine Counsell. It should be his job to lose after how well he’s pitched int he 2nd half.
Given up three hits and no runs since the all star game. Three hits!!!
@FrankRoo,
What dollar amount do you suggest for Counsell’s fine?
As much as it takes for him to not try and close with Thielbar just because the 9th inning has a left handed leadoff hitter.
Even prior to his injury he’d been trending downward so this injury saved him from further ridicule and another excuse for hoyer. Palencia was an inexperienced closer to begin. They need to go 9-10 to reach 90 wins. Should be interesting if they make it now after losing series to pitiful nationals. Brewers will win division by 10 plus games like last year even with Tucker and a payroll fall short of the cubbies!
Your comments are trending downward. And by not posting drivel, you can save yourself ‘further ridicule’.
And tear up hoyer renegotiated contract and give him more money and years!
Wrong Ethan Roberts link.
There’s your new closer Roberts until he goes back to Iowa after one game!
Maybe Santana can pitch.
Brewers 1st pitching and hitting in league while cubs middle of the pack. Brewers deserve where they are at while cubs lucky they are where they’re at
Entire cubs pitching staff should ask for trades or released for lack of offensive support.!
It’s hard to swing a bat with your hands around your throat.
Keep explaining to yourselves why the Cubs CAN’T MISS making the playoffs, boys–then turn on the game and see why they might. The Cubs can’t lose their way into the postseason.
That’s where you are stubbornly off. Every year multiple teams “limp into the playoffs” playing below average baseball down the stretch.
If you’re paranoid about the big bad .500 Reds, they also lost. Say goodnight to them at least as far as making up 9 games on North Siders with only 18 to play even if they sweep a 3 gamer.
Giants pulled to within 8 games of Cubs and 3 of Mets (who lost and Mets still 5 back of Cubs) with just 18 to play. Perhaps you should rattle the cage of NYM fanbase b/c that gap is much more dicey if not careful.
This is a math issue (not people disputing Cubs lackluster play). Anyone can see the current version of Cubs isn’t playing well even from those of us who aren’t fans of theirs. Different issue altogether. You are arguing in vain
that not only will the Cubs lose almost all remaining games, but the Giants/Mets, etc behind them will “all” simultaneously make up a ton of ground despite its severe flaws.
Wait and see, cws. The Cubs cannot lose their way into the playoffs, and we can’t *reason* them into the playoffs.
I think they *will* lose almost all their remaining games. If they lose all 4 to the Reds, that lets the Reds back in. If the Dodgers sleepwalk through their games against the Giants, that probably puts the Giants in.
You are right that teams sometimes limp into the playoffs. But the Cubs are worse than limping. They cannot score more than 3 runs in a game, and usually don’t score that many. They might very well not exceed three in a game the rest of the way.
They are going to finish with a worse record than the Brewers, Phillies, Dodgers, Padres, and Mets. So if ONE of the Giants, Reds, D-backs, or Cardinals gets hot, that team could displace the Cubs for the last spot.
You can’t convince me it won’t happen. The Cubs COULD convince me–by winning tonight and tomorrow night in Atlanta.
How about them cubbies- 6 or 7 with 20 or more homers and they still can’t score enough on a consistent basis to win consistently!