Less than one month into the season, injury woes have become a recurring theme for the Chicago Cubs pitching staff.
The latest pitcher to head to the injured list is closer Daniel Palencia, who suffered a left oblique strain, the team announced before Friday’s opening pitch of the three-game series against the New York Mets at Wrigley Field.
Palencia, who had one save and had not allowed a run in five appearances, was placed on the 15-day IL retroactive to April 14.
Manager Craig Counsell did not mention any issues with Palencia in his pregame press conference, and who would replace the closer is to be determined.
The Cubs have suffered multiple losses in the early going, including starters Cade Horton, who is out for the season, and Matthew Boyd, who is expected back next week from a 15-day IL stint for a left biceps strain. Relievers Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis), Hunter Harvey (right triceps inflammation) and Ethan Roberts (right middle finger laceration) are also on the IL, forcing Counsell to go with a patchwork bullpen.
Counsell said pregame that Horton’s UCL revision surgery would be a 15-16 month recovery process, so the pitcher wouldn’t be back until late in the 2027 season at the earliest. Boyd is scheduled to return to the Cubs on Wednesday after a rehab stint at Triple-A Iowa.
Maton will throw a bullpen on Saturday, and Harvey has yet to begin throwing again.
Outside of Horton, Palencia’s injury is obviously the most concerning, since oblique strains typically take several weeks to heal and he was their most effective reliever. Counsell could go with a closer by committee for the time being, though Ben Brown could be his best option if the manager decides to use a single replacement until Palencia recovers.
