September 8: Palencia has been positioned on the 15-day injured listing, based on a number of media personnel (together with Marquee’s Taylor McGregor). Ethan Roberts has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to take the open bullpen spot. Bruce Levine of 670 The Rating means that Keller is more likely to step into the ninth inning whereas Palencia is on the shelf.
September 7: The Cubs could also be going into the postseason with out their nearer. Daniel Palencia entered the ninth inning of Chicago’s sport in opposition to the Nationals earlier in the present day, however surrendered 5 runs and was pulled with out recording an out. The group termed Palencia’s ailment “shoulder tightness” on the time of his removing, however supervisor Craig Counsell informed reporters (together with Bruce Levine of 670 The Rating) following the sport that, extra particularly, Palencia was affected by a posterior capsule pressure in his proper shoulder.
Whereas specifics past that prognosis have been few and much between in Counsell’s description of the state of affairs, it appears all however sure that Palencia would require a visit to the injured listing and be out for fairly some time. Strains can naturally range in severity considerably, however one comparatively latest instance of a pitcher coping with a posterior capsule pressure is Mets right-hander Kodai Senga, who was shut down as a consequence of a average pressure in February of 2024. That kicked off what was kind of a misplaced season for Senga as a consequence of a number of accidents, however the preliminary prognosis for that pressure was anticipated to close him down from throwing for 3 weeks.
An analogous timeline would knock Palencia out for, at minimal, the rest of the common season and would possible end in him returning this 12 months provided that the Cubs make a comparatively deep run into the postseason. In fact, it’s doable that Palencia’s capsule pressure proves to be a comparatively delicate one which requires much less day off, and it’s not unimaginable to think about that he could possibly be again on the large league mound for in time for the tail finish of the common season; a 15-day stint on the injured listing, at this level, would enable Palencia to return to motion through the membership’s closing two collection of the common season in opposition to the Mets and Cardinals.
Nevertheless lengthy Palencia finally finally ends up being sidelined, the information is a brutal blow to Chicago. Acquired from the A’s in alternate for Andrew Chafin on the 2021 commerce deadline, Palencia made his large league debut in 2023 however has rounded into type as a dominant nearer this 12 months. Coming into play in the present day, the 25-year-old had posted a 2.12 ERA with a 2.59 FIP and 28.8% strikeout fee in 51 innings of labor for the Cubs this 12 months. He’s walked simply 7.8% of his opponents confronted and picked up 22 saves in 24 alternatives this 12 months to go along with six holds. That dominant manufacturing satisfied the Cubs to again off the from the excessive leverage aid market. They focused Andrew Kittredge and Taylor Rogers to bolster their bullpen quite than touchdown a extra surefire nearer like David Bednar or Jhoan Duran.
With Palencia seemingly out of fee in the interim, supervisor Craig Counsell will now must reconfigure his bullpen for the stretch run. Rogers has struggled since becoming a member of the Cubs, however Kittredge figures to be a part of the late-inning combine for the Cubs alongside Brad Keller, Caleb Thielbar, and maybe Drew Pomeranz. Keller and Thielbar particularly seem more likely to be within the dialog for save alternatives given their dominant seasons with the Cubs this 12 months. Keller has a 2.20 ERA and a pair of.99 FIP in 59 appearances, whereas Thielbar sports activities a 2.15 ERA and a pair of.68 FIP in 58 outings.
Palencia’s damage is the most recent irritating growth for a Cubs group that already had each Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker miss todays sport as a consequence of accidents. Happily, Counsell offered a constructive replace to reporters (together with Levine) relating to the standing of each hitters. Counsell indicated that Crow-Armstrong, who exited yesterday’s sport after fouling a ball off of his shin, could possibly be again within the lineup as quickly as tomorrow for the beginning of the membership’s collection in Atlanta. As for Tucker, the All-Star hasn’t performed since exiting Tuesday’s sport in opposition to the Braves and Levine notes that he’s unlikely to be again within the lineup tomorrow. Even so, Counsell urged that his operating improved in the present day and that he’s trending in the best path in the direction of a return to motion within the close to future.
