Cubs Activate Closer Daniel Palencia From Injured List vs Mets

The Chicago Cubs got a timely boost in their playoff push. They reinstated hard-throwing closer Daniel Palencia from the 15-day injured list after a right shoulder strain.

Palencia came back during a resounding 10-3 win over the New York Mets. Manager Craig Counsell made it clear he’ll ease the 25-year-old fireballer back into action instead of tossing him straight into the closer role.

Just four games remain in the regular season, and the Cubs are clinging to a lead in the NL wild card race. Palencia’s comeback could prove pivotal for their postseason hopes.

Daniel Palencia Returns from Injury

Palencia last pitched on September 8. That night, his velocity dipped and he gave up five runs to Washington without recording a single out.

The right shoulder strain put him on the shelf. That raised plenty of questions about the Cubs’ bullpen depth as the season wound down.

On Wednesday night, Palencia entered in the sixth inning with Chicago holding an 8-2 lead. He quickly retired Pete Alonso and Starling Marte, hinting that his shoulder’s finally cooperating.

Still, Counsell stressed that Palencia won’t jump right back into ninth-inning duties. They’re focusing on gradually rebuilding his workload, and honestly, that’s probably the right call.

Season Stats Before Injury

Before hitting the injured list, Palencia had emerged as one of the National League’s most effective closers.

• 22 saves in 25 opportunities.
• 1-6 record.
• 2.96 ERA.
• Elite strikeout ability paired with a high-octane fastball and splitter.

Those numbers tell the story of a pitcher who, despite some rough outings, was a major weapon for Chicago’s relief corps.

Context of His Return

Velocity drop-offs are always a red flag for power pitchers. Palencia’s late-season blip against Washington set off alarms.

His fastball and splitter both dipped below his usual averages, and that robbed him of the ability to blow pitches past hitters. The Cubs didn’t hesitate—they put him on the injured list and gave him time to recover.

Managing Expectations

Fans might want Palencia back in high-leverage spots right away, but Counsell’s cautious approach makes sense. Chicago’s bullpen depth improved during his absence.

With the postseason looming, they can’t risk another setback for their top reliever. The plan is to let Palencia pitch in lower-pressure situations until he regains his full arm strength. It’s a waiting game, but sometimes that’s just how it goes.

Impact on the Cubs’ Playoff Race

The Cubs’ 10-3 rout of the Mets gave them some breathing room in the National League wild card standings. Chicago now sits 2 1/2 games ahead of San Diego for the first wild card slot with just four games left.

In a season where late-inning reliability could make or break October dreams, having Palencia—even in a reduced role—offers some reassurance. You can almost feel the collective sigh of relief.

Corresponding Move: Jordan Wicks

To make room for Palencia, the Cubs optioned struggling lefty Jordan Wicks to their training facility in Arizona. Wicks’ numbers this season haven’t been pretty:

• ERA of 7.94 across 11 1/3 innings.
• Difficulty adapting to a relief role after starting experience.
• Control issues leading to a high run allowance.

Wicks’ demotion stings, but it also shows how competitive the roster decisions have become in this final stretch. That’s baseball—sometimes it’s just brutal.

Mets Still Fighting

For the New York Mets, the loss dealt a blow to their own wild card hopes. They’re still in the hunt for the final postseason spot, but they can’t afford any more missteps.

Facing a Cubs squad with renewed pitching depth will test their resilience. At this point, every game feels like a must-win.

Final Thoughts

Daniel Palencia’s return feels huge for the Cubs as they chase a postseason spot.

A dominant closer can honestly mean the difference between an early playoff exit and a real run, and even in a smaller role, Palencia’s arm might just tip things in their favor.

If his velocity comes all the way back and Counsell’s careful approach works out, maybe we’ll see him back in the October spotlight—making the Cubs a scarier matchup for anyone.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Cubs activate closer Daniel Palencia from injured list before game against Mets