Daniel Palencia Update: Cubs Closer Returns From Injured List
The Chicago Cubs have started the month of May on a hot streak, winning four in a row and seven out of their last ten. On the heels of these wins they also sit atop the National League Central, albeit not by a large margin. The rival St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds sit only one game behind the division lead and are both chasing that top spot.
To help keep the winning ways afloat, the Cubs announced a roster move before Sunday's series closer against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Right-handed closing pitcher Daniel Palencia is being reinstated from the 15-day injured list. To make roster space for Palencia, fellow right-hander Yacksel Rios has been designated for assignment. (h/t Chicago Cubs).
Today's roster updates presented by @NuveenInv: pic.twitter.com/jyK0gwZxIg
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 3, 2026
Palencia went on the injured list on April 17, dealing with a lat strain in his non-throwing arm. He rejoins the club after making just one rehab appearance this past Friday for Triple-A Iowa. He tossed 19 pitches while retiring two of the batters he faced.
Palencia had undoubtedly earned the role of closer for the Cubs before going on the shelf, tossing five scoreless innings and one save. The Cubs have turned to five different relievers in Palencia's absence, notching six saves in the interim.
In those five innings pitched, Palencia has five strikeouts and a perfect 0.0 earned run average.
As for Rios, the 32-year-old was picked up by the squad on April 26 and only appeared in 1.2 innings for the squad in six games. It was his first time on a Major League squad since being apart of the Oakland Athletics during the 2023 season. The veteran reliever will now look to make it back to the Majors for any squad in need of a reliever.
Palencia's return to the active roster serves as good news for a team that is dealing with a number of injuries to their bullpen. The Cubs have LHP Caleb Thielbar, RHP Ethan Roberts, LHP Riley Martin and RHP Hunter Harvey on the injured list. This leaves the team still trying to recover some of their arms with the season still in its early months.
Palencia is in the midst of a one-year $808,000 contract with Chicago, and, being a player that the team wouldn't want to hit free agency, is expected to be a crucial signing once the winter meetings come at the end of the year.
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This story was originally published May 3, 2026 at 10:01 AM.