CHICAGO — The party atmosphere on the North Side took a small hit this week when the Chicago Cubs announced that their hard-throwing closer, Daniel Palencia, will miss the rest of April with a mild left lat strain.
The 102-mph Venezuelan flame-thrower felt discomfort in his side, prompting an MRI that delivered relatively good news. Initial concerns about a more serious oblique tear that could have shelved him for months were put to rest. Instead, the Cubs’ medical staff confirmed it’s only a mild lat strain, and they are officially targeting an early May return. Palencia is expected to begin a light throwing program as soon as this weekend.
In the meantime, the Cubs have turned to a bullpen-by-committee approach that has worked better than anyone expected. Veteran left-hander Caleb Thielbar has stepped up as the primary closer, while breakout arms Ben Brown and Porter Hodge have thrived in high-leverage situations. The group has helped fuel the Cubs’ current eight-game winning streak, proving the team has real depth in the late innings.
“Daniel is a huge part of what we want to do in the back end, but we’re not going to rush him back,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The fact that it’s mild is excellent news. He’s already working hard on core stabilization, and we fully expect him to be back at full strength before our first big road trip in May.”
Palencia’s value to the Cubs can’t be overstated. After helping lead Venezuela to a World Baseball Classic title in March, he made a seamless jump into the ninth-inning role, using his elite velocity and ability to dominate the top of the zone to give Chicago a psychological edge that few teams can match.
For now, the Cubs will lean on their impressive organizational depth. With starters Matthew Boyd and Jordan Wicks working their way back to full health, the pressure on the bullpen should ease in the coming weeks, keeping everyone fresh until their star closer is ready to return.
The outlook in Chicago remains very bright. Even with this minor setback, the Cubs are navigating the long grind of a 162-game season with a strong mix of veteran poise and young talent. If Palencia comes back healthy and firing in early May, the North Side could be in for a very fun summer.