Chicago Cubs Closer Daniel Palencia Placed on Injured List

The Chicago Cubs have placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain, following a disastrous outing against the Washington Nationals on September 7, 2025. In that game, Palencia entered the ninth inning with a 3-1 lead but failed to retire any of the five batters he faced, ultimately allowing five runs, including a three-run home run by Josh Bell. His performance was marked by a notable decrease in velocity, with his four-seam fastball averaging 98.5 mph, down from his season average of 99.6 mph.

Cubs put closer Daniel Palencia (shoulder strain) on ILSports IllustratedESPNNewsweekCubs Officially Lose Closer

Palencia, 25, has had a significant impact on the Cubs' bullpen this season, recording 22 saves in 25 opportunities and maintaining a 3.00 ERA. His emergence as the primary closer came after earlier struggles from other pitchers, including Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge. However, his performance had been inconsistent in recent weeks, with a 5.94 ERA over his last 16.2 innings pitched leading up to the injury.

Newsweek

Cubs manager Craig Counsell provided an update on Palencia's condition, stating, “Danny felt some tightness in his posterior right shoulder. Docs have looked at him. That’s all we have right now. Probably let him just calm down a little bit and see how we are in a couple of days.” The team is currently in a "wait and see" mode regarding the severity of the injury, with hopes that Palencia may only miss a couple of weeks.

Heavy

In Palencia's absence, right-hander Ethan Roberts has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa to fill the roster spot. The Cubs may turn to a closer-by-committee approach, with Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge likely candidates to take over closing duties. Keller has been effective this season, boasting a 2.20 ERA, while Kittredge has also shown promise since joining the team.

Cubs roster move: Daniel Palencia to injured list, Ethan Roberts recalled

Despite the team's optimism, some analysts express concern over the bullpen's depth without Palencia. The Cubs had previously avoided acquiring a high-profile closer at the trade deadline, relying instead on Palencia's performance to stabilize the bullpen. With his injury, the Cubs face challenges as they aim to maintain their position in the National League wild card race, where they currently hold a three-game lead over the San Diego Padres.

Newsweek

The Cubs are set to begin a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves, where they will need to adapt their strategy without their primary closer. The team is also monitoring the health of other players, including outfielders Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong, who have also faced injuries recently.

Sports Illustrated

While some reports suggest that Palencia's injury may not be severe, others indicate that it could sideline him for a significant portion of the remainder of the season. The variability in injury severity and recovery timelines adds uncertainty to the Cubs' plans as they approach the postseason.

Cubs play it safe by pushing Daniel Palencia to IL as postseason nears

• “com’s Ryan Herrera, “ “Danny felt some tightness in his posterior right shoulder.” — Craig Counsell, Cubs Manager

Cubs closer Daniel Palencia exits with gruesome looking injury

• “We're just going to get the treatment and see how it responds over the next couple of days and then go from there,” — Craig Counsell on Palencia's Recovery

ESPN