Daniel Palencia May Need Reset Even if Shoulder Issue Clears Quickly
I was going to go all Michael Canter and use a Nine Inch Nails “Closer” epigram due to the heteronymous nature of the song title, but maybe it’s best to avoid any problematic content and just lean into “The Downward Spiral” instead. Daniel Palencia earned his first save of the season on May 21, making him the seventh Cubs pitcher to do so this season. Most of those were one-off situations, products of circumstance with guys like Colin Rea (March 31 at Sacramento) and Chris Flexen (May 2 at Milwaukee) being used as needed.
The Cubs had to play musical chairs when closer Ryan Pressly struggled through injury and poor performance, same for Porter Hodge. Palencia didn’t even break camp with the big club because previous control problems had them opt for additional seasoning at Triple-A. After being promoted on April 15, it took Palencia 15 appearances to earn his first save. He even recorded five or more outs in two of his first three MLB outings this season.
Palencia assumed the full-time closer role on May 21 and has since recorded 22 saves, third in MLB during that stretch (Carlos Estevez, 24; Trevor Megill, 23). Lately, however, things have gotten very rocky. The big fastball that had held opponents to a .161 average and .258 slugging percentage through July has been victimized for a .314 average and .457 slugging since the start of August. After giving up just a single run over a stretch of 17 games, the 25-year-old has surrendered at least one in seven of his last 14 outings.
The worst of those was quite obviously his implosion Sunday afternoon that saw him give up five scores on two homers, a triple, a single, and a walk without retiring a batter. That was the insult, then came the injury. Palencia grimaced in pain and dropped his glove on the mound after uncorking an awful fastball at over 100 mph, then left the game with what the Cubs are calling tightness in the “posterior right shoulder.” He certainly got kicked in the posterior, that’s for sure.
Daniel Palencia exited today’s game with an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/n19CIATSUD
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 7, 2025
Having a shaky closer is bad enough in and of itself, but it’s been an even bigger issue for a Cubs team that hasn’t been scoring enough to use mop-up relievers late in games. They’ve scored three or fewer runs three times in six September games, all losses, and have played in 15 one-run games since the start of August. Even if this is the same thing that happened to him earlier in the season, something Counsell called a “very small” issue that apparently only lasted for one day, the Cubs would be wise to explore other options in the 9th inning.
Update: Palencia has been placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain. At the very least, this will keep him out until almost the end of the regular season.
Given his recent performance, particularly the way hitters have been jumping on his fastball, getting a mental reset might be best for Palencia at this point. That means relying on one or more other relievers to cover those high-leverage situations, and the Cubs do have some options there. Rather than diving into those here, we’ll have a companion piece coming out that will look at who should take over as closer and why.
Regardless of who that ends up being, I’d prefer that the offense simply plays a prolonged game of “F the Closer” and starts putting up double-digit scores much more frequently. Hey, a boy can dream.
Ed. note: I’m sure more than one reader believes I should have opted for “Head Like a Hole” depending on their disdain for either me or Counsell. Maybe Jed Hoyer as well.
