Palencia picked up the save in Wednesday's 5-4 win over Cleveland, allowing one unearned run on no hits and one walk with no strikeouts in the ninth inning.
The save was the 10th of the campaign for Palencia, who has stepped up as Chicago's clear favorite for saves. The right-hander has converted each of his last 10 save opportunities, turning in an outstanding 1.17 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 19:4 K:BB over his past 15.1 innings. The Cubs could look to upgrade their bullpen ahead of the trade deadline later this month, but it appears the team's closing job is Palencia's to lose for the time being.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Locks down ninth save
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Palencia picked up the save in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Guardians. He allowed no hits or walks while striking out two over a perfect inning.
Palencia quietly set the Guardians down in order Tuesday to notch his ninth save of the season. The right-hander has emerged as the Cubs' most dependable closing option this season, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB across 30 innings in 28 appearances. Backed by a 99.5 mph fastball and sharper command than in years past, Palencia has delivered a standout first half.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Secures eighth save
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Palencia earned the save in Thursday's 3-0 win over the Cardinals, allowing one hit while striking out three in a scoreless ninth inning.
Palencia was summoned to protect a three-run lead and worked around a double and a hit batter by striking out the next three hitters to close things out. Through eight June appearances, the 26-year-old has converted all three of his save chances while allowing two earned runs and posting an 11:1 K:BB. He's 8-for-9 in save opportunities this season with a 1.86 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 33:10 K:BB across 29 innings.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Earns another save Tuesday
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Palencia worked around a hit to toss a scoreless ninth inning and earn the save in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Brewers. He struck out one.
After Ryan Pressly picked up a save Thursday, Palencia has now recorded the last two saves for the Cubs, giving him seven for the year in eight chances. The latter has earned the right to close out games, as he's now sporting a 1.67 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 29 strikeouts across 27 innings this season. Pressly has re-entered the mix for saves due to his strong play lately, but it appears that Palencia is still the top Chicago reliever to target for fantasy purposes.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Bypassed in save opportunity
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Palencia worked a scoreless eighth inning to earn a hold in Thursday's 3-2 win over the Pirates, with Ryan Pressly working the ninth to secure the save.
For the first time since April 13, Pressly managed to earn a save as Palencia picked up his sixth hold of the season. Palencia had taken on closing duties in Chicago due to Pressly's poor start to the season, though the latter has now rattled off 14 straight appearances without allowing an earned run and has seemingly regained manager Craig Counsell's trust. Palencia could still see some ninth inning work moving forward, though his fantasy stock has taken a hit with Pressly back on the map.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Takes second loss
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Palencia (0-2) allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and a walk across an inning of work to take the loss Monday against the Phillies.
Palencia was tasked with working the bottom of the 10th inning in a 2-2 game, and outside of an intentional walk to Kyle Schwarber, he was able to get through the frame fairly quickly. The 11th was a different story, however, as the righty allowed four straight hits to take his second loss of the year. Palencia isn't often asked to work more than one inning, as he's retired four or more batters just four times in 21 appearances. Despite the hiccup, the 25-year-old has been solid with a 1.96 ERA, and he should remain Chicago's top closing option for the time being, though Porter Hodge (oblique/hip) could join the mix at some point when he's healthy. Opening Day closer Ryan Pressly is also pitching better after a rough start, so Palencia will need to pitch well to keep his grip on the role.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Earns another save Saturday
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Palencia tossed a scoreless ninth inning with a strikeout to secure the save in Saturday's 2-0 win over the Reds.
Palencia now has five saves on the season, and all of them have come in the past 10 days. The righty is pitching well with a sparkling 1.74 ERA and 0.77 WHIP, and he's emerged as Chicago's top closer for the time being due to Ryan Pressly struggling earlier in the year and Porter Hodge (oblique) being on the injured list. Hodge's return could complicate things at the back end of Chicago's bullpen, though it seems like Palencia has done enough to hold onto the job, at least if he continues to perform at a high level.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Secures yet another save
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Palencia earned a save against the Rockies on Wednesday, striking out two batters in a perfect inning of work.
Palencia entered for the ninth inning with Chicago hanging onto a one-run lead, and he set the side down in order on 14 pitches (10 strikes) to secure a Cubs win. The right-hander had no saves midway through May, but since Porter Hodge (oblique) went on the IL on May 20, Palencia has racked up four saves in four chances while registering a 5:0 K:BB over four scoreless innings. Considering his success so far in the closer role, Palencia can be expected to get most of Chicago's save opportunities for at least as long as Hodge is on the shelf, which could be a while longer since manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Hodge isn't making much progress in his recovery.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Notches third save
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Palencia picked up the save in Monday's 3-1 victory over the Rockies, pitching a clean inning with two strikeouts.
The 25-year-old righty placed eight of his 13 total pitches in the strike zone to convert his third straight save chance. Palencia appears to have fully overtaken the closer's job in Chicago while Porter Hodge (oblique) is on the injured list. Palencia has been impressive through 18.2 frames this season, pitching to a 1.93 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 19:7 K:BB.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Earns second save
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Palencia earned the save in Sunday's 11-8 win over the Reds, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in a scoreless ninth inning.
Palencia entered with a three-run lead and worked around a leadoff single, throwing 18 of his 21 pitches for strikes. The 25-year-old appears to have earned manager Craig Counsell's trust, getting the Cubs' last three save opportunities and converting two of them. On the season, he owns a 2.04 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 17:7 K:BB across 17.2 innings.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Earns first 2025 save
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Palencia tossed a scoreless ninth inning to record the save in Wednesday's 2-1 win over the Marlins.
After blowing a save and taking the loss Monday, Palencia pitched much better Wednesday, earning his first save of the season and just his second ever at the MLB level. The righty is seeing some time in the closer role with Porter Hodge (oblique) currently on the injured list and Ryan Pressly struggling. Palencia could strengthen his grip on the job if he pitches well while Hodge is on the shelf, and he's mostly done that in 2025, as he's now sitting with a 2.16 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 16 strikeouts across 16.2 innings.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Heads back to Triple-A
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The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Just one day after being called up from Triple-A, Palencia will return to Iowa with the Cubs needing to open up a spot on the 28-man active roster for lefty Justin Steele (elbow), who will return from the 15-day injured list to start Wednesday's game against the Athletics. Palencia struck out two over two perfect innings out of the bullpen in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to Oakland.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Recalled from Triple-A
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The Cubs recalled Palencia from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Palencia has collected a 7.11 ERA over nine appearances out of the Cubs' bullpen this season. The hard-throwing right-hander will give the club a fresh relief arm.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Dispatched to Iowa
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The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Saturday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Palencia will end up as the Cubs' roster casualty as Shawn Armstrong, who was claimed off waivers from St. Louis on Friday, officially joins the active roster Saturday. Palencia appeared in two games for Chicago during his latest big-league stint, allowing two runs over 1.2 innings while striking out two batters and issuing four walks.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Sent back to Iowa
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The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Palencia was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Saturday for the second game of a doubleheader versus the Cardinals. However, the 24-year-old didn't make an appearance in his brief stint with the big club and will now head back to Triple-A.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Lands on IL with shoulder injury
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The Cubs placed Palencia on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right shoulder stiffness, Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Palencia was touched up for three runs over an inning of work in Monday's loss to the Padres and finds himself on the IL a day later. It's not clear at this point how long he might be sidelined. Keegan Thompson will absorb Palencia's spot in the Cubs' bullpen.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Heads back to Triple-A
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The Cubs optioned Palencia to Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
One of six relievers who worked in Tuesday's 12-11 loss to Arizona, Palencia will be swapped off the 26-man active roster for a fresh bullpen arm in Hayden Wesneski, who was recalled from Iowa in a corresponding move. Palencia had given up at least one run in each of his three relief appearances for Chicago this season and posted a 5:7 K:BB over six innings.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Notches three-inning save
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Palencia secured a save after he pitched three innings, surrendering one run on a hit and two walks while striking out two batters in Sunday's 8-1 win over the Dodgers.
Palencia was called up from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, and he was instantly given some extended run. Outside of an RBI double by Shohei Ohtani in the top of the eighth inning, the 24-year-old held Los Angeles down while recording the final nine outs of the contest. Palencia appeared in 27 games with the Cubs in 2023, producing a 4.45 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with 33 strikeouts over 28.1 innings, something he'll look to build off of in 2024.
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Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Joining big club
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Palencia was recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Sunday, Tony Andracki of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The right-hander failed to make the Cubs' Opening Day roster but will now join the MLB club with Julian Merryweather (shoulder) headed to the injured list. Palencia made his big-league debut last season and had a 4.45 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 33:14 K:BB across 28.1 innings out of the bullpen.
