ATLANTA -- One of the stories of the season for the Cubs was the steady ascension of Daniel Palencia to the closer’s role in the bullpen. Chicago is now facing uncertainty over how long the hard-throwing righty will be sidelined as the October stage looms.
Prior to Monday’s game against the Braves, the Cubs placed Palencia on the 15-day injured list due to a right shoulder strain -- sustained in Sunday’s 6-3 loss to the Nationals. Cubs manager Craig Counsell was not yet able to forecast whether Palencia might be able to return before the end of the regular season.
“I don’t think I know the answer to that question right now,” Counsell said.
The current plan detailed by Counsell includes allowing the 25-year-old Palencia to undergo treatment this week in Atlanta to see if his symptoms subside. With a team off-day coming on Thursday, Counsell said Palencia will be reevaluated after this series before determining the next step in his comeback bid.
“We’re going to take these three days to treat him,” Counsell said. “And then I think Friday in Chicago we’ll probably have a better idea of what direction this is going to go.”
Counsell said Palencia had not experienced discomfort in his shoulder until Sunday’s outing, in which he gave up five runs in the ninth inning. Following a 100.4 mph fastball to Washington’s Andrés Chaparro, Palencia hunched over in pain and slapped the mound with his left hand in frustration.
Including Sunday’s showing, Palencia has posted an 8.74 ERA in his past 14 appearances, allowing 11 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings. Prior to that stretch, the righty had logged a 1.36 ERA in his previous 38 games, piling up 42 strikeouts in 39 2/3 innings. He now has a 3.00 ERA overall with 59 strikeouts, 16 walks and 22 saves in 52 games (51 innings).
With Palencia landing on the shelf, the Cubs recalled righty Ethan Roberts to help the relief corps. The most logical pick to slide into save situations would be righty Brad Keller, who boasted a 2.17 ERA through 60 appearances and entered Monday having yielded no runs in his last 20 games.
Counsell said the Cubs will proceed without anyone serving specifically as a closer, preferring to lean on his leverage arms based on matchups and situations.
“It’s as simple as trying to get 27 outs. And however that lines up, it lines up,” Counsell said. “[The other relievers] don’t have to step up. They just have to continue doing what they’re doing. That’s the answer. The other guys in the bullpen, just keep doing what you’re doing.”
TUCKER NEARING RETURN
Cubs star outfielder Kyle Tucker went through a series of agility drills in left field at Truist Park on Monday afternoon, testing out the left calf that has kept him out of the lineup since Tuesday. While Tucker remained out of the lineup for the series opener against the Braves, Counsell said the outfielder was potentially available off the bench.
Counsell did not rule out having Tucker back in the starting lineup on Tuesday.
“He got pretty darned close to full speed,” Counsell said. “[He should avoid the IL] as long as we’re having days where we’re moving forward and getting closer, and that’s what we’ve felt the last two days especially. We’re in a pretty good place.”
OTHER INJURY NOTES
• Cubs right-hander Jameson Taillon (15-day IL, left groin strain) is scheduled to return from the IL for a start against the Braves on Thursday, per Counsell. The manager said righty Javier Assad would likely move into the bullpen.
• Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (right knee contusion) was in the lineup as the designated hitter on Monday. Counsell said Crow-Armstrong should be ready to return to the field by Tuesday or Wednesday.
• Righty Michael Soroka (15-day IL, right shoulder strain) is scheduled for a multi-inning Minor League rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday. He might be ready to rejoin the Cubs after that step.
• Reliever Ryan Brasier (15-day IL, left groin strain) was in Atlanta to throw a bullpen session and work with the pitching group on his mechanics. He walked all three batters he faced in his latest Triple-A rehab game on Sunday.