Daniel Palencia Fantasy Stats

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (elbow) was activated off the 60-day Injured List ahead of Friday's game against the Seattle Mariners, Taylor McGregor reports. Palenica is officially back in the mix after being sidelined since mid-June due to an elbow issue. When healthy, Palencia has posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, and a 19/6 K/BB ratio across 16.2 innings of work in 19 appearances. Jacob Webb was pitching well as the closer while Palencia was out, but he'll move out of that role now. Fantasy managers looking for a source of saves should snag Palencia off the waiver wire before it's too late. In a corresponding move, right-hander Javier Assad was optioned to Triple-A Iowa on Friday

Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) will be activated from the 60-day injured list on Friday before the series opener against the Seattle Mariners, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Palencia was the Cubs' primary closer earlier this year before he landed on the injured list on June 16 with a flexor strain in his right elbow, but it remains to be seen how manager Craig Counsell will manage the back end of his bullpen down the stretch with Palencia back in the fold. Jacob Webb has emerged as a trusted source of saves for the Cubbies, having converted seven straight saves while giving up zero runs in his last 23 outings out of the bullpen. At the very least, Palencia will be eased into high-leverage situations in Chicago as he returns from yet another injury. The 26-year-old Venezuelan had a career-high 22 saves in the regular season in 2025, but he has appeared in only 19 games in 2026 while saving three games in 16 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers scrounging for saves should be interested in stashing Palencia, who is rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Daniel Palencia (elbow) will be activated off the injured list "soon," per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. Palencia has been on the IL since mid-June due to elbow inflammation, but he's made five minor league rehab appearances since August 5 and appears to be on the doorstep of a return to the big leagues. Across 16 2/3 innings (19 games) on the year, Palencia has recorded a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, 19 strikeouts, and three saves. The Cubs have deployed a closer committee for most of the year and could continue to do so once Palencia returns. However, the 26-year-old recorded 22 saves in 2025 and profiles as Chicago's highest-upside relief arm. Ahead of his impending activation, Palencia should be viewed as a priority waiver wire target in any fantasy league where he remains available.

Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) didn't exactly have the greatest first minor-league rehab outing on Wednesday at Triple-A Iowa. Palencia allowed an earned run on one hit while walking two and striking out one in two-thirds of an inning to blow the save against Triple-A Indianapolis. He threw half of his pitches for strikes but did sit around 98 mph with his fastball, which is encouraging. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler last pitched for the Cubbies on June 15, so he will need at least a couple more rehab appearances to try to get his command in the right place. Once reinstated from the 15-day injured list, the Cubs could ease Palencia back into high-leverage situations out of the bullpen, but the expectation is that Palencia will once again become manager Craig Counsell's preferred option for saves in the ninth inning. Palencia has appeared in only 19 games this year and has a 2.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, three saves, and 19 strikeouts in 16 2/3 innings pitched after he saved a career-high 22 games for Chicago last year. Palencia is rostered in only 59% of Yahoo leagues. Now is the time to scoop him up if you need saves.

Chicago Cubs right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia (elbow) will start a minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday, according to Meghan Montemurro of The Chicago Tribune. Palencia has been sidelined since June 16 with a mild right flexor strain, but the 26-year-old is nearing a return to the major-league bullpen for the stretch run. Because of injuries in 2026, Palencia has only thrown 16 2/3 innings and recorded all three of his saves after picking up a career-high 22 saves in 54 regular-season appearances in 2025. The Cubs picked up right-handed reliever Ryan Zeferjahn from the Los Angeles Angels at Monday's trade deadline, but when back and fully healthy, Palencia is expected to take over as the team's primary closer in the ninth inning. Fantasy managers searching for saves should look to stash Palencia now. He's rostered in 59% of Yahoo leagues. Along with his three saves in 16 2/3 frames this year, Palencia has a 2.70 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, and 19:6 K:BB.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (elbow) is set to throw a live bullpen session on Saturday after completing multiple bullpen sessions over the past week. Manager Craig Counsell noted that if the 26-year-old reliever feels good coming out of the live session, he could be in line to begin a minor league rehab assignment shortly afterward. If everything goes according to plan and he avoids any setbacks, there is a chance he could return to the Cubs by the middle of August, giving the team its top reliever back to close out games for the final six weeks of the season. Palencia has struggled to stay healthy throughout his career, but when healthy, he has been highly effective, recording 25 saves over the past two seasons.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Daniel Palencia (elbow) had a "great" bullpen on Saturday and will throw another bullpen on Tuesday, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. Montemurro notes that the Cubs' current timeline for Palencia puts him on track to begin a rehab assignment the week of August 3. The 26-year-old has been sidelined since mid-June due to a flexor strain. Across 16 2/3 innings (19 games) before the injury, Palencia recorded a 2.70 ERA and 1.38 WHIP with 19 strikeouts and three saves. The Cubs have taken a committee approach to the ninth inning in Palencia's absence, but Palencia could re-assume the team's primary closer role upon his return. In leagues where Palencia is available on the waiver wire, he profiles as a priority stash candidate ahead of a potential mid-August return.

Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Friday that right-handed reliever Daniel Palencia's (elbow) timeline for a return from the 15-day injured list is unclear, but he speculated that it could come in the middle of August, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers. It's not exactly what fantasy managers who have been stashing Palencia want to hear. He's currently rostered in 60% of Yahoo leagues while he rehabs a right-elbow injury. The 26-year-old Venezuelan hurler presumably will return as the Cubs' primary closer when he's healthy, but he might not have much of a runway to close out the year and return much fantasy value. Before his elbow injury landed him on the IL, Palencia was 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, three saves, 19 strikeouts, and just six walks across his 16 2/3 frames. The Cubs' late-inning saves picture has turned into a committee situation going into the second half of the season involving Jacob Webb, Trent Thornton, and Caleb Thielbar.

Chicago Cubs right-handed closer Daniel Palencia (elbow) is progressing from his elbow tendinitis, but manager Craig Counsell said that he will not be activated from the 15-day injured list until after the All-Star break in mid-July, according to Bruce Levine of the Marquee Sports Network. Palencia landed on the IL on June 16 and has yet to resume throwing. Fantasy managers stashing the 26-year-old high-leverage arm are going to need to be patient. In a best-case scenario, Palencia won't be back on Chicago's major-league roster until late July. In the meantime, Counsell is currently rolling with a closer-by-committee situation in the ninth inning that features Caleb Thielbar, Jacob Webb, and Trent Thornton. Thielber and Webb are both rostered in 2% of Yahoo leagues right now, while Thornton is available in all of Yahoo leagues. Palencia has a 2.70 ERA (3.46 FIP), 1.38 WHIP, three saves, 19 strikeouts, and six walks in 16 2/3 innings this year while dealing with injuries. He had a career-high 22 saves in 54 regular-season outings in 2025 in a breakout campaign. When he returns, Palencia should return to regular closing duties in the second half of the season.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia (elbow) was diagnosed with a mild flexor strain on Saturday, providing some clarity regarding the injury that has sidelined him for nearly a week. Manager Craig Counsell said that the 26-year-old recently underwent an MRI, which revealed the strain, though it was determined to be minor. The Cubs' closer will be shut down through the team's upcoming road trip, which begins on Monday and concludes next Sunday. At that point, he will be re-evaluated, and a clearer course of action can be determined. In his absence, the Cubs could turn to a committee approach, with Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar, and Jacob Webb all potentially emerging as options to handle save opportunities and close out games for Chicago.