Episode Details

Daniel Palencia is inching closer to returning to the Cubs bullpen, but don’t expect him back in the closer’s role right away—his elbow inflammation has sidelined him since mid-June, limiting him to just 16⅔ innings this season. The team’s priority? Get him back on the mound, build arm strength, and ease him into action. In his absence, Jacob Webb has been lights out, allowing zero runs in his last 18 appearances—including dominant outings against tough opponents—and has firmly earned his spot closing games for now. Manager Craig Counsell emphasized Palencia’s return won’t be a simple handoff: he needs minor league rehab innings first before facing high-leverage situations again. Meanwhile, Kevin Gausman’s “revenge game” against the Blue Jays is off—he was traded to the Cubs and will make his debut this weekend in Kansas City, after a rough outing against them earlier this season. The Cubs are playing some of their best baseball since early June, sporting one of the NL’s top records, but still trailing the division-leading Brewers. That could shift fast, as they’re set to face Milwaukee in a crucial seven-game series late August.

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