Cubs Place Julian Merryweather on IL, Recall Daniel Palencia

The Cubs have placed right-handed pitcher Julian Merryweather on the 15-day injury list retroactive to April 6 with a right shoulder strain. To fill his spot in the bullpen, they recalled right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia from Triple-A Iowa.

Palencia, 24, has made two appearances for Iowa this season and owns a 13.50 ERA with four strikeouts and three walks. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Oakland Athletics on Feb. 13, 2020, Palencia was acquired by the Cubs along with outfielder Greg Deichmann on July 26, 2021 in exchange for left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin.

This gives the Cubs another reliever capable of lighting up the radar gun in the upper 90s, which is quite a change from what we’ve seen from them in the past few years.

Merryweather, 32, has made four relief appearances this season for the Cubs, posting a 1.93 ERA with six strikeouts.