Cubs reliever Julian Merryweather was put on the 15-day IL due to a shoulder strain on Sunday. Daniel Palencia, who was playing with Triple-A Iowa, was consequently called up by the team to make his way to Chicago. After struggling to start 2023, Merryweather rebounded nicely to the tune of a 3.38 collective earned run average for the season across 72 innings, a 98/36 strikeout/walk ratio, 1.30 WHIP and an average of 12.3 strikeouts per 9 innings. He pitched 42/3rds innings to start 2024, allowing 1 earned run on 4 hits and striking out 6 batters, as opposed to 2 walks, numbers far better than his 3 previous seasons in Toronto.

As for Palencia, he’s a solid flamethrowing option (between 98-100 MPH) who was a bubble candidate for the team’s opening day roster. Ultimately, the Cubs decided for him to start in Triple-A to start the year, although, as this move indicates, he was a top option for a promotion should an injury occur. David Ross trusted him in high leverage situations a season ago, and Craig Counsell is seemingly trusting him as well as, in his first appearance, following a lengthy 2 hour 51 minute rain delay, Palencia pitched the final 3 innings as the Cubs won vs. the Dodgers. An ERA of 4.45, 33/14 K/BB ratio, a 1.27 WHIP and 10.5 K per 9 innings were the stats Palencia registered across 28.1 innings (27 games) in 2023. With this being his first full season, there’s still time for improvement and he should own a bright future like many young Cubs.

Photo Credit; Marquee Sports Network

By Nick