Pitching problems: Palencia goes on IL as Horton gets recovery timeline
The pitching news keeps getting worse for the Cubs. Just before the start of Friday's game against the Mets, the team placed closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to April 14.
Palencia has been perfect so far this season, with a 0.00 ERA, allowing just 3 hits over 5 innings, with one save.
There's no telling who might close for the Cubs while Palencia is out. Phil Maton (right knee tendinitis), Hunter Harvey (right triceps inflammation) and Ethan Roberts (right middle finger laceration) are already on the injured list, while Porter Hodge is about to have Tommy John surgery and is done for the year.
That probably leaves rookie left-hander Riley Martin as the Cubs most successful reliever. He has yet to allow a run in 4⅓ innings pitched. Hoby Milner (2.16 ERA), Caleb Thielbar (3.00) and Ben Brown (3.07) have been decent. Ryan Rolison has pitched just 1 inning since being called up from Iowa. Jacob Webb (5.40 ERA) and Charlies Barnes (9.00) haven't been sharp so far. Luke Little was also called up recently.
Horton timeline set
The Cubs already knew pitcher Cade Horton was headed for a long recovery. After undergoing surgery on his right elbow Thursday, the timeline became more official.
“Cade ended up having a UCL revision,” manager Craig Counsell said Friday. “So they repaired the flexor and the brace, so it's the 15-, 16-month recovery.”
Needless to say, this was a huge setback for the team, losing the pitcher who was expected to lead the staff. He produced a stellar 1.03 ERA in his last 12 starts of 2025, then was solid in two starts this year before leaving the mound after one inning in Cleveland on April 3.
This is Horton's second Tommy John surgery on his right arm in roughly six years. He had the procedure done in college at Oklahoma.
“When something like this happens, the only thing you can do is worry about what's next,” Counsell said. “Cade talked about just kind of worrying about today, make today the best you can and keep doing that. That's how you somehow speed this process along a little bit. If you get too far ahead of yourself, it's certainly a long recovery and that doesn't help.”
This is the second year in a row the Cubs lost a key starter to Tommy John surgery. Justin Steele was sidelined after his fourth start in 2025. The Cubs are hoping to have him back in the majors in June or July.
Boyd is back
Matthew Boyd was back in the Cubs clubhouse Friday after making a rehab start for Triple-A Iowa the previous day. The plan is for him to start for the Cubs on Wednesday against Philadelphia.
“I feel really good today, that's the important thing,” Boyd said. “Just going to get ready for my next one. Excited for Wednesday and we'll just build toward that each day.”
Boyd's pitching line against Columbus wasn't ideal. He went 3⅔ innings, allowing 4 hits and 3 earned runs, with 6 strikeouts. The hits were bunched together in the second inning, and according to StatCast, he allowed just one hard-hit ball.
The left-hander went on the injured list April 6 with a left biceps strain. He had a rough outing in the season opener, giving up 6 earned runs in a loss to Washington. Boyd was much better in his second start, recording 10 strikeouts on just 2 hits in a win over the Angels.