Cubs closer Daniel Palencia suffered a mild flexor strain in his right forearm, manager Craig Counsell announced Saturday. The 26-year-old underwent an MRI on Friday after experiencing elbow inflammation following Monday's win over Colorado, leading to his placement on the injured list.

Palencia will remain shut down from throwing throughout the upcoming seven-game road trip against the Mets, with throwing activities paused until June 29 at the earliest. This timeline pushes his potential return to July, removing Chicago's primary ninth-inning option for roughly three weeks.

The young reliever has converted just three saves this season while posting a 2.70 ERA over 19 appearances, striking out 19 batters in 16⅔ innings. This marks his second IL stint this year after an oblique injury in April. Without Palencia, the Cubs will deploy a closer by committee approach, distributing late-inning responsibilities among their remaining bullpen arms.

Chicago's bullpen depth will face immediate testing during the extended road swing. The committee approach gives multiple relievers opportunities to prove themselves in high-leverage situations while Palencia recovers, potentially reshaping the team's relief hierarchy for the remainder of the season.