The Chicago Cubs are facing a mounting crisis on the mound after placing closer Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list. Palencia suffered a left oblique strain after a strong start to the season, where he recorded one save in five appearances without allowing a single run. This follows his recent success helping Venezuela win the WBC championship.

Adding to the turmoil, right-hander Cade Horton underwent his second career Tommy John surgery on Thursday. The former Rookie of the Year runner-up faces a recovery period of 15 to 16 months. This loss strips the rotation of a top starter, while setup men Phil Maton and Hunter Harvey already occupy the injured list with knee and triceps issues.

Manager Craig Counsell is now forced to shuffle his staff to cover the void of right-handed relief. The team expects starter Matthew Boyd to return from a biceps injury next Wednesday. To fill the immediate gap, the Cubs will move either Javier Assad or Colin Rea into a relief role to stabilize the bullpen.