PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The Chicago Cubs today recalled right-handed pitchers Daniel Palencia and Keegan Thompson from Triple-A Iowa. The team placed right-handed pitcher Julian Merryweather on the 15-day injured list with right knee tendinitis (retroactive to August 26) and optioned right-handed pitcher Jack Neely to Triple-A Iowa.
Palencia, 24, is 0-1 with a 6.55 ERA (8 ER/11.0 IP) in seven appearances with the Cubs this season. He earned his first career save on April 7 against the Dodgers in a 3.0-innings outing in which he allowed one run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. In 27 games with Triple-A Iowa, he is 2-1 with three saves, a 5.46 ERA (19 ER/31.1 IP) and 54 strikeouts. His 15.51 strikeouts per 9.0 innings leads triple-A pitchers (min. 25 G).
The San Carlos, Venezuela, native made his major league debut on July 4, 2023 against the Brewers (2.0 IP, 1 H) and picked up his first career win. Palencia was acquired from the Oakland Athletics with infielder Greg Deichmann for left-handed pitchers Andrew Chafin on July 26, 2021.
Thompson, 29, has appeared in 13 games for the Cubs this season and posted a 1-1 record with one save and a 3.50 ERA (7 ER/18.0 IP). He last pitched with the Cubs on June 26 before landing on the injured list with a fractured rib and then optioned to triple-A. With the I-Cubs this year, he is 2-1 with one save and a 2.96 ERA (9 ER/27.1 IP) across 20 outings. His 0.91 WHIP ranks seventh among triple-A pitchers with at least 15 appearances.
The six-foot one-inch righty is 16-11 with a 3.77 ERA (90 ER/215.0 IP) in 93 career games, including 23 starts, across parts of four seasons, all with the Cubs.
Merryweather, 32, is 1-1 with a 6.60 ERA (11 ER/15.0 IP) across 15 appearances with Chicago this season.
Neely, 24, made his major league debut on August 21 vs. Detroit and has made four appearances with the Cubs, posting a 13.50 ERA (6 ER/4.0 IP).
The Cubs play the Pittsburgh Pirates tonight at 5:40 p.m. CT in Pittsburgh at PNC Park in a game that can be seen on Marquee and heard on 670 The Score.
