BOSTON, Mass. – The Chicago Cubs today recalled RHP Daniel Palencia and selected the contract of LHP Richard Lovelady from Triple-A Iowa. In corresponding moves, the Cubs placed LHP Jordan Wicks (left forearm strain) on the 15-day IL and optioned LHP Luke Little to Iowa. The Cubs 40-man roster now stands at 40.
Lovelady, 28, is 1-2 with a 5.84 ERA (8 ER/12.1 IP) in 10 relief appearances with Iowa this season and has 20 strikeouts compared to just one walk. He last pitched in the major leagues last season with Oakland, making 27 relief appearances and going 0-3 with a 4.63 ERA (12 ER/23.1 IP). Between his time in the majors with Kansas City and Oakland, he has a career record of 2-6 with a 5.26 ERA (38 ER/65.0 IP) in 73 relief appearances.
A native of Hinesville, Ga., Lovelady was signed by the Cubs to a minor league contract with an invite to major league camp on January 31, 2024. A 10th round selection by Kansas City in the 2016 MLB Draft out of Kennesaw State University, Lovelady made his major league debut on April 9, 2019 with Kansas City vs. Seattle.
Palencia, 24, has made three appearances for the Cubs this season and has pitched to a 6.00 ERA (4 ER/6.0 IP). He picked up his first major league save on April 7 vs. Los Angeles (N.L.) in a 3.0 inning stint. In four appearances—including one start—for Iowa this season, he owns a 7.36 ERA (6 ER/7.1 IP) with 12 strikeouts and four walks.
The San Carlos, Venezuela native made his Major League debut on July 4, 2023 in Milwaukee, picking up the win after pitching 2.0 scoreless innings. With the Cubs in 2023, he posted a 5-3 record with a 4.45 ERA (14 ER/28.1 IP) in 27 relief appearances. His five wins tied a team high among relievers. Last season in the minors, he split time between Iowa and Double-A Tennessee, posting a combined record of 0-0 and a 6.83 ERA (22 ER/29.0 IP).
Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Oakland Athletics on Feb. 13, 2020, Palencia was acquired by the Cubs along with outfielder Greg Deichmann on July 26, 2021, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Andrew Chafin.
Little owns a 7.00 ERA (7 ER/9.0 IP) in 10 appearances—including one start—this season for the Cubs. In five starts for the Cubs this season, Wicks is 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA (12 ER/23.0 IP).
The Cubs play at Boston tonight at 6:10 p.m. CT in a game that can be seen nationally on ESPN and heard on 670 The Score.
