Cubs Place Julian Merryweather on IL, Option Jack Neely, Recall Daniel Palencia & Keegan Thompson

You know the drill, just rolling with the media release for the sake of time. The only commentary I’ll add is that Daniel Palencia has looked really good at Iowa lately and his return to Chicago was overdue.

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.