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Across five appearances for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, Palencia did not allow a hit while logging five scoreless innings and striking out nine.
Palencia closed out Venezuela's win over the United States on Tuesday to win the WBC, and it continued a dominant stretch for the flamethrowing righty throughout the tournament. Following a breakout 2025 campaign in which he recorded a 2.91 ERA, 22 saves and 61 strikeouts across 52.2 innings for the Cubs during the regular season, Palencia has already been named the team's closer heading into 2026 and could be in line for even better production now that his role in the bullpen is secure.
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Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Managing PCL strain
Rotowire
Suzuki was diagnosed with a sprained PCL in his right knee Tuesday, which manager Craig Counsell described as "good news," and the Cubs will wait to make a decision on the outfielder's Opening Day availability this weekend, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
The 31-year-old suffered the injury Saturday during the World Baseball Classic while attempting to steal second base. According to Bruce, Counsell said that Suzuki will do some light baseball activities while the swelling in his knee subsides, so it's encouraging that he's not being fully shut down. Still, his availability for the start of the season is now seriously in question.
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Cubs' Cade Horton: Punches out 10
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Horton allowed a run on three hits and one walk while striking out 10 in Monday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.
The right-hander surrendered six runs -- including three homers -- during his previous Cactus League outing last week, but he bounced back in dominant fashion Monday. Horton will be a pivotal rotation piece for the Cubs in 2026 after he posted a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 97:33 K:BB across 118 regular-season innings as a rookie last year.
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Undergoing MRI on injured knee
Rotowire
Suzuki will undergo an MRI on his injured right knee Monday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
Suzuki rejoined the Cubs on Monday after playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic. According to Levine, Suzuki was walking with a noticeable limp. The 31-year-old was injured Saturday against Team Venezuela when Suzuki attempted to steal second base. He was diagnosed with right knee discomfort, but the Cubs should know more following the MRI. If Suzuki is forced to miss time, it could open up at-bats for Matt Shaw and Michael Conforto in the outfield.
Long (elbow) went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rockies.
After facing live pitchers in a side session Friday, Long returned to game action a day later for the first time since late February. The 24-year-old sprained his elbow attempting to reach for a wide throw to first base, but he sustained no structural damage, and he now looks fully good to go after a few weeks of rehab work. Long is expected to begin the regular season with Triple-A Iowa and give the Cubs some depth behind Michael Busch.
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Cubs' Ben Brown: Keeps racking up strikeouts
Rotowire
Brown allowed one run on two hits across four innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Rockies. He struck out six.
Brown has been racking up strikeouts so far this spring, and he now has 15 of them across 10.2 Cactus League frames. This is in line with the tall righty's career 10.3 K/9 during the regular season. The problem for Brown to this point has been consistency, particularly with his secondary pitches. He's been experimenting with a sinker in camp and may use it frequently in 2026 if he finds success with it in the early going.
Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Dealing with right knee discomfort
Rotowire
Suzuki was removed Saturday from Team Japan's World Baseball Classic game versus Venezuela due to right knee discomfort and will continue to be evaluated, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.
Suzuki attempted to steal second base in the bottom of the first inning with a headfirst slide but came up limping afterward. He was shaking his right leg as he walked off the field with the trainer. Shota Morishita replaced Suzuki in center field. The Cubs will surely want to get Suzuki back to Arizona and get a complete diagnosis on their right fielder.
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Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Removed from WBC game with injury
Rotowire
Suzuki exited Saturday night's World Baseball Classic quarterfinals game against Venezuela in the bottom of the first inning with an undisclosed injury, Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com reports.
Suzuki was thrown out trying to steal second base and was injured on an awkward slide. He limped off the field with assistance from the training staff and was unable to take the field in the top of the second inning. Shota Morishita replaced Suzuki in center field. Suzuki's injury will be something to monitor in the coming days.
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Cubs' Jonathon Long: Faces pitchers Friday
Rotowire
Long (elbow) faced live pitching Friday as he continues to ramp up his activity level, MLB.com reports.
Long has resumed regular workouts and facing live pitching is another step forward in his rehab process from an injury he sustained in an exhibition game last month. The 24-year-old was diagnosed with a left elbow bruise and cleared of any structural issues earlier in March, so he should be fully healthy in the near future. Long figures to begin the season with Triple-A Iowa and could push toward the majors at some point if he continues to tear up the level like he did in 2025.
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Cubs' Justin Steele: Faces live hitters Friday
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Steele (elbow) faced live hitters Friday for the first time in 11 months as he continues his recovery from UCL revision surgery last April, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Steele only threw 19 pitches, but it was still an important milestone in his long road back following surgery. The lefty has been ramping up his throwing during the winter and early spring, and he's tentatively targeting a May or June return to the majors. Steele was fairly sharp in his session Friday, recording three strikeouts and two flyball outs, and he said he felt good afterward. The team will surely be cautious with the southpaw, though it looks like he'll be able to help the rotation at some point this year.
With Matthew Boyd named Chicago's Opening Day starter, Imanaga could be the team's No. 3 pitcher behind Cade Horton, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Imanaga was seen as an option for the Opening Day assignment, but Chicago will instead turn to Boyd for the third time in his career and first with the Cubs. The team hasn't officially announced its plans behind Boyd, though slotting Horton second and Imanaga third would allow Chicago to go lefty-righty-lefty. If Imanaga is the No. 3 starter, his first appearance of the regular season would be March 29 against the Nationals at Wrigley Field.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Gets run at first base
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Shaw played first base for the first time in his career during Wednesday's Cactus League contest, and he could be a contingency option there for the Cubs during the regular season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
The third baseman is adding to his defensive acumen in an effort to grow into more of a super-utility role for the Cubs, though he had to borrow Carson Kelly's first baseman's glove to try out the new position Wednesday. With Tyler Austin (knee) set to miss a few months, Chicago is looking for added versatility off the bench, and Shaw would give the Cubs some depth behind starter Michael Busch if he can hold his own at first. Shaw almost exclusively played third base as a rookie last year, with a handful of appearances at second, but he's already played in right field, center field and now first so far this spring. It seems like the 24-year-old could play regularly for the Cubs across the diamond in 2026 even without a regular starting position.
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Cubs' Luke Little: Fails to make roster
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Little to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.
Little was unable to find his footing during spring training with four earned runs allowed over 4.2 frames, so he won't make Chicago's Opening Day bullpen. The 25-year-old made just two big-league appearances last season but had a 3.46 ERA across 26 innings with the Cubs in 2024.
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Cubs' Ryan Rolison: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
The Cubs optioned Rolison to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.
The left-hander was claimed off waivers by the Cubs in January, but he'll be cut from big-league camp after giving up seven runs over 4.1 innings during spring training. Rolison made his MLB debut with 31 appearances for Colorado last year and finished with a 7.02 ERA. 1.77 WHIP and 25:20 K:BB across 42.1 innings.
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