Cubs look to adjust Daniel Palencia role amid ongoing struggles with lefties

The Chicago Cubs split a four-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers following a strong pitching performance on Thursday. Kevin Gausman threw seven innings, allowing one run and nine strikeouts, while the bullpen provided two scoreless innings of relief. Despite the recent victory, the Cubs currently trail for the top Wild Card spot, creating urgency for the remainder of the season. Performance analysis indicates that pitcher Daniel Palencia has faced consistent difficulty against left-handed batters throughout his career, particularly during the 2026 season. His four-seam fastball velocity has also trended downward since returning from the injured list. To address these concerns during the final stretch of the season, the team may transition Palencia into lower-leverage roles to avoid matchups against left-handed hitters.

• 4:00 PMYahoo Sports — The Short Porch is looking at Daniel Palencia’s splits