CHICAGO -- There was a moment in the middle of the summer when hard-throwing righty Daniel Palencia seized the closer’s role for the Cubs. It was one of the only stretches in which manager Craig Counsell used that job title when talking about one of his pitchers.
Things tend to be more fluid for Chicago’s bullpen and that has been the case again since Palencia returned in late September after a bout with a right shoulder injury. It explains why Palencia was used in the fifth inning of Tuesday’s 3-1 win over the Padres in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, and also why veteran Andrew Kittredge is taking the ball to start Game 2 on Wednesday.
“Look, roles are out the window,” Counsell said ahead of the Wild Card Series. “That’s why I’m using the word ‘out-getters,’ becau