Cautious optimism on a key injured Cubs pitcher will gain needed clarity on Tuesday

With rookie breakout Riley Martin the latest Chicago Cubs pitcher ticketed for the injured list, this team desperately needs a break. Phil Maton returned to action in Monday's loss, but it'll take more than him to bring some stability and experience back to the mix.

Chicago could get one step closer to finding that on Tuesday, when Daniel Palencia is scheduled to throw what Craig Counsell dubbed a 'big' bullpen, noting the right-hander is trending in a 'good' direction as he works his way back from a left lat strain.

Prior to the injury, Palencia picked up right where he left off in the World Baseball Classic, notching five scoreless appearances and holding opponents to a .176 average. With Palencia out, Counsell had been turning to veteran lefty Caleb Thielbar, but he's also on the IL now, leaving the Cubs with more questions than answers.

Cubs desperately need Daniel Palencia given the lack of late-inning arms

Ben Brown makes sense as a potential stopgap option, but he's just now starting to show even a little consistency (and I use that term very loosely here). The big right-hander has the stuff, no question, but he's never showed up as the shutdown guy the Cubs believe he can be. Maybe this time is different?

I turn to Brown with Palencia and Thielbar sidelined because the options are really that thin. Maton, at least in theory, could get the nod - but, like I said, he just came off the IL himself and hasn't found his footing yet in a Cubs uniform. Jacob Webb is another potential option but, like Maton, has looked anything but reliable in the early-going.

It's pretty remarkable Chicago finds itself five games over .500 as April winds down given the sheer number of injuries the pitching staff has experienced. Getting Palencia back doesn't solve all their problems, no, but it would go a long way toward putting the late innings back on at least semi-solid ground.

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