Daniel Palencia's impending return, Ben Brown's save give Cubs' bullpen more good news

The Cubs’ bullpen has survived a rash of injuries because of outings such as the one right-hander Ben Brown turned in Saturday.

Brown closed the Cubs’ 2-0 victory against the Diamondbacks with two scoreless innings. He continued to show he’s a different pitcher than the one who struggled in 2025 and became the seventh Cubs hurler to earn a save this season.

‘‘I’m not really surprised by it when you know that group of guys,’’ Brown said.

An important member of that group might be coming back soon.

Closer Daniel Palencia (strained left oblique) was in the Cubs’ clubhouse Saturday, a day after pitching two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Iowa. His fastball was clocked as high as 102 mph.

Manager Craig Counsell said that if Palencia felt good, he would be activated in the next couple of days.

‘‘Bullpens can be fickle, but obviously we’re getting a player that we really believe in and has pitched really big innings for us,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘Getting healthy helps every team.’’

Even with the rash of injuries, the Cubs’ bullpen has been better than serviceable. Entering play Saturday, the relievers had a 3.88 ERA (11th-best in the majors) and a 1.25 WHIP (sixth-best).

Reserve judgment

Second baseman Nico Hoerner (neck) wasn’t in the lineup, but the Cubs are hoping he will return Sunday. He did some running and took some swings, but the discomfort was still present enough for him to take the day off.

Because of how well the bench players have performed this season, Counsell has the luxury of being extra-cautious.

Utility player Matt Shaw, who played in place of Hoerner, has started games at five positions (right field, second base, third base, first base and center field) but still is managing to produce offensively. He’s hitting .278 and slugging .468.

Counsell said he has been impressed by Shaw’s versatility. As a rookie last season, Shaw started 114 games, all at third base. Outside of third, Shaw played only six innings at second.

‘‘He’s started games at four positions he never started at in the big leagues [before this season] . . . all while continuing his development in a positive way as an offensive player,’’ Counsell said.

The Cubs’ bench contributions don’t end with Shaw. Outfielder Michael Conforto only has 30 at-bats but is 3-for-8 as a pinch hitter. Catcher Miguel Amaya, who could be considered a semi-starter, has a .355 on-base percentage.

Flashing the leather

Hoerner, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and left fielder Ian Happ received their 2025 Gold Gloves before the game. The Cubs also were presented with the team Gold Glove.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson, a Gold Glove winner in 2022 and 2023, reminded people of his defensive prowess with a couple of stellar plays. To end the third, he fielded the carom of a line drive by Ketel Marte that went off the glove of left-hander Shota Imanaga and threw him out. To begin the ninth, he was playing near second and ranged to his right to snag a grounder by Corbin Carroll.

‘‘I’ve seen it before,’’ Happ said. ‘‘I’ve seen it plenty of times. It never surprises me.”