After returning from an eight-week stint on the injured list, Chicago Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia delivered a strong performance Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds, signaling a potential boost to the team's bullpen as they approach the postseason. Palencia pitched two perfect innings, striking out three of six batters faced, with his fastball averaging 99.5 mph and peaking at 100.6 mph.

Palencia, who has made 10 appearances since being activated on August 21, expressed growing confidence in his form. “I wasn’t trying to throw hard (Saturday). When I saw the (velocity), I was like, ‘OK, I’m feeling good,’” he said Sunday. He emphasized focusing on execution and staying true to his pitching style.

With six regular-season games remaining, Cubs manager Craig Counsell is concentrating on assessing the bullpen’s reliability as the team pursues a wild-card playoff spot. The Cubs can secure a postseason berth with a victory over the Miami Marlins on Tuesday or if the Arizona Diamondbacks lose to the Colorado Rockies.

“I really believe that through this last week of the season, we’ve got to find out about our bullpen,” Counsell said. “We’ve got to find out about guys down there, and this was a good step in that direction.”

The Cubs’ bullpen has faced challenges throughout the season. As of Monday, they ranked 28th in bullpen fWAR with a minus-0.8 mark, while their relievers held a 3.91 ERA, placing them in the middle tier among Major League Baseball teams. Injuries to key signings added to the difficulties.

Hunter Harvey, acquired in the offseason, made only four innings in April before a persistent triceps injury ended his season. Phil Maton, another key reliever on a two-year contract, underwent season-ending surgery in September to address a partially torn patellar tendon after posting a 6.18 ERA across 31 outings. Hoby Milner’s emergency appendectomy disrupted his season as well; by the time he returned in August, the Cubs had favored left-handers Caleb Thielbar and Ryan Rolison in the bullpen.

Jacob Webb, also signed to a two-year deal and the team’s current saves leader with nine, will play a critical role in closing games down the stretch. If Webb does not record another save, the Cubs would join an exclusive group of teams with a low number of saves among bullpen leaders in a postseason-bound season.

As the Cubs work to secure their spot in October baseball, returning health and improved performance from pitchers like Palencia could prove pivotal. The final week of the regular season is shaping up to be a decisive period for Chicago’s relief corps and their playoff prospects.