CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs placed right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow inflammation. The team recalled right-handed pitcher Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa to fill Palencia's spot on the active roster.

Palencia pitched the top of the ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies on Monday. During the game, Cubs manager Craig Counsell and a trainer visited Palencia on the mound, but he remained in the game and struck out the next three batters. Palencia experienced persistent elbow symptoms following that outing and on Tuesday.

This marks Palencia's second time on the injured list this season. He previously missed three weeks from mid-April into May with a left oblique strain. Palencia has a 2.70 earned run average with three saves in 19 relief appearances this season.

Counsell commented on the situation, stating, "Elbow injuries are always of some concern. But we want to give it some days here just to kind of see how he feels." Counsell said, "You’ve got to just take the feedback and make a decision. I mean, everybody wants to compete, and Danny wants to compete. You try to read through that, just make a decision."

The Cubs do not currently plan for Palencia to undergo imaging on his elbow, and he will receive treatment. Counsell said, "The difficulty is you lose a good pitcher, I think that’s why it’s harder. The guys will have to just get their outs, and it’ll be maybe not the same order every night, but the same guys."

Palencia has not recorded a save since May 14. Last season, he saved 22 games and posted a 2.91 earned run average. Before the current MLB season, Palencia pitched for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

During the World Baseball Classic, Venezuela requested permission from the Cubs to extend Palencia's usage beyond the initial agreement for the championship game against Japan. Palencia pitched in five of Venezuela's seven games in the tournament, including three appearances within a four-day span. Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said regarding a potential connection to the World Baseball Classic, "I don’t know, there’s no way to prove or disprove that at all."

The Cubs anticipate using left-handers Caleb Thielbar and Hoby Milner, and right-hander Jacob Webb in high-leverage relief situations. They also expect to use right-handers Trent Thornton and Phil Maton in specific matchup scenarios.