Cubs Pitching Stars Shine as WBC Final Looms

As the baseball world turns its attention to Miami for the World Baseball Classic (WBC) final, Chicago Cubs fans have more than just national pride on the line. Tuesday night’s championship clash between Team USA and Team Venezuela isn’t just about international bragging rights—it’s a showcase for some of the Cubs’ brightest stars and a tantalizing preview of what could be a historic season on the North Side.

All eyes are on Daniel Palencia, the 26-year-old fireballer who’s become Team Venezuela’s go-to closer, and Team USA’s dynamic center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Add in Alex Bregman’s star power for Team USA, and there’s no shortage of intrigue for Cubs faithful. But it’s Palencia’s electric performance on the global stage that’s stealing headlines—and maybe, just maybe, cementing his role as the Cubs’ bullpen anchor for 2026.

On Monday night, Palencia delivered a performance that had fans buzzing. Tasked with protecting a narrow lead in the WBC semifinal against a feisty Team Italy, he took the mound in the ninth inning with ice in his veins. The right-hander promptly shut the door, striking out the final two batters and sealing Venezuela’s ticket to the championship. That shutout frame marked his fourth scoreless inning of the tournament, during which he’s racked up seven strikeouts and looked every bit the dominant closer Cubs fans have been hoping for.

Palencia’s WBC dominance is no fluke. He’s carried over a scorching-hot spring, having already thrown three scoreless innings with three strikeouts in Cactus League play. For a pitcher whose major league journey has zigzagged between moments of brilliance and periods of struggle, this run of form is a welcome sight. Last season, Palencia was called up from Triple-A Iowa in mid-April after an injury sidelined Justin Steele. He seized the closer’s role in dramatic fashion, dazzling with a 1.40 ERA through the end of July and quickly becoming a Wrigley Field fan favorite.

But baseball, as Cubs fans know all too well, rarely follows a linear script. Palencia’s 2025 campaign took a turn in the dog days of summer. Over the final two months, his ERA ballooned to 7.07 in 17 appearances, and a stint on the injured list in early September sidelined him during a crucial stretch. By playoff time, manager Craig Counsell had shifted Palencia to a mid-game relief role, using him as a stopgap rather than a closer in high-leverage situations.

Despite last year’s rollercoaster, the Cubs are betting big on Palencia’s resurgence. Early this spring, Counsell made it official: Palencia would be the team’s closer in 2026. That vote of confidence seems to have unlocked a new level of swagger for the Venezuelan righty. Speaking with MLB Network before Monday’s semifinal, Palencia shed light on his recent success: “For me, it was just finding a way to put the fastball wherever I want. Using more my splitter and my slider, in that way I can protect my fastball…and it works right now.”

He’s not just talking the talk. Palencia’s mentality is as fierce as his fastball, and he’s made it clear he’s ready for any challenge. “I told Counsell the first time I met him, ‘I’m going to be ready wherever you need me,’” Palencia explained. “Last year, he put me in the sixth, in the fourth, seventh sometimes. I just try to be ready whenever he needs me. If you need me in the first, I’m going to be ready.” Still, he admits, “of course” pitching in the ninth is cooler.

There’s also a friendly rivalry brewing with Cubs teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong, who’s patrolling center field for Team USA. Asked about the possibility of facing Crow-Armstrong in the WBC final, Palencia grinned: “I would love to face Pete…[In spring training] I told him, ‘I’m coming after you.’ It was the same with Seiya. I told him, ‘Hey, bro, I’m coming for you.’” That competitive fire is exactly what the Cubs hope will translate to late-inning dominance all summer long.

Of course, the WBC isn’t the only stage where Cubs pitching is turning heads. With the 2026 season just days away—marking Chicago’s 150th as a professional franchise—the club’s pitching staff is shaping up to be one of the strongest in recent memory. The rotation is anchored by Matthew Boyd, who earned the Opening Day nod after a stellar 2025 campaign that saw him go 11-4 with a 2.67 ERA. Behind him, the Cubs boast a formidable group: Cade Horton, Edward Cabrera, Shota Imanaga, and Jameson Taillon, with Justin Steele expected to return soon from the elbow injury that wiped out his 2025 season.

The depth doesn’t stop there. Ben Brown, Javier Assad, and Colin Rea all bring starting experience and could step in at a moment’s notice, giving the Cubs the option to stretch to a six-man rotation if needed. Even with Porter Hodge sidelined by injury, the bullpen remains stacked. Palencia is set to close, with Caleb Thielbar and Ethan Roberts handling setup duties. Young arms Jack Neely and Jaxon Wiggins are waiting in the wings, ready to make their mark.

Monday’s action offered a tantalizing glimpse of just how dominant this staff could be. While Palencia was busy shutting down Italy in Miami, Cade Horton was dazzling in Cactus League play. The 2025 rookie sensation struck out 10 batters over five innings in his third spring start, generating an eye-popping 21 swings-and-misses on just 72 pitches. Horton’s breakout last year—an 11-4 record in 22 starts—had fans dreaming of a new ace, especially after a fractured rib in September kept him out of the postseason as the Cubs fell to the rival Brewers in the divisional round.

The Cubs’ emphasis on pitching development is finally bearing fruit, and the 2026 collection of arms could be the deepest the franchise has seen in decades. The combination of proven veterans and rising stars has fans and analysts alike predicting big things.

But for now, all attention is on Miami. As Team USA and Team Venezuela square off for the WBC crown, the Cubs’ present and future are on full display. Will Palencia get his wish and face Crow-Armstrong in a high-leverage moment? Can he continue his run of dominance under the brightest lights? One thing’s for sure: Chicago’s bullpen—and its hopes for a milestone season—have rarely looked stronger.

With the World Baseball Classic final set to deliver drama and the Cubs’ 150th season nearly underway, fans have every reason to believe that 2026 could be something special. As the action unfolds, all eyes remain fixed on the mound—where the next chapter of Cubs pitching history is being written, pitch by electrifying pitch.