Imanaga took the loss Monday in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Brewers after allowing four runs on five hits while striking out three over 2.2 innings.
Imanaga was hit hard in his second appearance of the postseason, immediately squandering a three-run lead in the bottom of the first inning courtesy of a three-run home run by Andrew Vaughn. Imanaga's outing didn't improve much after this initial blow, as William Contreras struck for a solo shot in the bottom of the third, effectively ending the left-hander's outing. The silver lining to Imanaga's brief start is that he kept his pitch count low, meaning he could have a chance to come back later in the series if the Cubs are able to extend the NLDS.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Drawing start for Game 2
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Imanaga will start Monday in Game 2 of the NLDS against Milwaukee, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Imanaga last pitched Wednesday in a Game 2 wild-card loss to the Padres, throwing 67 pitches across four innings after reliever Andrew Kittredge opened the game. The 31-year-old lefty will move back into a traditional starting role Monday and will look to help the Cubs even the series after a 9-3 loss in Game 1. Imanaga faced Milwaukee three times during the regular season, allowing seven runs with 17 strikeouts and 3 walks across 17.2 innings.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Allows two runs in Game 2
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Imanaga gave up two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out three batters over four relief innings during Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Padres. He did not factor into the decision.
The left-hander entered the game in the second inning after opener Andrew Kittredge allowed the Padres to score a run in the first. Imanaga made it through three frames before conceding a two-run blast to Manny Machado in the fifth, which gave the Padres more insurance than it needed while the Cubs' offense struggled to put a rally together. If Chicago prevails in Thursday's win-or-go-home matchup, Imanaga would likely be in the running to pitch in Game 3 of the NLDS next Wednesday.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Lit up in loss
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Imanaga (9-8) allowed eight runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.2 innings to take the loss Thursday versus the Mets.
Imanaga had one of his worst starts of the year in his regular-season finale. He had not given up more than three earned runs in any of his last 10 starts, pitching to a decent 3.69 ERA over 61 innings in that span. The southpaw ends the regular season at a 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 117:26 K:BB across 144.2 innings through 25 starts. Imanaga will likely get a start during the Cubs' wild-card series, as he will be on regular rest as of Tuesday.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Settles for no-decision Friday
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Imanaga allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits across five innings and did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Reds. He walked two and struck out four.
Imanaga was done in by the long ball, as he served up solo home runs to Miguel Andujar, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer. The lefty has now allowed exactly three earned runs in five straight starts, and he has a 4.66 ERA during that stretch. Overall, Imanaga has a 3.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 7.4 K/9 across 139 innings this season. The strikeouts are a step back from last year, when the 30-year-old rookie posted a 9.0 K/9. Imanaga is slated to wrap up his 2025 regular season next Friday against the Cardinals before slotting into Chicago's postseason rotation, potentially as the team's Game 1 starter.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Fans nine, tying season high
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Imanaga didn't factor into the decision against the Rays on Sunday, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out nine over five innings.
The left-hander got off to a rough start, surrendering back-to-back solo homers to Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero to open the game before giving up another run on a two-out bunt in the third. Though he labored through a 31-pitch first inning and surpassed 60 pitches by the third, Imanaga was able to regroup, finding his command and striking out nine -- tying his season high -- while blanking Tampa Bay over his final two frames. Home runs remain a concern for the 32-year-old, who allowed 27 last season and has given up 26 this year through 39 fewer innings. Imanaga will carry a 3.29 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 110:23 K:BB across 134 innings into his next scheduled start against the Reds.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Another quality start in loss
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Imanaga (9-7) took the loss Monday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out four.
That's now seven consecutive quality starts for Imanaga, who also issued no walks for the first time since his Aug. 10 outing in St. Louis. The star left-hander has allowed fewer than six hits in eight straight appearances, and he's worked to a 3.13 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 38:6 K:BB over 46 frames since the beginning of August. Imanaga also has a 3.21 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 101:23 K:BB over 129 innings for the campaign, and he's next set to face a Rays team with a poor .655 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the All-Star break.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Quality start not enough Sunday
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Imanaga (8-5) allowed three runs on four hits and struck out nine without walking a batter over 6.2 innings, taking the loss versus the Cardinals on Sunday.
While Imanaga was stingy with baserunners, the Cardinals took advantage of their limited chances. Pedro Pages tagged Imanaga for a two-run home run in the third inning and Nolan Gorman added the decisive hit, an RBI single, in the seventh. Imanaga has a pair of quality starts to begin August, allowing four runs over 13 innings with 16 strikeouts and no walks so far this month. He's at a 3.19 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 79:17 K:BB through 96 innings over 17 starts this season. The southpaw's next start is projected to be at home versus the Pirates.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Gets back on track vs. Reds
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Imanaga didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and no walks in 6.1 innings. He struck out seven.
After giving up 10 runs over his prior two starts, Imanaga rediscovered his top form Tuesday. It was the fourth time in his last six outings that the star left-hander pitched at least six innings while yielding two runs or fewer, and the seven strikeouts were only one short of the season high that he set his last time out in Milwaukee. Imanaga sports a 3.12 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 70:17 K:BB across 89.1 frames, and he's set to face a tough test next week in Toronto against the first-place Blue Jays.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Strikes out eight in win
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Imanaga (8-4) earned the win against the Brewers on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks with eight strikeouts over five innings.
Imanaga was tagged for two homers by William Contreras but was otherwise sharp, throwing 65 of 89 pitches for strikes with 13 whiffs. It was a solid bounce-back after he gave up seven runs to the White Sox on Friday, though Imanaga will finish July having allowed nine homers over six starts. The southpaw carries a 3.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 63:17 K:BB across 83 innings into a home matchup with the Reds early next week.
Imanaga (7-3) earned the win Saturday, allowing five hits and one walk over seven scoreless innings against the Red Sox. He struck out five.
Imanaga carved up the Red Sox lineup Saturday, notching his fifth scoreless start of the season. The left-hander was stellar in his first MLB season in 2024, logging a 2.91 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 173.1 innings across 29 regular-season starts, and he's been even better so far in his sophomore campaign. Through 13 starts in 2025, he owns a 2.40 ERA and 0.92 WHIP in 75 innings. Virtually the only thing that's slowed Imanaga down has been a strained left hamstring that sidelined him for much of May and June.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Earns win in return
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Imanaga (4-2) earned the win against the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three over five scoreless innings.
Imanaga didn't show much rust in his return from the injured list, throwing 49 of 77 pitches for strikes while giving up just two hard-hit balls. Through nine starts this season, the southpaw has allowed two earned runs or fewer seven times while surrendering five in his other two outings. He'll carry a 2.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 37:15 K:BB across 49.2 innings into a home matchup with the Guardians next week.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Rejoining rotation Thursday
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Imanaga (hamstring) will return from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday in St. Louis, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Counsell had already revealed that Imanaga's next start would come in the big leagues, and now the skipper has revealed the exact day. The southpaw has been shelved since early May with a strained left hamstring. Imanaga threw 72 pitches and went 4.1 innings in his final rehab outing with Triple-A Iowa on Friday, so he will have a somewhat restricted workload against the Cardinals.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Will need two more rehab starts
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday in an interview on 670 The Score that Imanaga (hamstring) will need "a couple more" rehab starts before returning from the 15-day injured list.
Imanaga kicked off his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Monday, tossing two scoreless innings. He will make at least two more rehab starts as he continues to get stretched out before returning to the majors later this month if all goes well. Imanaga has been sidelined since early May with a strained left hamstring.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Rehab start on tap
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Imanaga (hamstring) completed a 37-pitch bullpen session Saturday and is expected to make a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
The left-hander has been on the shelf just over a month due to a strained left hamstring, but he's now entered the final stage of his rehab program. Imanaga built up to 39 pitches in his last live batting practice session, so he may need an additional rehab outing after Tuesday before rejoining the Cubs.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Throws live batting practice
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Imanaga (hamstring) threw a 39-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Imanaga faced hitters for the first time since going on the 15-day injured list in early May due to a strained left hamstring. Whether Imanaga will require a rehab assignment is not yet clear, but he still has some stamina to rebuild before being considered for a return to the Cubs rotation.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Throws off mound again
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Imanaga (hamstring) completed a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports.
Imanaga has now thrown a pair of side sessions since landing on the injured list May 5, as the Cubs have been working him back slowly from a left hamstring strain. Assuming he's dealing with nothing more than normal soreness following Saturday's session, Imanaga is expected to shift his rehab program to the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona during the upcoming week. Imanaga will need to face hitters in live batting practice before the Cubs determine whether to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment or have him build up his pitch count through simulated games before bringing him back from the IL.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Targeting Tuesday for mound work
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Imanaga (hamstring) is slated to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell had previously intimated that Imanaga wouldn't be ready for mound work until late next week, but it appears that timetable has been moved up a few days. The left-hander still has many boxes to check before he can rejoin the Cubs' rotation, and that's not expected until well into June.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Aiming for June return
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Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Imanaga (hamstring) isn't on track to return from the 15-day injured list until "well into June," Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
A firm target date for Imanaga's reinstatement won't be available until he's further along in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, but with Counsell noting that the southpaw isn't on track to resume throwing off a mound until around the end of next week, it's clear that his return isn't imminent. Cade Horton has made one start and one bulk-relief appearance since Imanaga landed on the shelf May 5 and should maintain a spot in the rotation until the Cubs' ace is back in action.
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Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Goes on IL with hamstring strain
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The Cubs placed Imanaga (hamstring) on the 15-day injured list Monday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Imanaga will hit the shelf after straining his left hamstring in his start during Sunday's loss to the Brewers. Though he underwent an MRI on Monday that confirmed the injury, the severity of the hamstring strain isn't known, making it uncertain whether Imanaga will have a chance at being ready to return from the IL when first eligible May 20. The Cubs haven't named an immediate replacement in the rotation for Imanaga, but Chris Flexen could be moved from the bullpen into a starting role, or prospect Cade Horton could be called up from Triple-A Iowa to fill the void.
