The Chicago Cubs appeared to be ready to go all-in over the offseason, trading for three-time All-Star Kyle Tucker, and they have followed up on that commitment by getting off to an 18-12 start and surging into first place in the National League Central.
According to MLB.com columnist Will Leitch, “of all the teams in baseball – including the Dodgers – Chicago is the most likely to reach the postseason.” But the Cubs got a scare on Tuesday when one of their staff aces suddenly left a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates after throwing five scoreless innings.
The Cubs signed pitcher Shōta Imanaga toward the end of his posting window, as players from the Japan pro league must go through in order to sign with a United States team, agreeing on a four-year, $53 million contract. Imanaga pitched eight seasons for the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Pro Baseball’s Central League, compiling a 64-50 record with a career 3.18 ERA and striking out 1,021 in 1,002 2/3 innings.
With the Cubs last season, the then-30-year-old southpaw recorded an impressive 2.91 ERA, third in the NL and fifth in MLB. He also won 15 games against just three losses with a league-leading ratio of 6.21 strikeouts for each walk he allowed. Imanaga had already started an NL-most six games this season, with a 3.18 ERA.
But whether Tuesday’s start would be his last for at least a short period remained up in the air after he exited the game in Pittsburgh in the sixth inning with what were described as “cramps” in both legs.
Imanaga retired seven of the first eight Pirates to face him and scattered six hits, but after allowing a double to Andrew McCutchen leading off the sixth, Cubs trainers went to the mound and Imanaga came out of the game.
Following the game, won 9-0 by Chicago, Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters that Imanaga “feels fine now.” Counsell added that Imanaga felt “cramping” in both quadriceps, but there appeared to be “no issues” going forward.
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