Chicago Cubs left-hander has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a strained left hamstring. The injury leaves the Cubs without two of their top starting pitchers—Imanaga and Justin Steele—as they open a three-game home series against the San Francisco Giants.
Thanks to an upcoming off day on Thursday, the Cubs may be able to skip his spot in the rotation.
He has made eight starts this season, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.82 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 14 walks over 44⅔ innings. He was the Cubs’ only All-Star last year as a rookie and got the nod on Opening Day this season in the Tokyo Series versus the Dodgers.
Shota Imanaga’s injury occurred during the sixth inning of a scoreless duel with Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta on Sunday, when Imanaga reached for the back of his left leg in discomfort. He also exited his prior outing against the Pirates in the sixth inning due to leg cramps.
In response, the Cubs called up right-hander Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa on Monday. He is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.
Steele has been sidelined since April 9 with left elbow tendonitis and will miss the remainder of the 2025 season following surgery last month.