If there was one player the Chicago Cubs could not lose for any significant amount of time, it would be Shota Imanaga.
With Justin Steele already out for the rest of the season after undergoing elbow surgery, it now seems that the Cubs will be without Imanaga for some amount of time. After cruising through the first five innings against the Brewers without giving up a run, Imanaga was nearly out of the sixth inning when he came up short in an attempt to cover first base.
Before the game was even over, the Cubs already provided an update on Imanaga, saying he strained his left hamstring. If you recall, Steele suffered a Grade 1 hamstring during the Cubs’ Opening Day game in 2024, forcing him to miss the first month of the season. It would be fair to expect Imanaga to, at the minimum, be sidelined for the next month.
Of course, Imanaga was pulled from his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates last week for what the Cubs called cramping. This time, it seems that the Cubs weren’t so lucky. In speaking with reporters after the game, Imanaga was quick to note the difference between what he felt after Sunday’s injury compared to what he felt earlier this week.
In the immediate aftermath, assuming there is an IL trip needed for Imanaga, the expectation should be for Chris Flexen to slide over to the starting rotation. Prior to Imanaga’s injury, Flexen was recalled from Triple-A Iowa to serve as the swing man in the bullpen. Assuming the Cubs choose to add an extra relief pitcher to their bullpen, Flexen would be the logical choice to take Imanaga’s next start.
Having said that, it seems that the Cubs are at the “in case of an emergency, break glass” moment for Cade Horton. Horton, the Cubs’ top pitching prospect, has been dominating Triple-A Iowa this season. The expectation was that Horton would be with the Major League team before the All-Star break, and Imanaga’s injury likely expedites that timeline.