Chicago Cubs left-hander exited Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers after straining his left hamstring, adding to the team’s growing list of pitching injuries. The injury occurred during the sixth inning of a scoreless game as Imanaga attempted to cover first base on a potential double play. He showed immediate discomfort and grabbed the back of his left leg before leaving the field with a noticeable limp.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said imaging will be done to assess the extent of the injury, noting that Imanaga has never previously dealt with a lower-body muscle strain. The team has yet to determine whether he’ll need a stint on the injured list. The Cubs are already without Justin Steele (season-ending elbow injury) and Javier Assad (oblique strain).
If Imanaga is sidelined, Chris Flexen could step into the rotation, and top prospect Cade Horton remains an option at Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs also have upcoming off days that could help ease the rotation burden.
Imanaga, who signed a four-year, \$53 million deal with Chicago in January 2024, is 18-5 with a 2.89 ERA and finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting last season. He had previously left his last start due to leg cramps but said he felt “amazing” before Sunday’s outing, making the injury all the more puzzling.
Later in the game, Cubs outfielder Kyle Tucker gave the team another scare after appearing to tweak his right hip on a slide during a double steal. Though he stayed in the game, he’ll be evaluated further on Monday, though early signs are positive.
The Brewers also faced injury setbacks—outfielder Sal Frelick exited with left knee discomfort and underwent an MRI, while starter Freddy Peralta left after six innings with groin tightness, though he described it as minor.