The Chicago Cubs have emerged as one of Major League Baseball’s top teams this season, racing out to a 21-14 record and holding a three-game lead atop the National League Central.
An Impressive Start—With a Catch
What makes this strong start even more impressive is the level of competition the Cubs have faced. Their March and April schedule ranked as the toughest in the league, based on last year’s winning percentages. Still, they powered through to an 18-13 record by the end of April and have gone 3-1 in early May, taking advantage of a slightly easier slate.
A Red-Hot Offense Fuels Success
The driving force behind Chicago’s early dominance has been their offense, which ranks among the league’s elite. They currently lead all of MLB in batting average (.262), total runs (208), hits (323), and stolen bases (45).
Much of this offensive explosion can be credited to breakout performances from Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, Carson Kelly, and Seiya Suzuki—who appears to be reaching his full potential at the plate.
A Banged-Up Pitching Staff
However, despite their offensive firepower, the Cubs are facing a significant issue: their starting rotation.
Earlier this season, the team lost ace Justin Steele to a season-ending injury, forcing them to rely on bullpen arms to fill starting roles. Even with that setback, the Cubs’ starters have combined for a stellar 3.44 ERA—fifth-best in the majors.
But things just got tougher with another key blow: a fresh injury to standout pitcher Shota Imanaga.
Imanaga’s Injury Complicates Things Further
Cubs manager Craig Counsell addressed Imanaga’s injury after the game.
“He tweaked it running over to first base,” Counsell said. “We’ll do some imaging to figure it out. He’s never dealt with a lower-body muscle strain before, so he’s unsure what to make of the feeling, but he definitely felt something. We’ll get it checked tomorrow and go from there.”
Imanaga strained his hamstring while covering first on a ground ball—a similar issue that caused him to exit his previous start. Initially believed to be a minor issue due to dehydration or fatigue, it now appears more serious.
Last season, Imanaga was a workhorse, logging 173.1 innings over 29 starts without injury concerns.
Where Do the Cubs Go From Here?
Although an exact timeline hasn’t been provided, it’s likely Imanaga will miss a few starts. When Steele dealt with a similar injury last season, he was out for about a month, which offers a rough estimate for Imanaga’s potential return. The good news is that lower-body injuries like this tend to have less long-term impact than arm or shoulder issues. Still, if not handled carefully, it could derail his season.
In the meantime, the Cubs’ offense will need to maintain its torrid pace as the team gears up for upcoming series against the Giants, Mets, and Reds.