Looking back on last season, Shot Imanaga has been one of, if not the best, Cubs pitchers. He has been on the IL for over a month due to a hamstring strain against Milwaukee. This year, he has posted a 2.82 ERA in 8 starts and 44.2 IP. While the Cubs have been one of the best teams in the MLB this year, their starting pitching has not been up to par. They have one of the best offenses in the league, but could use Imanaga back in the rotation.
Imanaga’s Progress
Shota Imanaga began his rehab process for the ACL two days ago. He threw 2 clean innings while throwing 15 more pitches in the bullpen after the game. Craig Counsell said that it is “all good news” regarding Imanaga’s road back.
“All good news.”
Shota Imanaga threw 2.0 innings and a bullpen in an ACL game yesterday. pic.twitter.com/1mr5DVcmfQ
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 10, 2025
Jordan Bastian says that his next step will be on Saturday, June 14th, in an ACL game. They are hoping to get 3 IP and around 50-55 pitches out of Shota. After this, he is likely to move to Triple-A Iowa to make another rehab start. If all continues on this path, the Cubs should have Shota Imanaga back within the next few weeks. He is a very valuable piece of this Cubs rotation, and they need him now more than ever.
Shota’s Importance in the Rotation
As mentioned above, Imanaga has been a critical part of the Cubs’ starting rotation for the past two seasons. While Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon have performed well this year, the back end of the rotation has been shaky. Ben Brown is in his second year as a major leaguer but has not accomplished much this year, carrying a 5.71 ERA through 12 starts. Additionally, Cade Horton, one of the Cubs’ top prospects, was called up following Imanaga’s injury. Although he has been serviceable as a rookie, through 5 starts and 6 appearances, he has a 4.11 ERA, which won’t cut it in the long run. These two players are not the ones who will lead a team through a postseason. That is why it is crucial to get the Japanese superstar back as soon as possible. If the Cubs go after a starter before the trade deadline, both he and Imanaga will give the Cubs rotation a much-needed boost and hopefully help add more games to the win column.
Main Photo Credits: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
