Shota Imanaga
YEARTEAMGGSCGSHOWLSIPHitsERSOBBHRERA
2025Trolleys551032038.13215154543.52
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 26 2025Imanaga (4-2) earned the win against the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out three over five scoreless innings. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Imanaga didn't show much rust in his return from the injured list, throwing 49 of 77 pitches for strikes while allowing just two hard-hit balls. Through nine starts this season, the southpaw has allowed two earned runs or fewer seven times while surrendering five in each of the other two. He'll carry a 2.54 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 37:15 K:BB across 49.2 innings into a home matchup with the Guardians next week.
Jun 23 2025Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Imanaga (hamstring) will rejoin the rotation Thursday in St. Louis, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Counsell had already revealed that Imanaga's next start would come in the big leagues, and now the skipper has revealed the exact day. The southpaw has been shelved since early May with a strained left hamstring. Imanaga threw 72 pitches and went 4.1 innings in his final rehab outing, so he will have a somewhat restricted workload against the Cardinals.
Jun 21 2025Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Imanaga (hamstring) will make his next start with the Cubs sometime next week, Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The skipper didn't say exactly what day Imanaga will return from the injured list, but it will most likely be sometime during the team's upcoming series in St. Louis. The 31-year-old southpaw hasn't allowed a run in 10.1 innings during his rehab assignment, most recently firing 4.1 shutout frames while striking out eight batters Friday at Triple-A Iowa.
Jun 15 2025Imanaga (hamstring) will throw a bullpen session early this week before making the third start of his rehab assignment at Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Assuming he can make it out of Friday's outing without issue, Imanaga should be cleared to return from the 15-day injured list to make his next start with the Cubs either on June 25 or 26 in St. Louis. The right-hander made both of his first two rehab starts in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League, most recently pitching Saturday and striking out four over four shutout innings. According to Andy Martinez of Marquee Sports Network, Imanaga threw 44 pitches in that start and tossed 11 more in the bullpen immediately after exiting the game, so he'll presumably be looking to push his pitch count up into the 60-to-75 range Friday.
Jun 10 2025Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday in an interview on 670 The Score that Imanaga (hamstring) will need "a couple more" rehab starts before returning from the 15-day injured list. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Imanaga kicked off his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Monday, tossing two scoreless innings. He will make at least two more rehab starts as he continues to get stretched out before returning to the majors later this month if all goes well. Imanaga has been sidelined since early May with a strained left hamstring.
Jun 8 2025Imanaga (hamstring) completed a 37-pitch bullpen session Saturday and is expected to make a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander has been on the shelf just over a month due to a strained left hamstring, but he's now entered the final stage of his rehab program. Imanaga built up to 39 pitches in his last live batting practice session, so he may need an additional rehab outing after Tuesday before rejoining the Cubs.
Jun 5 2025Imanaga (hamstring) threw a 39-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It appears to be the first time he has faced hitters since going on the 15-day injured list in early May due to a strained left hamstring. Whether Imanaga will require a rehab assignment is not yet clear, but he still has some stamina to rebuild before being considered for a return to the Cubs' rotation.
May 31 2025Imanaga (hamstring) completed a bullpen session Saturday, MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Imanaga has now thrown a pair of side sessions since landing on the injured list May 5, as the Cubs have been working his back slowly from a left hamstring strain. Assuming he's dealing with nothing more than normal soreness following Saturday's session, Imanaga is expected to shift his rehab program to the Cubs' spring training facility in Arizona during the upcoming week. Imanaga will need to face hitters in live batting practice before the Cubs determine whether to send him out on a minor-league rehab assignment or have him build up his pitch count through simulated games before bringing him back from the IL.
May 23 2025Imanaga (hamstring) is slated to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cubs manager Craig Counsell had previously intimated that Imanaga wouldn't be ready for mound work until late next week, but it appears that timetable has been moved up a few days. The left-hander still has many boxes to check before he can rejoin the Cubs' rotation, and that's not expected until well into June.
May 19 2025Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Monday that Imanaga (hamstring) isn't on track to return from the 15-day injured list until "well into June," Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: A firm target date for Imanaga's reinstatement won't be available until he's further along in his recovery from a left hamstring strain, but with Counsell noting that the southpaw isn't on track to resume throwing off a mound until around the end of next week, it's clear that his return isn't imminent. Cade Horton has made one start and one bulk-relief appearance since Imanaga landed on the shelf May 5 and should maintain a spot in the rotation until the Cubs' ace is back in action.
May 5 2025Imanaga has been diagnosed with a mild left hamstring strain that is expected to hold him out for more than two weeks, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This update likely means that Imanaga will miss more than the minimum while on the injured list. Manager Craig Counsell stated that the two-week timeline was set as a precaution, so it doesn't appear that the club is in any hurry to rush the southpaw back into action. A clearer timeline for Imanaga's return should come into focus as he begins to make progress in his rehab.
May 4 2025Cubs manager Craig Counsell said after Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Brewers that Imanaga will undergo an MRI on his strained left hamstring before a determination is made regarding whether he'll be able to make his next start, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Imanaga was cruising along nicely during his eighth start of the season before sustaining his injury while attempting to cover first base in the fifth inning. He exited the game and was ultimately dealt his second loss of the season after getting charged with two earned runs on four hits and one walk over his 5.2 frames. Counsell noted that Imanaga doesn't have a history of lower-body muscle strains from which to compare his injury, so the Cubs will send him in for imaging to glean more information about the severity of the hamstring issue. Imanaga tentatively lines up to make his next start against the Mets next weekend.
May 1 2025Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Imanaga (leg) feels "good" and was slated to have a "normal" in-between starts workout Wednesday, 670TheScore.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Imanaga had to depart Tuesday's outing in Pittsburgh in the sixth inning due to leg cramps. He will focus on staying hydrated in between starts and the Cubs are hopeful it's just a one-time thing. Imanaga is slated to face the Brewers in Milwaukee on Sunday.