Imanaga (12-3) pitched seven innings of no-hit ball, striking out seven and walking two without allowing a run to earn the win over the Pirates on Wednesday.
Imanaga threw 95 pitches (66 strikes) in his best start of the year, which was his seventh scoreless outing. Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge each threw a perfect inning of relief to secure the combined no-hitter for the Cubs. Imanaga pitched to a decent 3.68 ERA over 36.2 innings across six starts in August and is off to a stellar start in September as the Cubs try to make up ground in the wild-card race. For the season, Imanaga has a 2.99 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 155:25 K:BB over 153.1 innings across 26 starts. He's projected for a tough road outing versus the Dodgers his next time out.
... See More... See Less
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Wins with quality start
Rotowire
Imanaga (11-3) allowed three runs on four hits and a walk over six innings Friday, striking out eight and earning a win over Washington.
Imanaga gave up three runs through three innings, including a solo shot off the bat of Dylan Crews, but settled in to deliver a quality start. It was Imanaga's second straight quality start and third in six August appearances. He gave up only three long balls through his first nine starts but has been taken deep 20 times over his last 16 outings. Imanaga now owns a 3.14 ERA with a 148:23 K:BB through 146.1 frames. He's projected for a home start against the Pirates next week.
Imanaga (10-3) got the victory Saturday in a 14-2 win against the Marlins. He allowed two runs on four hits in six innings, walking two and fanning three batters.
Imanaga was sharp once again Saturday, going at least seven innings for the seventh time this season. The three strikeouts were his fewest in any of those starts of seven-plus innings, however. The 30-year-old rookie has been as steady as they come for the Cubs with a 3.08 ERA and 1.06 across 140.1 innings this season.
Imanaga (9-3) allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out six over five innings to take the loss Sunday versus the Blue Jays.
Imanaga was good aside from a Joey Loperfido solo home run in the second inning, but that ended up being the lone run of the game. Imanaga has allowed 14 runs (10 earned) over 23.2 innings across four starts in August, though his 26:3 K:BB in that same span paints a more encouraging picture. For the year, the southpaw has a 3.11 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 137:20 K:BB through 133.1 innings over 23 starts. He's lined up for a favorable road start in Miami his next time out.
Imanaga did not factor into the decision Monday, allowing seven runs (three earned) on seven hits and one walk over five innings against the Guardians. He struck out three.
Imanaga allowed two homers, the fifth time in 22 starts he's given up multiple long balls this season. However, the three-run blast off the bat of Jhonkensy Noel did not impact Imanaga's earned run line as it came following an error that had extended the fourth inning. Imanaga followed up by allowing three runs in the fifth, this time all earned, and a night that began with a promising three-run lead ended with him leaving with a four-run deficit. The five innings represented the Japanese rookie's shortest outing since allowing 10 runs over three innings on June 21 and extended a streak that has seen him allow three or fewer earned runs in seven of his last eight outings. He'll carry a 3.16 ERA and 1.08 WHIP into his next start, tentatively slated to take place in the friendly confines against the Blue Jays.
Imanaga (9-2) allowed two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out 10 over seven innings to earn the win Tuesday over the Twins.
After a couple of middling performances, Imanaga was in dominant form for this game, recording his second double-digit strikeout effort in his last four starts. The only damage on his line came in the fourth inning on a two-run home run by Royce Lewis. Imanaga now has a 3.06 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 128:18 K:BB over 123.1 innings over 21 starts this season. He's projected for a tough road matchup versus the Guardians next week.
Cubs' Shota Imanaga: Allows 10 hits in no-decision
Rotowire
Imanaga did not factor into the decision in a win over the Cardinals on Thursday, allowing four runs on 10 hits over 6.2 innings. He struck out seven.
Imanaga coughed a solo homer to Paul Goldschmidt in the opening frame before settling in and holding the Cardinals scoreless over the next five innings. However, he began to unravel in the seventh, allowing a one-out single, followed by a two-run shot off the bat of Masyn Winn as St. Louis jumped out in front. The lefty was then relieved by Jorge Lopez with two outs in the frame and went on to be charged with a fourth run, marking the first time he's surrendered more than three runs in his last six starts. Imanaga gave up 10 hits on the night, the second most he's allowed in a game this season, and served up multiple home runs for only the fourth time on the campaign. On a positive note, he hasn't issued a walk in back-to-back outings and hasn't issued multiple walks since June 27 against the Giants (span of five starts).
