It’s becoming a routine at this point, but his performances keep justifying it! Shota Imanaga was fantastic once again last night, going 7.0+ innings, allowing 2 ER on 7 H and just 1 BB, while striking out 8. He is a stud, and he just keep showing it.
His manager, of course, is heavy with the praise:
Imanaga’s performance so far this season has exceeded even the most extremely optimistic expectations for his transition to Major League Baseball, and the Cubs would be thrilled if he continues at even half this clip (however you measure “half” I guess – so, what, like a 2.16 ERA?) through the rest of the season.
Imanaga also has the single most valuable pitch in baseball with his unique four-seam fastball. It may be only 92 mph, but the pitch’s shape, his attack angle, and his release height all combine to make it so difficult for MLB hitters to see properly and square up.
Imanaga’s initial seven scoreless innings extended the Cubs’ starter scoreless streak to 30 innings, which marked a little more history for a rotation that has been on fire. From Cubs.com:
“Imanaga’s first seven innings — featuring eight strikeouts and just one walk — upped a scoreless streak by the Cubs’ rotation to 30 innings. Per team historian Ed Hartig, that is the second-longest run of its kind in Cubs history, trailing only the 33-inning run in 1971 by Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins, along with Bill Hands, Milt Pappas and Juan Pizarro.”
As for Imanaga, he’s also making Cubs history on his own:
And also this one from Cubs.com:
“He boasts the second-lowest ERA through the first seven starts of a season (with no relief appearances mixed in) by a Cubs pitcher since 1912, when earned runs became an official stat in the National League. Only Dick Ellsworth (0.91 ERA in 1963) had a better mark.”
Without that 8th inning home run, he’d have that mark all by himself. If you were wondering why Imanaga gave up that homer in the 8th inning after cruising for 7 innings, by the way:
Here’s a comp that I knew would be coming at some point, based on superficial factors, but also the breakout performance right out of the gate:
Shota Imanaga also knows all the right things to say: