Cubs' playoff hopes would be in a very different spot without Shota Imanaga

Approaching Memorial Day, I'm already running out of ways to describe Shota Imanaga and his brilliance on the mound. His latest effort set up a thrilling walk-off win at Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoon: seven shutout frames, scattering four hits and striking out seven.

“If I'm being honest,” Imanaga told MLB.com after the game, “I'm not really too interested in my own stats like that, or any historic value. But just knowing that there are so many good pitchers that came before me … is a good learning experience.”

That humility and graciousness quickly endeared Imanaga to the fanbase and his teammates, who remain in awe of how dominant he's been over his first nine starts. Since earned runs became a tracked stat in 1913, no starting pitcher has recorded a lower ERA in his first nine career starts, with Imanaga edging out the legendary Fernando Valenzuela with his latest start.

In Valenzuela's rookie campaign, he not only brought home Rookie of the Year honors, but also the NL Cy Young. Oh, and the Los Angeles Dodgers won it all, too. The Cubs would love to replicate that 1981 season in their own way, but Imanaga is going to need some help - and Chicago has to get healthy.

Cubs would be a ship adrift at sea without Shota Imanaga's brilliance

With Saturday's win under their belt, the Cubs enter action Sunday two games back of the Brewers for first place in the division at 26-21. They hold the second wild card spot in the National League and Fangraphs pegs their postseason chances at 63.8% - up from 41.3% on Opening Day.

Imanaga's impact on this Cubs team is almost beyond numbers or words. In his nine starts, the team is 8-1. Think what the standings might look like if Chicago was 4-5 in those outings. Given the circumstances, a 26-21 record feels pretty positive. But in that scenario, the Cubs would be heading into the finale against Pittsburgh at Wrigley at 20-25, firmly on the outside looking in on the postseason picture.

With every start, Imanaga seems to etch his name into baseball history in some incredible way. As exciting as that is, what Cubs fans should appreciate more than anything else is he's single-handedly kept the team afloat as we head into the final weeks of May.