Written off heading into 2026, Shota Imanaga is anchoring a shorthanded Cubs' staff

On the heels of a rookie campaign that saw him finish top-5 in both National League Rookie of the Year and Cy Young voting, Chicago Cubs left-handed Shota Imanaga struggled in 2025 - plagued by the long ball late in the year to the point Craig Counsell refused to turn to him with the season on the line in Game 5 of the NLDS.

After some contractual back-and-forth this winter, Imanaga returned to Chicago via a $22 million qualifying offer that raised more than a few eyebrows given his performance last season. He posted an unsightly 1.93 HR/9 that would have ranked as the worst mark in baseball had he pitched enough innings to qualify and a 4.86 FIP in 25 starts.

But, three starts in, his 2026 season is looking more like his breakout rookie campaign than his inconsistent sophomore season. In Friday's 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field, Imanaga fired six no-hit innings before Counsell turned things over to Caleb Thielbar, who promptly surrendered what proved to be the game-winning homer to Bryan Reynolds.

“It’s just, ‘What’s next? Where do you stop?’ You know?” Counsell said afterwards. “And then, ‘What does it do for his next start?’ There’s not a path to finish that game. There’s danger in making that a 120-pitch outing on his third start of the year. Easy decision.”

Shota Imanaga's fastball has made all the difference so far in 2026

With a rotation already missing Cade Horton and Matthew Boyd, the former of whom won't pitch again this season, Counsell was no-doubt right in his decision to pull Imanaga, even as he attempted to lead Chicago to its second no-hitter against the Bucs since joining the league in 2024.

The southpaw has dominated Pittsburgh in his career, lowering his ERA to 0.28 against them with Friday's gem - but the story here is how consistent Imanaga has been in the early-going this year. Here's what he's delivered through his first three starts of 2026:

• v WAS: 5 IP, 4 ER, 7 K, 2 BB
• @ CLE: 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 K, 1 BB
• v PIT: 6 IP, 0 ER, 9 K, 1 BB

The bigger story, though, is since Joey Wiemer ambushed him with a three-run blast in the first inning of his season debut, Imanaga has not allowed a home run. His increased fastball velocity has helped him create more separation with his pitches and get better results from his entire arsenal, including his splitter that opponents are hitting just .192 against this year.

As the Cubs anxiously await the return of Justin Steele this summer, it's all hands on deck to keep the rotation afloat. Continued effectiveness from Imanaga (not to mention brilliance from Edward Cabrera) could be the difference between weathering the loss of Horton and seeing their October hopes fade away.