SHOTA IMANAGA NEWS

Lit up in loss Imanaga (9-8) allowed eight runs on nine hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.2 innings to take the loss Thursday versus the Mets.

Impact Imanaga had one of his worst starts of the year in his regular-season finale. He had not given up more than three earned runs in any of his last 10 starts, pitching to a decent 3.69 ERA over 61 innings in that span. The southpaw ends the regular season at a 3.73 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 117:26 K:BB across 144.2 innings through 25 starts. Imanaga will likely get a start during the Cubs' wild-card series, as he will be on regular rest as of Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE

Shota Imanaga's Struggles Fuel Growing Concern After Latest Start The Chicago Cubs were looking for (needing) Shota Imanaga to look like he did last year in his rookie outing. For the first half of the seas...

SEPTEMBER 26 • SI.COM

Cubs and Mets meet in series rubber match

The Chicago Cubs and New York Mets play on Thursday with the winner claiming the three-game series

SEPTEMBER 25 • Associated Press

Settles for no-decision Friday Imanaga allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits across five innings and did not factor into the decision in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Reds. He walked two and struck out four.

Impact Imanaga was done in by the long ball, as he served up solo home runs to Miguel Andujar, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer. The lefty has now allowed exactly three earned runs in five straight starts, and he has a 4.66 ERA during the stretch. Overall, Imanaga has a 3.37 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 7.4 K/9 across 139 innings this season. The strikeouts are a step back from last year, when the 30-year-old rookie posted a 9.0 K/9. Imanaga is slated to wrap up his 2025 regular season next Friday against the Cardinals before slotting into Chicago's postseason rotation, potentially as the team's Game 1 starter.

SEPTEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Shota Imanaga surrenders three homers to Reds as Cubs fall 7-4 The Cubs dropped the first two contests of a four-game series in Cincinnati.

SEPTEMBER 20 • SUNTIMES.COM

Spencer Steer hits 2 of the Reds' 5 homers in a 7-4 win over the Cubs

Spencer Steer hit two of Cincinnati’s season-high five homers as the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 7-4 on to keep pace in the National League wild-card race

SEPTEMBER 20 • Associated Press

Reds host the Cubs, aim to extend home win streak

The Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs aiming to extend a three-game home winning streak

SEPTEMBER 19 • Associated Press

Cubs' Shota Imanaga reveals what he's learned about champagne with hilarious quote | Sporting News It's safe to say, Shota Imanaga enjoyed celebrating the Cubs clinching their postseason berth.

SEPTEMBER 18 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Cubs Pitcher Shota Imanaga Parties Hard After Clinching Playoff Berth After Wednesday’s 8–4 win over the Pirates, Japanese Chicago Cubs ace Shota Imanaga was drenched in clubhouse champagne, delivering an unfor...

SEPTEMBER 18 • OUTKICK.COM

Shota Imanaga Had Priceless Reaction to Champagne Bath After Cubs Clinch Playoff Spot Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga had a hilarious reaction to being doused with champagne.

SEPTEMBER 17 • SI.COM

Fans nine, tying season high Imanaga didn't factor into the decision against the Rays on Sunday, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out nine over five innings.

Impact The left-hander got off to a rough start, surrendering back-to-back solo homers to Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero to open the game before giving up another run on a two-out bunt in the third. Though he labored through a 31-pitch first inning and surpassed 60 pitches by the third, Imanaga was able to regroup, finding his command and striking out nine -- tying his season high -- while blanking Tampa Bay over his final two frames. Home runs remain a concern for the 32-year-old, who allowed 27 last season and has given up 26 this year through 39 fewer innings. Imanaga will carry a 3.29 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 110:23 K:BB across 134 innings into his next scheduled start against the Reds.

SEPTEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Nico Hoerner's 3 RBIs lead Cubs to 4-3 win over fading Rays

Nico Hoerner had three RBIs, including a go-ahead, two-run double in the seventh inning that sparked the Chicago Cubs over the fading Tampa Bay Rays 4-3

SEPTEMBER 14 • Associated Press

Morel exits with contusion after foul ball ricochets off abdomen CHICAGO -- Christopher Morel exited the Rays’ series finale against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon at Wrigley Field with an abdominal contusio...

SEPTEMBER 14 • MLB.COM

Cubs and Rays meet with series tied 1-1

The Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays play on Sunday with the winner claiming the three-game series

SEPTEMBER 14 • Associated Press

Nick Fortes homers in the 9th inning as the Tampa Bay Rays top the Chicago Cubs 5-4

Nick Fortes hit a tiebreaking homer in the ninth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays held off the Chicago Cubs for a 5-4 victory

SEPTEMBER 13 • Associated Press

Cubs confident Shota Imanaga will deliver in October | Sporting News Imanaga has never pitched in MLB's postseason, but that doesn't mean he's a stranger to big moments.

SEPTEMBER 13 • SPORTINGNEWS.COM

Another quality start in loss Imanaga (9-7) took the loss Monday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and no walks in six innings. He struck out four.

Impact That's now seven consecutive quality starts for Imanaga, who also issued no walks for the first time since his Aug. 10 outing in St. Louis. The star left-hander has allowed fewer than six hits in eight straight appearances, and he's worked to a 3.13 ERA, 0.74 WHIP and 38:6 K:BB over 46 frames since the beginning of August. Imanaga also has a 3.21 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 101:23 K:BB over 129 innings for the campaign, and he's next set to face a Rays team with a poor .655 OPS versus left-handed pitching since the All-Star break.

SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Imanaga's 7th straight QS goes by wayside as lineup slumbers ATLANTA -- Shota Imanaga has consistently been a source of steadiness for the Cubs, giving the rotation an element of predictability that is...

SEPTEMBER 9 • MLB.COM

Albies, Olson homers, Elder's strong outing lead the Braves to a 4-1 win over the Cubs

Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson homered and Bryce Elder had his fourth straight strong outing as the Atlanta Braves beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Monday night

SEPTEMBER 9 • Associated Press

Bryce Elder, Shota Imanaga to double-dip on Monday Both starting pitchers will face their respective opponents for a second consecutive start

SEPTEMBER 8 • BATTERYPOWER.COM

Braves begin 3-game series at home against the Cubs

The Atlanta Braves begin a three-game series at home against the Chicago Cubs on Monday

SEPTEMBER 8 • Associated Press

Kyle Tucker hits 3-run HR, leads Cubs past Braves 4-3

Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer and added a single, Shota Imanaga pitched six solid innings, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3

SEPTEMBER 3 • Associated Press

Logs sixth straight quality start Imanaga (9-6) earned the win Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out two.

Impact While he fell one strikeout shy of tying his season-low output, Imanaga extended his streak of quality starts to six. Out of 21 outings this year, the star left-hander has permitted greater than three runs on just three occasions and also has pitched at least five frames in all but two appearances. Imanaga sports a 3.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 97:23 K:BB over 123 innings, and he'll be trying to add to his streak of quality starts in a rematch with Atlanta early next week.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Logs sixth straight quality start Imanaga (9-6) earned the win Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing three runs on five hits and one walk in six innings. He struck out two.

Impact While he fell one strikeout shy of tying his season-low output, Imanaga extended his streak of quality starts to six. Out of 21 outings this year, the star left-hander has permitted greater than three runs on just three occasions and also has pitched at least five frames in all but two appearances. Imanaga sports a 3.15 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 97:23 K:BB over 123 innings, and he'll be trying to add to his streak of quality starts in a rematch with Atlanta early next week.

SEPTEMBER 3 • ROTOWIRE

Cubs face the Braves leading series 1-0

The Chicago Cubs host the Atlanta Braves, leading the series 1-0

SEPTEMBER 2 • Associated Press