Spanish
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs announced on Monday that Japanese left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga has been placed on the 15-day injured list after suffering a left hamstring strain. The injury occurred during the sixth inning of Sunday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, when Imanaga was moving to cover first base.
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The 31-year-old lefty, one of the Cubs' most consistent starters this season, will undergo additional medical evaluations, including a review by Dr. Stephen Gryzlo. "He feels pretty good today... but we need to let the doctor examine him and let the images guide us here," explained manager Craig Counsell.
Imanaga signed with Chicago in January 2024 for four years and $53 million, and has recorded a solid performance with a 3-2 record and a 2.82 ERA in eight starts this year. His absence represents another blow to a rotation already affected by the absences of Justin Steele (elbow injury) and Javier Assad (oblique problem).
To fill the temporary absence, the Cubs called up right-hander Gavin Hollowell from Triple-A Iowa. Hollowell, 27, has already pitched two scoreless innings with the big league team this season.
The president of baseball operations, Jed Hoyer, referred to the challenge they face: “You're always building depth and dealing with injuries. We hope he can return soon and fully healthy.”
The Cubs are considering several options to fill the vacancy in the rotation, including prospect Cade Horton, who has an ERA of 1.24 in six starts in Iowa, and veteran Chris Flexen.
Imanaga's next turn in the rotation was scheduled for Saturday against the New York Mets, and the team is still evaluating how to reorganize the pitching schedule.
In 2024, Imanaga went 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA, was selected to the All-Star Game, and finished fourth in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.
