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The Chicago Cubs are still adjusting to the premature end of Justin Steele’s season. Craig Counsell and the team received another scare on Tuesday night when Shota Imanaga exited his start against the Pittsburgh Pirates with an injury. Fans worried that the team would be without their ace for a while, but Imanaga delivered good news.
When speaking with the media on Wednesday, the 31-year-old said that he believes that he can make his next scheduled start, per Marquee Sports Network writer Tony Andracki.
“I don’t think there will be any issue for the next start,” Imanaga said about his recovery. “I’ve had it in the past where I’ve had that feeling coming along and I kinda push past it and that affects me negatively. I feel like today, I was able to stop it a few steps before it would become a bigger issue.”
Fans around Chicago are excited, especially because the team’s hot start. After the Cubs traded for and then signed Kyle Tucker in the offseason, expectations are higher. They aren’t disappointing, either.
Chicago is atop the National League Central division and appears well on the way to a playoff berth. Tucker and Seiya Suzuki are leading the offense while Imanaga emerges as a dominant starter. Playing without Steele hurts, but the team is proving that it can win without him.
Imanaga’s dominance across his first two years in the league is wildly impressive. After winning 15 games last season, many assumed that the number would be his career high. He already has three wins so far this season with a better ERA than 2024.
Counsell needs Imanaga to continue his dominant start in order to hold down the starting rotation. His ace is capable of taking on any other pitcher in the league. However, the Cubs are vulnerable outside of him, something that could come back to haunt them down the line.
More must-reads:
- Yankees beef up bullpen by acquiring ex-Pirates closer
- Mets finally fix hole in outfield in trade with Orioles
- The 'National League MVPs' quiz
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Mets finally fix hole in outfield in trade with Orioles
Center field has been a glaring weakness in the New York Mets lineup this season. That is no longer the case after Thursday's trade. Anthony DiComo from MLB.com reported that the Mets have acquired outfielder Cedric Mullins from the Orioles. In exchange, pitching prospects Raimon Gomez, Anthony Nunez and Chandler Marsh are heading to Baltimore. Mullins gives the Mets another dynamic presence in the lineup. He had posted a .229/.305/.433 batting line in 355 plate appearances for the Orioles, hitting 15 homers and 19 doubles while stealing 14 bases. Mullins' overall numbers were torpedoed by a dreadful two month slump in April and May where he had a .169/.204/.338 batting line in 158 plate appearances. The Orioles receive a trio of intriguing pitching prospects highlighted by Nunez. The Mets' 14th-ranked prospect at the time of the trade, Nunez spent two seasons in the San Diego Padres' system as an infielder before going to Division II University of Tampa. A two-way player in 2024, he signed with the Mets as an undrafted free agent and has rapidly ascended through their system. Nunez has a solid arsenal highlighted by a plus sweeper and changeup, helping his cutter and mid-90s fastball play up. His command is a work in progress but he may have a future as a late-inning weapon in the Orioles bullpen. Gomez, the Mets' 30th-ranked prospect, has the type of velocity that few pitchers can match. His 80-grade fastball regularly sits in the triple digits and has been clocked as high as 104.5 mph. His plus slider can make opposing hitters look foolish, especially if they are gearing up for the fastball. Gomez has question marks — his command is questionable at best and he is coming off of a Tommy John surgery in 2023. Nonetheless, his pure stuff is the type that teams dream about. Marsh was unranked in the Mets system and is another relief prospect with a fastball/slider profile. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and he has a solid slider, however, both play down due to a lack of control.
Final Fantasy Meets Dragon Quest In Legendary Crossover
What’s more iconic than Cloud wielding a Buster Sword? How about Cloud rocking Erdrick’s Armor and wrecking Dragon Quest monsters all in one event? That’s right, Square Enix has decided to gift us mere mortals a crossover between Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis and Dragon Quest Tact. This limited event runs from July 30 to August 6, and if you’re not hyped yet, you might want to check your gaming pulse. But what does this actually mean for you? Well, buckle up, because this crossover is more than just a gimmick. It’s packed with so much fan service that even Sephiroth might need a break from brooding to join in on the fun. The Chaos, The Loot, The Slimeocalypse First off, Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis is about to host King Slime and his slimy gang because, apparently, even pixels deserve to meet their heroes. Players get to battle these absurdly charming enemies and earn event-exclusive gear worthy of both franchises. We’re talking Cloud stepping into Erdrick’s Armor and wielding what is unquestionably one of the most epic swords in gaming. Aerith, not to be outdone, is gracefully handed the Supreme Sage Garb because, you know, killing enemies and looking fabulous is her thing. And don’t even get me started on Sephiroth taking a cosplay detour as Psaro. Imagine one iconic villain dressing up as another. It’s meta. It’s chaotic. It’s everything we didn’t know we needed. Players, Prepare for Nostalgia Overload The crossover also throws in daily free draws, a boatload of loot, and arguably, a reason to ditch any other mobile games cluttering up your screen time. There’s something inherently rewarding about collecting crossover goodies that scream, “I was there when Square Enix decided Cloud needed an RPG glow-up with Dragon Quest-style flair.” Some highlights from the event include: Daily Free Ten Pulls (Spoiler Alert: Prepare for gacha heartbreak… and joy). Crossover Missions loaded with rewards like Red XIII’s Great Sabrecat Collar (think of it as drip for your furry companion). Event Bonuses that range from refined Mythril piles to rare crossover wallpapers that scream, “Yeah, I’m that gamer.” And, oh yeah, login bonuses stacked higher than a stack of pancakes at a chocobo-catered brunch. Why This Crossover Actually Slaps If you’re rolling your eyes at the idea of yet another crossover event, it’s time for a quick reality check. This isn’t just a lazy cash-grab with recycled assets and buzzwords. It’s a love letter to fans of both games, blending two legendary worlds into an experience that’s as ridiculous as it is satisfying. Think of it like a bizarre but beautiful RPG fever dream where Dragon Quest monsters challenge Final Fantasy heroes, and the only loser is anyone who missed out. Plus, when was the last time you saw King Slime try to flex on Aerith? Exactly. Is this Peak Mobile Gaming? Now, will this event cure all your gaming ailments? Probably not. Will it load up your plate with so much nostalgia and fan-service-packed chaos that even your backlog of unplayed games might get jealous? Absolutely. Square Enix’s crossover brilliance usually lies in its ability to unite wildly different fandoms and generate hype that turns even the most casual gamer into a midnight-grinding, loot-obsessed fan. And if that’s not peak mobile gaming, what even is? Final Thoughts Events like these are why gaming history has a vault packed with “Hype Levels Overload” moments. Whether you’re here for the loot, the cross-franchise cosplays, or just some good old-fashioned Dragon Quest monster smashing with your favorite FF cast, this event delivers on every front. Hot tip? Set your alarms. Grab your popcorn. And pray that RNG is in your favor for those 10 pulls. Trust me, you’ll want bragging rights when someone asks why Cloud suddenly looks like he walked out of a Dragon Quest cutscene. Remember, this party only lasts for a week. Don’t sleep on it, because King Slime certainly won’t. Be sure to visit Total Apex Gaming for more game-related news and content.
Clippers Announce Multiple Roster Moves After Chris Paul Press Conference
The LA Clippers are putting the final touches on a roster that looks to be a great one, on paper. They've had a busy offseason when many expected them to mostly stand pat, adding Chris Paul, Brook Lopez, and Bradley Beal in free agency while trading Norman Powell away in a three-team deal that netted them John Collins. To make the Bradley Beal move, the Clippers had to waive Jordan Miller, a young prospect they have a lot of belief in. He stayed with the team for the NBA Summer League, made the All-Summer League First Team, but still couldn't find any other opportunities, so it was believed the Clippers could bring him back in some capacity. The Clippers announced on Tuesday that they re-signed Jordan Miller, bringing the former Miami Hurricane back on a two-way contract. They had three two-way players signed already, so they also announced who they waived. "The LA Clippers have signed Jordan Miller to a two-way contract," they announced. "In a corresponding move, the Clippers have waived Patrick Baldwin Jr." Miller averaged 4.1 PPG in his 37 appearances for the Clippers last season, and a staggering 24.5 PPG in his infrequent appearances in the G-League. He was the 48th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and has made a lasting impression on the organization in his time. Baldwin, a former first-round pick by the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 NBA Draft, wasn't signed to his two-way contract by the Clippers until March, and he only appeared in two games for them. He was traded after his rookie season for Chris Paul, spent a year and a half with the Wizards, then who traded to the San Antonio Spurs in a four-team deal last year before being waived.
Raiders staff 'changed their mind' on Jackson Powers-Johnson
First-year head coach Pete Carroll is tinkering with the Las Vegas Raiders' offensive line early in training camp. On Tuesday, second-year offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson was moved to the second-team unit at center, with Jordan Meredith handling the first-team reps, per Tashan Reed of The Athletic. On Thursday, Powers-Johnson was moved to the first-team right guard. The Raiders initially wanted Powers-Johnson to play at center in the upcoming season, but "changed their mind" when they released veteran Andre James in March. "Powers-Johnson started games at guard last year, but the intent was for him to lock in on center after the team released Andre James this offseason," Reed wrote. "That was the case through OTAs, but the staff changed their mind once training camp got rolling. "According to coach Pete Carroll, the logic is Meredith is too small to play guard but holds up well at center. They signed Alex Cappa to start at right guard, but Powers-Johnson is a superior option there." Meredith, a six-foot-two, 300-pound athlete, is decidedly much smaller than the six-foot-three, 328-pound Powers-Johnson. Carroll believes the competition between Meredith and Powers-Johnson this summer will ultimately make the team better. "It's the heart of everything," Carroll told reporters on Thursday regarding the battle at center between Meredith and Powers-Johnson, via video from Taylor Rocha. "These guys are battling for their playing time... JPJ is working his tail off, and both those guys are battling, so it just makes us better." It's hard to see the Raiders benching Powers-Johnson if Meredith earns the starting center job. He should at least earn the starting right guard job after he made the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2024. He is too talented not to start for Las Vegas.
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