Shota Imanaga Set to Return to Cubs Rotation Next Week

Shota Imanaga is poised to reclaim his spot in the Chicago Cubs' starting rotation, a much-anticipated return following a left hamstring injury that sidelined him since May 4. The lefty’s absence has been deeply felt by both fans and the club, especially given a season of mounting injuries across the Cubs’ pitching staff.

Imanaga’s road to recovery included two minor league rehab starts, first in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League and then a recent outing with Triple-A Iowa, where he built up to 72 pitches and struck out eight batters over 4.1 scoreless innings. 

According to manager Craig Counsell, “Everything went great. He did what we hoped he would do. He’s in a position to be ready.” The Cubs expect Imanaga to return to the big-league mound during their road series in St. Louis.

Before the setback, Imanaga was a stabilizing force for Chicago, making eight starts and spinning a 2.82 ERA over 44.2 innings, with 34 strikeouts and only 14 walks. His stellar performance helped fill the void left by ace Justin Steele, who is done for the season after elbow surgery. The rotation also lost Javier Assad to an oblique strain and endured brief absences from other contributors, further thinning the team’s pitching depth.

Imanaga’s 2024 rookie campaign saw him finish 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA, earning NL Rookie of the Year votes and quickly establishing himself as a cornerstone of the Cubs rotation. This season, his combination of precise command and pitch variety again had him leading the staff and playing a big role in the Cubs’ strong first half and NL Central lead.

Chicago’s pitching hasn’t been the only thing propelling their strong 2025 season; the offense has been one of MLB’s best, but with Imanaga returning, the Cubs can once again rely on their rotation as a major strength. Teammate Jameson Taillon summed up the team’s excitement: “I think we’re going to get a really good version of Shota back, which is super exciting, because he’s one of the best pitchers in baseball.”

With Shota Imanaga’s imminent return, the Cubs stand to restore a crucial piece in their push for the postseason and hope to put the rash of pitching injuries behind them as the season heats up.