Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga exited Sunday’s game against the Milwaukee Brewers after suffering a left hamstring strain, deepening the Cubs’ injury troubles in their already-depleted rotation.
The injury occurred in the sixth inning during a potential double play. As Imanaga ran from the mound to cover first base on a grounder hit by Christian Yelich, he was visibly in pain and grabbed the back of his left leg. Yelich beat the throw, and Imanaga was removed from the game shortly after, limping as he walked to the dugout.
This marks the second straight outing where Imanaga had lower-body issues—he had to leave his previous start against the Pirates due to leg cramps. Cubs manager Craig Counsell said imaging will be done to assess the severity of the injury. Imanaga hasn’t previously dealt with muscle strains in his lower body, making the situation uncertain.
“We’ll get it checked out and go from there,” Counsell said. “He definitely felt something.”
Whether Imanaga will need to go on the injured list remains undecided. The Cubs are already missing key arms in the rotation, with Justin Steele out for the season due to an elbow injury and Javier Assad sidelined with an oblique strain. Should Imanaga be sidelined, Chris Flexen could be slotted into the rotation. Top prospect Cade Horton, currently in Triple-A Iowa, is also an option, especially with off days coming up on May 9 and May 15.
Imanaga pitched 5 2/3 innings against Milwaukee, allowing two runs on four hits. Despite feeling “amazing” before the game, he was surprised by the injury.
“I really don’t know what happened,” Imanaga said through a translator. “We’ll have to wait and see after the tests.”
The 31-year-old Japanese lefty has been impressive since joining the Cubs on a four-year, $53 million contract in January 2024, posting an 18-5 record with a 2.89 ERA. He finished fourth in last year’s National League Rookie of the Year voting.
Chicago also had a brief scare with star outfielder Kyle Tucker in the ninth inning, when he appeared to tweak his right hip while sliding into second on a double steal. He remained in the game and later said he expected to be fine for Monday’s series opener against the Giants.
“He felt something briefly, but it went away,” Counsell added. “We’ll take another look tomorrow, but we’re optimistic.”
The Brewers dealt with injury concerns of their own during the game. Right fielder Sal Frelick left in the fourth inning due to left knee discomfort and was scheduled for an MRI. Starting pitcher Freddy Peralta also exited after six innings due to groin tightness but downplayed the issue afterward.
“I didn’t want it to get worse,” Peralta said. “But I’m not too worried.”
