Shota Imanaga

Imanaga continues to keep his team relevant, outdueling Corbin Burnes in Wednesday’s 4-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles.

It's time to honesty reassess the organization. Outside of Shota Imanaga making his first All-Star Game, there haven’t been many positives.

Imanaga has ingratiated himself to his Cubs teammates with his personality and his talent, the latter of which landed him an All-Star bid.

Imanaga allowed 10 runs on 11 hits over three-plus innings as the Mets attacked his fastball, which had a lower average velocity than usual.

The Cubs could use some reinforcements and these players might see time in the majors this season.

Leiter considered playing in Japan or South Korea after spending 2021 in the minors. Now he's one of the Cubs' best relievers.

It was a battle between a flailing Cubs lineup and a beleaguered White Sox bullpen in front of a raucous bipartisan crowd at Wrigley Field.

“We’re all kind of astonished at how good he’s been,” said one official from a National League club.

After giving up seven runs Wednesday, Imanaga's ERA increased from 0.84 to 1.86. "I guess the historic start is over," Craig Counsell said.

The Cubs want to manage the lefty's workload with an eye on the future: "We still got next year and the year after that.”

“We have to help them play better,” Counsell said. “They have to swing the bats better. And they will."

Imanaga mania is sweeping through Chicago as the Cubs' 30-year-old Japanese lefty has an ERA under 1.00 through his first nine starts.

Imanaga has been a revelation and the Cubs added a reliever to their bullpen, which has been shaky over the first quarter of the season.

Imanaga, who has become a favorite among Cubs fans, leads baseball with a 1.08 ERA in the first seven starts of his rookie career.

If the Cubs are going to really matter this season, it looks like the starters will have to lead the way.

"It was crisp, it was clean," Craig Counsell said of Shota Imanaga's latest impressive outing. "Just a really well-pitched game.”

During Friday's win in Boston, nine Chicago players had hits, five drove in runs and four had multihit efforts.

The Japanese hurler looked impressive again and contained Shohei Ohtani before the weather at Wrigley Field shortened his outing.