Shota Imanaga: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Looking ahead to NL Central club options

MLBTR continues our division by division look at next year’s team/mutual option class with the NL Central. Virtually all of the mutual options will be bought out by one side. Generally, if the team is willing to retain the player at the option price, the player will decline his end in search of a better free agent deal.

Looking ahead to club options in AL West

Looking Ahead To Club Options: NL West

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Chicago Cubs Shake Up Bullpen, Recall Intriguing Reliever for Upcoming Game

The Chicago Cubs have been outstanding early on in the 2025 season, with their offense firing on all cylinders and their pitching staff finding their groove.

Chicago Cubs News / Chicago Cubs on SI / April 22

Chicago Cubs Ace at Top of MLB in a Key Advanced Metric This Season

The Chicago Cubs have been on an absolute tear offensively to kick off the 2025 season, leading the MLB with 145 runs scored through 24 games, and remaining tied for fifth in batting average with a .258.

Chicago Cubs News / ChiCitySports / April 16

Chicago Cubs Ace could have a new feature to his arsenal

The Chicago Cubs had one of the better pitching staffs in the league until left-hander and number two in the starting rotation Justin Steele went down with an elbow injury and will miss the rest of the year.

New York Mets News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most 40 home run seasons in MLB history' quiz

How many of the 50 MLB players with three or more 40 home run seasons can you name in six minutes?

The 'Home Run Derby champion' quiz

The 'MLB home run leaders from 2024' quiz

The '200 or more strikeouts in 2019' quiz

Chicago Cubs News / Larry Brown Sports / April 16

Cubs produce most embarrassing sequence of MLB season

The Chicago White Sox are not the only embarrassing MLB franchise from Chicago these days. The Chicago Cubs produced an all-time lowlight during Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres.

Chicago Cubs News / Chicago Cubs on SI / April 11

Cubs Superstar Shota Imanaga Speaks on Injury Suffered by Justin Steele

The Chicago Cubs are off to a good start in 2025, standing at the top of the National League Central with a 9-6 record. Their offensive production has been a thing of beauty and has been all anyone can talk about regarding the team, for good reason.

MLB News / Chicago Cubs on SI / April 11

Cubs Pull Off Trade With San Diego Padres, DFA Notable Pitcher

Coming into the 2025 campaign, there were concerns about the Chicago Cubs pitching staff. While Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga were poised to lead the starting rotation, questions remained behind them regarding Jameson Taillon's viability, Matthew Boyd's injury history and the unproven, young arms who were in the mix.

Texas Rangers News / Lone Star Ball / April 9

9-4 - Rangers break out to escape Wrigley with finale win 6-2

Mahle’s gem backed up by defrosted bats The Texas Rangers scored six runs while the Chicago Cubs scored two runs. The Rangers will surely be glad to leave

Chicago Cubs News / Fastball on SI / April 9

Cubs Pitcher Shota Imanaga Looks To Continue Strong Start Against Rangers

Two of baseball's best meet Wednesday at 1:20 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field. The Chicago Cubs are off to a 9-5 start, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres for the most wins in MLB.

Chicago Cubs News / Field Level Media / April 9

Cubs turn to Shota Imanaga in bid for sweep of Rangers

The Chicago Cubs will go for the sweep with their ace pitcher on the mound when they host the Texas Rangers on Wednesday afternoon in the finale of the teams' three-game interleague series.

Chicago Cubs News / Just Baseball / April 5

Shota Imanaga Keeps Dealing At the Top of the Cubs’ Rotation

For the second straight season, Shota Imanaga took the bump to open up the Chicago Cubs‘ home slate. Manager Craig Counsell joked Friday morning that, going into his second season on the North Side, he tried to make the home opener feel identical to last year’s.

MLB News / The Forkball / April 5

Cubs Win Home Opener Against Padres 3-1

The Chicago Cubs have dealt the San Diego Padres their first loss of the young season. In the process the Cubs also won their home opener by a score of 3-1.

MLB News / ChiCitySports / April 4

Chicago Cubs Ace dominates the San Diego Padres in 3-1 victory

The Chicago Cubs gave the San Diego Padres their first loss of the season, beating them 3-1 in their home opener. The Padres were the only undefeated team next to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who play the Philadelphia Phillies tonight.

MLB News / Field Level Media / April 4

Cubs win home opener, hand Padres first loss of season

Shota Imanaga threw 7 1/3 quality innings and Justin Turner delivered the go-ahead RBI single on Friday to propel the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the visiting San Diego Padres.

Chicago Cubs News / Chicago Cubs on SI / April 1

Cubs Ace Surprisingly Named Best Japanese Pitcher in MLB Right Now

Before the 2024 season, the Chicago Cubs struck out on their top options and were left with a consolation prize. That player has surpassed every expectation.

MLB News / Yardbarker / March 31

One potential Hall of Famer on every National League team

Only a few games into the Major League Baseball season, many players have sparkled on the diamond. But what player on each team has displayed long-term greatness (or potential long-term greatness) good enough to be considered a candidate for the Hall of Fame?

...and every AL team

Jurickson Profar's PED suspension raises one huge question

Braves could lose underrated reason for success after 2025

After Yankees' hot start, will other teams start using torpedo bats?

Brewers tie unwelcome MLB history in another blowout loss

Chicago Cubs News / Athlon Sports / March 23

Blockbuster Cubs Trade Prediction Pairs $56 Million Star With Shota Imanaga

MLB's "official" Opening Day is set for Thursday when 28 of the league's 30 clubs will be in action. While only two games have counted toward the 2025 standings so far (Tokyo Series), it's never too early to fire off some bold predictions for the season ahead.

Chicago Cubs News / Chicago Cubs on SI / March 23

Cubs Set Up Ace to Receive Unusual Honor in Wrigley Field Return

The Chicago Cubs are finally over their jet lag from the trip to Japan for the Tokyo Series and are getting the business of “re-opening” their season next week against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

MLB News / ChiCitySports / March 22

Chicago Cubs reveal game three starter against the Arizona Diamondbacks

The Chicago Cubs will begin their second Opening Day in five days when they take the short drive from Mesa to Phoenix to take on the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Chicago Cubs News / ChiCitySports / March 22

Chicago Cubs unveil surprising starting rotation for domestic opening series

The Chicago Cubs have already begun their regular season, having opened up in Japan against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Overseas, Shota Imanaga got the nod in game one and Justin Steele game two.

MLB News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'MLB strikeout leaders in 2024' quiz

How many of the MLB pitchers to strikeout at least 100 batters in 2024 can you name in seven minutes?

MLB News / Yardbarker / March 14

Cubs-Dodgers Tokyo Series 2025: Who's starting for each club?

We're just days away from the soft launch of the 2025 MLB season in Tokyo, where the defending world champion Los Angeles Dodgers will face off against the Chicago Cubs.

Mets announce an unexpected starter for Opening Day

Rangers pitcher suffers major injury after getting hit by 106 mph line drive

Tigers CF ruled out for Opening Day

Ronald Acuna Jr. plans to make major change for 2025 season

Did Gerrit Cole opt out knowing he needed Tommy John surgery?

MLB award futures bets, predictions for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year

Chicago Cubs News / ChiCitySports / February 28

Chicago Cubs: Brace yourself, top starter could very well have an 'off' 2025 season

The Chicago Cubs brought lefty Japanese pitching ace Shota Imanaga to the team last season, making the calculated gamble that his mound prowess would translate to the American game.

Chicago Cubs News / Yardbarker / March 3

Three players to watch during Cubs spring training

The Cubs made some big moves this offseason to make them one of the favorites to win the National League Central division in 2025.

Which MLB players have the most career WAR?

The '30 or more home runs in 2003' quiz

Chicago Cubs News / Field Level Media / February 19

Cubs LHP Shota Imanaga 'an honor' to start Tokyo opener

Shota Imanaga said he doesn't take lightly the "honor" of being named Opening Day starter for the Chicago Cubs on March 18 in Tokyo. Imanaga is expected to oppose countryman Yoshinobu Yamamoto of the Dodgers in the first of a two-game set labeled the Tokyo Series.