The Chicago Cubs placed left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a mild strained left hamstring, leaving the team without its top two starters.
The injury occurred during Imanaga's start Sunday afternoon. This marks the first hamstring injury for the 31-year-old Japanese pitcher, introducing uncertainty regarding his recovery timeline.
Imanaga plans to maintain arm readiness by playing catch while his leg heals. He noted that the lower-body injury allows him to continue throwing, viewing it positively compared to a potential arm issue.
Manager Craig Counsell cautioned against comparing Imanaga's situation directly to pitcher Justin Steele, who sustained his injury on Opening Day last year and returned about five weeks later. Counsell said the severity differs and each individual case requires day-by-day progress.
Imanaga has reached out to Steele, seeking advice on navigating the rehab process for a hamstring issue. He described it as reassuring to have a teammate who has experienced a similar setback.
Jed Hoyer said the team understands pitching injuries are common and they build depth for such situations, even when it affects top players. He emphasized the need for other players to step up.
The Cubs previously lost Steele to season-ending elbow surgery in April. When Steele was injured, Colin Rea moved from the bullpen to the rotation and has performed well.
Replacing Imanaga presents a new challenge. Options to fill his spot include top prospect Cade Horton, who is on the same schedule as Imanaga's rotation spot and has pitched effectively in Triple-A Iowa. Veteran Chris Flexen, recently called up and stretched out as a starter in the minors, provides another possibility, potentially for a bullpen day against the New York Mets this weekend.
The team has an off-day Thursday before the Mets series, allowing time to determine the pitching plan. Other internal options like Brad Keller and Jordan Wicks are also with the organization, though Wicks has struggled in the minor leagues this season.
Despite the challenge, Hoyer expressed confidence in the team's depth. "Our depth is getting challenged a bit," Hoyer said. "But I think we still have pretty good depth and options."
