The Chicago Cubs handed the San Diego Padres their first loss of the season, edging them 3-1 in their home opener at Wrigley Field. The Padres had been the last undefeated team, alongside the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will face the Philadelphia Phillies tonight.
The star of the game was Cubs’ ace Shota Imanaga, who continued his dominant start to the season and proved why he’s a serious Cy Young contender.
Imanaga’s Hot Start to the Season
Imanaga’s season started with a bang when he shut down the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Tokyo Series, throwing four no-hit innings and allowing no runs while striking out two. Although he struggled with walks, issuing four, he quickly cleaned up his command in his next outing against the Arizona Diamondbacks, issuing just two walks.
Imanaga’s home opener performance against the Padres was equally impressive. The 29-year-old pitched 7.1 innings of one-run ball, allowing only four hits and no walks, while striking out four. His performance helped secure the Cubs’ victory and gave manager Craig Counsell a reason to be excited about the rest of the season.
Imanaga’s Dominance So Far
As of now, Imanaga has posted a 0.98 ERA over three starts, with just two earned runs in 18.1 innings and 10 strikeouts. His early season dominance has earned him praise, with ESPN’s Jesse Rogers commenting, “Shota Imanaga leaves to a standing ovation. He continues to impress. 7.1, 4 H, 0BB, 1 ER against a hot Padres team (in cold conditions).”
Even though it’s early in the season, Imanaga leads MLB in WAR (0.8), winning percentage (1.000), ERA+ (474), and home runs per nine innings (0.0).
A Good Sign for Cubs’ Playoff Hopes
If Imanaga continues this hot streak, it could mean big things for the Cubs’ playoff chances. A Cy Young-caliber performance from their ace would go a long way in keeping the Cubs competitive, particularly if it rubs off on the rest of the pitching staff, including the bullpen.
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