Cubs Ace Nearing Return to Starting Rotation

Chicago Cubs ace Shōta Imanaga is nearing his return to the starting rotation after his first rehab start in Arizona was successful on Monday.

Imanaga has been recovering from a hamstring strain that he suffered in a start against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 4. The lefty pitched two innings for the Cubs affiliate in the Arizona Complex League and now the team is monitoring how Imanaga responds in hopes of sending him back out for another rehab start later this week.

Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy was on 670 The Score Tuesday morning and said Imanaga threw 40 pitches in his first live game since being sidelined with the hamstring strain. A first big step in his comeback as Imanaga recently threw a bullpen session prior to his outing on Monday.

If Imanaga does make another start by the end of the week, then there's a good chance that he could come back to the Cubs in time for a series against the Seattle Mariners at Wrigley Field that begins on June 20.

During his absence Cubs rookie Cade Horton has filled in for Imanaga in the starting rotation. Horton has pitched in six games and has a 4.11 ERA in 30.2 innings. Horton pitched five innings in Sunday's series finale against the Detroit Tigers. That was the first game the Cubs lost this season when Horton pitched.

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Well, this was a bummer. It's not so much a setback and more of what to guard against when trying to be optimistic when it comes to soft-tissue injuries because the Cubs won't have their ace Shōta Imanaga back for a while longer.

Initially, imaging showed a very mild left hamstring strain for Imanaga, who suffered the injury on May 4, against the Brewers. In early May, that meant a potential return during the first week of June, which would be a major victory for the Cubs. That is no longer Imanaga's projected timeline.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters on Monday that Imanaga will not return until, "well into June."

That development pretty much puts Imanaga's return date at about the six-week mark from the start of his stint on the injured list if all goes well in the next week or so. Justin Steele missed six weeks with a hamstring strain in 2024, and needed a rehab start in the minor leagues before he came back to the Cubs.

I guess the month-long absence was more wishful thinking than anything else because it did seem like Imanaga's recovery time would be more in line with Steele's timeline.

Imanaga posted a 2.82 ERA in 44.2 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP in eight starts prior to his injury.

The good news is that in Imanaga's absence this year rookie Cade Horton has been solid so far in three outings. Horton has allowed seven earned runs in 14.1 innings and he's coming off the best start of his pro career. The right-hander threw 92 pitches in 5.1 innings against the Marlins on Wednesday, and only allowed one earned run on six hits.

The Cubs are 3-0 in Horton's three games since he was called up on May 10.