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Shota Imanaga
#
18
Team
CHC · P
Debut
2024 · 3 MLB seasons

Shota Imanaga

Age 32
Contract Value $22,025,000/yr
Size 5' 10" · 175
Throws LHP
Bats Left
From Kitakyushu, Japan
6-8 W-L
3.91
ERA
1.11
WHIP
8.5
K/9
2.2
BB/9
115.0
Innings
20
Starts
Shota Imanaga season snapshot
Season stats
ERA
3.91
WHIP
1.11
K/9
8.5
BB/9
2.2
HR/9
1.72
IP
115.0
GS
20
W-L
6-8
◆ Pitcher snapshot

Shota Imanaga, a starter for the Chicago Cubs, has worked through 20 starts and 115.0 innings while posting a 3.91 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 6-8 record. The L-hander has paired steady strikeout production at 8.53 K/9 with solid control at 2.19 BB/9, giving the Cubs a dependable presence when he is locating early in counts.

His profile still leans on command, sequencing, and limiting free baserunners more than overpowering every lineup. When he is getting ahead and finishing hitters efficiently, he can control contact and keep innings from snowballing. If his feel wavers, the margin for error narrows, but the overall shape of the season suggests a pitcher who can settle games and work effectively through a lineup.

Recent form:

Recent starts
  • 07/197.0 IP · 0 ER · 4 K
  • 07/105.0 IP · 1 ER · 5 K
  • 07/044.2 IP · 2 ER · 8 K
  • 06/296.1 IP · 2 ER · 4 K
  • 06/245.1 IP · 4 ER · 4 K

Shota Imanaga has pitched to an down trend lately, and the recent outings point to a mix of swing-and-miss ability and enough execution to keep him on track. The latest stretch suggests he is giving himself chances to work around trouble rather than letting one mistake define an entire start.

From a projection standpoint, the combination of strike-throwing, workable bat-missing ability, and manageable traffic supports useful fantasy and real-life value. The main question is whether he can consistently maintain sharp command deep into starts, but the baseline remains that of a capable rotation arm who can help in multiple categories when the rhythm is there.

Key facts
ERA 3.91WHIP 1.11K/9 8.53W-L 6-8
Shota Imanaga ERA trend
Last 6
Earned runs per start
Avg 1.7 ER / start
↓ ERA trending down over recent starts.

Shota Imanaga game log

2026 season
DateOpponentIPHERKBBERA
Jul 19Minnesota Twins760410.00
Jul 10Cincinnati Reds571511.80
Jul 4St. Louis Cardinals4.242834.29
Jun 29San Diego Padres6.192402.95
Jun 24New York Mets5.144417.06
Jun 15Colorado Rockies5.251311.73
Jun 10Colorado Rockies520720.00
Jun 4Athletics666519.00
May 29St. Louis Cardinals5.155218.82
May 24Houston Astros6776110.50
May 18Milwaukee Brewers4.1982317.56
May 13Atlanta Braves752602.57
May 7Cincinnati Reds6611031.50
May 2Arizona Diamondbacks740510.00
Apr 26Los Angeles Dodgers5.164637.06
Apr 21Philadelphia Phillies731111.29
Apr 15Philadelphia Phillies6311111.50
Apr 10Pittsburgh Pirates600910.00
Apr 5Cleveland Guardians531411.80
Mar 29Washington Nationals564727.20

Shota Imanaga season splits

Home / away / vs L-R · 2026
Home ERA
ERA4.50
vs Left AVG
AVG0.209
vs Right AVG
AVG0.234
Away ERA
ERA3.92
Shota Imanaga monthly splits
ERA · IP · K · BB · WHIP per month
MonthGSERAIPKBBWHIP
Mar17.205.0721.60
Apr52.1529.13170.75
May65.8035.23191.26
Jun54.1328.12351.09
Jul31.6216.21751.32
Pitch arsenal
Usage and average velocity · 2026
FFFour-seam FB
40.6%91.8 mph
FSSplitter
33.7%83.1 mph
STSweeper
14.4%81.3 mph
SISinker
6.7%90.2 mph
CUCurveball
3.1%74.4 mph
SLSlider
1.7%86.6 mph

Performance vs teams

2026 starts · sorted by ERA

Hot / Cold zones

Opponent results by strike zone area

AVG by zone

  • Zone 01: .263
  • Zone 02: .313
  • Zone 03: .444
  • Zone 04: .219
  • Zone 05: .357
  • Zone 06: .146
  • Zone 07: .292
  • Zone 08: .308
  • Zone 09: .091
  • Zone 11: .053
  • Zone 12: .297
  • Zone 13: .167
  • Zone 14: .154

OPS by zone

  • Zone 01: .909
  • Zone 02: .969
  • Zone 03: .889
  • Zone 04: .563
  • Zone 05: 1.140
  • Zone 06: .521
  • Zone 07: .750
  • Zone 08: .846
  • Zone 09: .273
  • Zone 11: .333
  • Zone 12: .795
  • Zone 13: .691
  • Zone 14: .340

SLG by zone

  • Zone 01: .632
  • Zone 02: .656
  • Zone 03: .444
  • Zone 04: .344
  • Zone 05: .810
  • Zone 06: .375
  • Zone 07: .458
  • Zone 08: .538
  • Zone 09: .182
  • Zone 11: .211
  • Zone 12: .459
  • Zone 13: .389
  • Zone 14: .173

OBP by zone

  • Zone 01: .364
  • Zone 02: .313
  • Zone 03: .444
  • Zone 04: .219
  • Zone 05: .349
  • Zone 06: .146
  • Zone 07: .292
  • Zone 08: .308
  • Zone 09: .091
  • Zone 11: .143
  • Zone 12: .409
  • Zone 13: .436
  • Zone 14: .170

numberOfStrikes by zone

  • Zone 01: 49.00
  • Zone 02: 77.00
  • Zone 03: 46.00
  • Zone 04: 65.00
  • Zone 05: 65.00
  • Zone 06: 69.00
  • Zone 07: 72.00
  • Zone 08: 68.00
  • Zone 09: 60.00
  • Zone 11: 51.00
  • Zone 12: 52.00
  • Zone 13: 94.00
  • Zone 14: 92.00

numberOfPitches by zone

  • Zone 01: 72.00
  • Zone 02: 105.00
  • Zone 03: 72.00
  • Zone 04: 93.00
  • Zone 05: 103.00
  • Zone 06: 111.00
  • Zone 07: 96.00
  • Zone 08: 100.00
  • Zone 09: 88.00
  • Zone 11: 147.00
  • Zone 12: 264.00
  • Zone 13: 331.00
  • Zone 14: 218.00

earnedRunAverage by zone

  • Zone 01: -
  • Zone 02: -
  • Zone 03: -
  • Zone 04: -
  • Zone 05: -
  • Zone 06: -
  • Zone 07: -
  • Zone 08: -
  • Zone 09: -
  • Zone 11: -
  • Zone 12: -
  • Zone 13: -
  • Zone 14: -
0.4000.3000.200
.167.053.297.154.263.313.444.219.357.146.292.308.091
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