Cubs Place Shota Imanaga on IL After Hamstring Injury

The Chicago Cubs have placed left-hander Shota Imanaga on the 15-day injured list after he suffered a strained left hamstring during Sunday’s loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. This marks the second consecutive start where Imanaga exited early due to a physical issue, raising concerns about his durability. With Javier Assad (oblique strain) and Justin Steele (elbow surgery) already sidelined, Imanaga’s absence further depletes Chicago’s starting rotation. To fill the void, the Cubs recalled right-hander Gavin Hollowell to the active roster.

While no official timeline has been provided for Imanaga’s return, hamstring injuries typically take three to four weeks to heal, according to Baseball Prospectus. In the meantime, the Cubs have an intriguing option in Cade Horton, a promising right-hander who has excelled at Triple-A with a 1.44 ERA over six starts. As Chicago navigates these injury setbacks, all eyes will be on how the rotation holds up while Imanaga works his way back.