The Chicago Cubs had a scare during Tuesday’s game when starting pitcher Shota Imanaga was pulled in the sixth inning with leg cramps. However, neither manager Craig Counsell nor Imanaga feels that it is serious: “Both legs in the quad area were cramping,” Counsell told reporters. “It was kind of easy – had to take him out. He feels fine now – no issues. So, hopefully it was just that.”

Imanaga also expressed, through translator Edwin Stanberry, that he does not expect the cramps to affect his next start. Cubs fans can breathe a collective sigh of relief, as they have already lost Justin Steele to a season-ending elbow surgery, and this feels like a precautionary move. Imanaga was cruising through the Pittsburgh Pirates’ lineup, going five innings with no runs allowed on six hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. It was a nice bounce back after a difficult start against the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Imanaga lowered his season ERA to 2.77 and FIP to 4.87.

The second-year southpaw has done splendidly to alleviate some of the gaping hole left by Steele and will be relied upon to carry this rotation throughout the summer. Jameson Taillon had a fantastic, resurgent 2024 campaign, and Matthew Boyd has excelled in the middle of the rotation. However, 25-year-old Ben Brown, now in his second season with Chicago, is still learning how to dominate at this level and has struggled to the tune of a 6.04 ERA and 4.18 FIP so far. Colin Rea has also been unhittable as Steele’s replacement, with a 0.96 ERA and 1.53 FIP, but the veteran feels due for a regression.

Imanaga was phenomenal as a rookie, earning all-star honors, a fourth-place Rookie of the Year finish, and a fifth-place National League Cy Young finish, and has shown no signs of a sophomore slump. Now, assuming this is a mere bump in the road, Imanaga will need to maintain his ace status to lead this team to a division title.