Shota Imanaga isn’t exactly sure what to expect.
The Chicago Cubs left-hander has never experienced a lower-body injury, so the Grade 1 left hamstring strain he sustained trying to cover first base during the sixth inning Sunday in Milwaukee creates an unclear timeline for when he could return to the rotation. His recovery and rehab process will be measured in weeks, not days, as the Cubs cautiously handle the injury.
Imanaga is “thinking positively” and anticipates playing catch every day to keep his arm in shape since it’s a lower-body ailment.
“Talking to everybody, it’s more of take it day by day and once it feels good, I’ll let them know,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry.
Doctors don’t believe the hamstring strain directly correlates to the cramping he experienced during his previous start against the Pittsburgh Pirates that forced him to exit the game, Imanaga said, echoing his belief postgame Sunday.
“I try to prepare myself 100% for each start, and if you think about why the reason the injury was caused, there’s probably so many different factors going on,” Imanaga said. “So for me, it’s just good to take time and kind of reflect on what I need to work on, if it’s preparation before the game, and what kind of adjustments I need to make.”
He plans to check whether he needs to adjust how much he hydrates. Imanaga said he has always focused on his hydration level, even when pitching in Japan, estimating he drinks two liters a day and three liters on start days.
Imanaga texted teammate Justin Steele on Tuesday morning since he went through the same injury last year when he attempted to field a ball on opening day. He plans to use Steele as a resource if something comes up during the rehab process that he has questions about. Steele missed roughly five weeks with his left hamstring injury, though manager Craig Counsell said Tuesday he doesn’t believe the timelines for both pitchers will be the same.
Once Imanaga is asymptomatic, the Cubs will have a better understanding of how long he might be out.
“They’re two different individuals, the severity (within Grade 1) is different, so we’ve got to take it case by case,” Counsell said. “The tough part for Shota is he hasn’t experienced lower-body injuries, so I think that’s going to make us a little cautious, but we’re just going to progress day by day for a while.”
Is Cade Horton — the Chicago Cubs’ top pitching prospect — in the mix to replace Shota Imanaga in rotation?
The Cubs have still not yet decided on who will take Imanaga’s turn in the rotation this weekend against the Mets in New York. If the Cubs opt to bring up top pitching prospect Cade Horton, the fact that he’s hovered between 64-68 pitches in his last four starts at Triple-A Iowa wouldn’t be a hindrance. Counsell called it “not a concern” whether Horton is built up enough.
“‘You’ll see a lot of Triple-A or minor-league starters around that (75) number,” Counsell said. “One, Cade is coming off a serious injury, and we’re just in the first week of May. So that in a sense is absolutely the correct way to have him pitch his first month of the season. But if you’ve thrown that number of starts with that number of pitches, you’re capable of throwing more.”
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