SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga made his first Cactus League start of the year Wednesday against the Giants. But because he threw a simulated game last week on a back field at the team’s spring training complex, the Cubs were treating it like his second.
“I think today in the first inning, my output was a little too much,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry, after throwing 2 ⅔ innings in the Cubs’ 4-4 tie. “Then I feel like in the second and third inning, it dropped a little bit. So if I can maintain that output from the first inning as a starting pitcher, that’s my goal.”
He repeated a theme from his sim game, when he was also combatting the temptation to overthrow. Imanaga built up to 57 pitches Wednesday. He allowed three runs, on a two-run homer from Casey Schmitt in the second inning and a wild pitch in the third.
Imanaga is also focusing this spring on honing his secondary pitches.
“I feel like there were spots today where I could have thrown my slider,” Imanaga said. “But even today, besides the last pitch – the splitter up – overall, the splitter felt really good.”
The lefty is scheduled to pitch in the first game of the Tokyo Series, which is less than three weeks away.
Camp cuts begin
The Cubs announced their first round of spring training roster cuts on Wednesday, focusing on young players sidelined by injury. They optioned outfield prospect Owen Caissie to Triple-A Iowa. And they returned three non-roster invitees to minor-league camp: outfielder Brett Bateman and right-handed pitchers Branson Birdsell and Antonio Santos.
Caissie was out with a strained left adductor. Bateman was scheduled to undergo surgery on his right hamate. Birdsell was dealing with a lat injury.
The moves left the spring training roster at 59 players: 33 pitchers, six catchers, 12 infielders and eight outfielders.
Cubs 4, Giants 4
Non-roster invitee Greg Allen tied up the game with one swing of the bat in the eighth inning. His three-run blast put him in an eight-way tie for the most homers this spring. No Cub has hit more than one.
- Non-roster invitee Nicky Lopez, leading off and playing shortstop, went 2-for-2. His double play partner, second baseman Ben Cowles also had two hits, including a double, in three at-bats.
- The Cubs’ six-game winning streak ended with the tie, but they are still undefeated through seven Cactus League games.
- On deck: Angels at Cubs, 2:05 p.m. Thursday, Mesa, Marquee, TBD vs. Jordan Wicks.