Other than Shota Imanaga, the Cubs’ rotation has had a foggy outlook. Well, maybe not as foggy as it became Saturday night at Wrigley Field.
Between the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh innings of the Cubs’ 3-0 loss to the Cardinals, fog delayed the game for 15 minutes. By the end of the sixth inning, Wrigley Field was cloaked in clouds, forcing a brief stoppage. The center field scoreboard was only visible by squinting, and when Ian Happ grounded to second to end the inning, it was clear the game would need to be halted.
“That was brutal,” said center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who struggled with a Masyn Winn fly ball in the sixth but made the play. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”
During the pause, Cardinals and Cubs fans came together in a rare moment of unity to sing John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” the song that’s become the unofficial anthem of the United States men’s national soccer team. Before that, the vibe was festive thanks to a giant American flag in center field during the national anthem and the rare sight and sound of fireworks at Wrigley.
Besides Imanaga, a healthy and dependable starter has also been a rare sight at Wrigley. And even if Imanaga hasn’t been great, that’s valuable to a team that’s still trying to compete this year.
After his start Saturday against the Cardinals, Imanaga has a 4.28 ERA. Prone to allowing home runs, Imanaga gave up his 21st on the first pitch of his 18th start when the Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt hit a 90.8 mph four-seam fastball out to left. His 1.10 WHIP is the highest of his big-league career and he’s already walked 26 batters after never walking more than 28 in a season since joining the Cubs in 2024.
Imanaga went 4 2/3 innings and gave up two runs with eight strikeouts and three walks in a game that started 57 minutes late because of rain.
“You are looking around to when Shota’s day is coming because it feels stable,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We’ve needed that this year. Our team has needed that this year.”
Behind Imanaga’s 18 starts, no Cubs pitcher has more than the 14 by Edward Cabrera and Colin Rea.
Cade Horton only made it through one full start before suffering a right elbow injury and won’t be back until next year. Justin Steele is still working his way back from elbow surgery last spring and probably can’t be counted on to contribute in 2026. Ben Brown was breaking out and getting mentioned as a potential All-Star before being put on the shelf with a stress reaction in his neck bone.
There’s even more.
Matthew Boyd has started only seven games and struggled with a 5.08 ERA, and Cabrera is on the IL with a left hamstring strain. Jameson Taillon, out for a month with a left hamstring strain, is scheduled to make a rehab start Sunday for Single-A South Bend.
That’s essentially left Imanaga to anchor a rotation with Rea and whoever else Counsell can find to begin a game.
Every fifth day, Counsell knows Imanaga is going to start, and in this chaotic season for the Cubs’ staff, he doesn’t take that for granted.
“What’s so important about Shota this year is he’s made every start,” Counsell said. “In a season where we’ve had a lot happen, we’ve been able to count on Shota and Colin [Rea], frankly. That’s a good feeling.”
Imanaga got little help from the Cubs offense. Starter Kyle Leahy and four Cardinals relievers combined to hold the Cubs to five hits. The Cubs left eight runners on base and have scored one run over two games after their 23-run explosion Wednesday against the Padres.