Shota Imanaga Injury Update: When Will SP Be Back and Return to Cubs?
Chicago Cubs ace Shota Imanaga has been sidelined with a left hamstring strain since early May. Cubs fans and Imanaga fantasy baseball owners are currently wondering when Imanaga will return. Here, we will deliver an Imanaga injury update and give out a potential return date.
🩼 When will Shota Imanaga return and be back with Cubs?
Imanaga injured his left hamstring on May 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers while attempting to cover first base on a potential 1-6-3 double play. The 31-year-old hurler came up limp, and the Cubs placed him on the 15-day injured list a day later. Fortunately, it was just a mild hamstring strain.
Imanaga threw a 28-pitch bullpen session on May 28, and he's set to go to the Cubs' training facility in Mesa, Arizona this coming week. A decent and recent recovery time comparison for Imanaga and this injury involves Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider, who suffered a hamstring injury in April.
Strider went 35 days in between starts for Atlanta. Imanaga last pitched for the Cubs on May 4, so he's been out 29 days already. The Cubs seem to be on a more conservative timeline with Imanaga, so expect the hurler to be back in mid-to-late June.
Here's a look at the Cubs’ schedule around the time Imanaga is expected to be back.
- Thursday, June 12: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
- Friday, June 13: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
- Saturday, June 14: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
- Sunday, June 15: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs
- Tuesday, June 17: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
- Wednesday, June 18: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
- Thursday, June 19: Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs
- Friday, June 20: Seattle Mariners at Chicago Cubs
⏰ How long will Shota Imanaga be out for?
Imanaga is expected to be out for at least a full month due to this injury. With the Cubs sitting pretty atop the NL Central, there hasn't been a push to rush Imanaga back. Had this been a crucial stretch in the season for Chicago, or if it was the playoffs, it's likely Imanaga would already be back. This is a mild hamstring strain, which most athletes can recover from in a matter of days.
The Cubs are simply making sure Imanaga is 100% before he returns to the mound. Imanaga also exited his previous start prior to the hamstring injury with “cramping” in each of his legs. So fatigue may have been a factor with the injury.
Imanaga has thrown 44 2/3 innings in 2025 so far, and he threw 173 1/3 innings last season. Ha also threw 12 2/3 innings during spring training this year.
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