The Chicago Cubs starting rotation is currently without Justin Steele and Javier Assad. Steele won’t pitch in 2025 after undergoing elbow surgery and Assad recently sustained a setback during a rehab outing. With these two unavailable, there were some tense moments on Tuesday night when Opening Day starter Shota Imanaga suddenly left early due to an apparent injury.
Shota Imanaga left his start against the Pirates early with an apparent injury
After pitching five scoreless innings, Imanaga got into a long battle with Pirates’ hitter Andrew McCutchen. On the seventh pitch of the at-bat, McCutchen doubled off a splitter. Following this the training staff visited Imanaga on the mound and he was removed with an apparent injury. Imanaga finished the night at 87 pitches, no earned runs, six hits allowed, one walk, and three strikeouts.
Shota Imanaga left today’s game with an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/WMw5EkQ8Fl
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) April 30, 2025
Cubs breathe a sign of relief as encouraging update follows Imanaga’s early exit
Following Imanaga’s sudden departure, Cubs’ reporter Taylor McGregor indicated that he left due to leg cramps. After the game Imanaga confirmed the issue, explaining, “In the sixth inning, my legs completely cramped.” He added this has happened in the past and that there shouldn’t be an issue for his next start “I don’t think there will be any issue for the next start. I’ve had it in the past where I’ve had that feeling coming along and I kinda push past it and that affects me negatively. I feel like today, I was able to stop it a few steps before it would become a bigger issue.”
For the Cubs, this comes as a major sign of relief. They’ve already navigated the season without Assad and are coping with the loss of Steele for the year. Had Imanaga’s injury been more serious, the front office would have had to have acted quickly to combat the issue.
Thankfully, that doesn’t sound like it will be the case and all indications are that Imanaga won’t miss his next scheduled start.
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