Shota Imanaga 4-Year Deal Contract Watch
Shota Imanaga signed a 4-year deal with the Cubs in 2024. After accepting Chicago's qualifying offer (~$22M) following the 2025 season, his player option decision arrives after 2026, which would reshape his contract trajectory.
What is Shota Imanaga's FIP? 4.65 in 2026
FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) measures a pitcher's true skill using only home runs, walks, hit-by-pitches and strikeouts — outcomes the pitcher controls. By stripping out defense and luck, it tracks real ability more closely than ERA.
Shota Imanaga's 2026 FIP is 4.65, rated as "below average". That's 0.65 above the MLB average of about 4.00, leaving room to improve.
Compare with other Japanese pitchers in the FIP rankingLast 5 Games
2026 Season Summary
2026 Season at a Glance
Shota Imanaga — cubs 2026 Pitching Performance
2026 Season Highlights
Shota Imanaga continues to be one of the most effective starters in 2026 — now in the third year of his Cubs career. After a strong 2024 rookie campaign and an injury-limited 2025, he has returned to full form: through April 27, 6 starts, 3.15 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 0.87 WHIP in 34.1 innings. The strikeout total (K/9 ~9.96) is among the best for any MLB starter, and Imanaga is establishing himself as a legitimate front-line arm.
Shota Imanaga joined the Cubs in 2024 and quickly established himself as a dependable starter with his sharp slider and crafty pitch sequencing. His 2025 season was interrupted by injury, limiting him to 25 starts (9-8, 3.73 ERA). After becoming a free agent, he accepted the Cubs' qualifying offer (~$22 million) to return for 2026, aiming to bounce back to full strength. A 2023 WBC champion with Japan.
- 1【2026 as of 4/27】6 starts, 2-2 record, 3.15 ERA, 38 K, 0.87 WHIP in 34.1 IP — 38 strikeouts in 6 starts (K/9 ~9.96) is among the best totals for any MLB starter. The strikeout profile is dominant
- 2His 0.87 WHIP confirms solid control — walks and hard contact are both limited. The sharp slider and command precision that made him a Rookie of the Year contender in 2024 are fully restored in 2026
- 3Accepted the Cubs' Qualifying Offer (~$22M) to return for 2026, and is outperforming that value with 38 K in 34.1 IP. If these numbers hold, he is pitching his way into a significant long-term extension
- 4His left-handed approach — sharp slider working off both sides of the plate, elite command, and excellent sequencing — is effective against both right-handers and left-handers. Alongside Seiya Suzuki (.317 / .990 OPS, 5 HR in April), he forms the Cubs' Japanese connection in their 2026 contention push
- 5Strikeout rate (38 K over 34.1 IP = K/9 ~9.96) confirms the stuff is fully there. His ability to work deep into games while generating elite swing-and-miss is what separates him from similar-velocity left-handers in the NL
2026 Season Appearance Log
18 starts · 100 total strikeouts
| Date | Opp | IP | K | HR | BB | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/5 | vsSTL | 4.2 | 8 | 1 | 3 | L |
| 6/30 | vsSD | 6.1 | 4 | - | 0 | - |
| 6/25 | @NYM | 5.1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | W |
| 6/16 | vsCOL | 5.2 | 3 | - | 1 | - |
| 6/11 | @COL | 5.0 | 7 | - | 2 | - |
| 6/5 | vsOAK | 6.0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | - |
| 5/30 | @STL | 5.1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | L |
| 5/25 | vsHOU | 6.0 | 6 | 3 | 1 | L |
| 5/19 | vsMIL | 4.1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | L |
| 5/14 | @ATL | 7.0 | 6 | 1 | 0 | L |
| 5/8 | vsCIN | 6.0 | 10 | 1 | 3 | W |
| 5/3 | vsARI | 7.0 | 5 | - | 1 | W |
| 4/27 | @LAD | 5.1 | 6 | - | 3 | L |
| 4/22 | vsPHI | 7.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | W |
| 4/16 | @PHI | 6.0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | W |
| 4/11 | vsPIT | 6.0 | 9 | - | 1 | - |
| 4/6 | @CLE | 5.0 | 4 | - | 1 | - |
| 3/30 | vsWSH | 5.0 | 7 | 1 | 2 | L |
Season Analysis
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Stats by Year
ERA
↓低いほど優秀WHIP
↓低いほど優秀K
W
| Year | Team | APP | GS | W | L | ERA | IP | K | WHIP | SV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024BEST | - | 29 | 29 | 15 | 3 | 2.91 | 173.1 | 174 | 1.02 | 0 |
| 2025 | - | 25 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 3.73 | 144.2 | 117 | 0.99 | 0 |
| 2026 | - | 18 | 18 | 5 | 7 | 4.28 | 103.0 | 100 | 1.10 | 0 |
| Career | - | 72 | 72 | 29 | 18 | 3.53 | 421.0 | 391 | 1.03 | 0 |
2024BEST- · 29APP
2025- · 25APP
2026- · 18APP
FAQ — Shota Imanaga
What are Shota Imanaga's 2026 MLB stats?
Imanaga's latest 2026 stats are updated daily in the stats box at the top of this page. ERA, strikeouts, WHIP, and innings pitched are tracked in real time. Through April 27 he has 38 strikeouts in 34.1 innings (K/9 ~9.96) with a 0.87 WHIP — one of the best strikeout-to-walk profiles among NL starters this season.
How is Shota Imanaga performing in 2026?
Through April 27, Imanaga is 2-2 with a 3.15 ERA, 38 strikeouts, and a 0.87 WHIP across 6 starts (34.1 IP). The 0.87 WHIP ranks among the elite for MLB starters and his K/9 of about 9.96 confirms full restoration of the swing-and-miss form that made him a Rookie of the Year contender in 2024. The Cubs accepted his Qualifying Offer (~$22M) for 2026 and his early-season production is exceeding that contract value.
What is Shota Imanaga's ERA and K/9 rate this season?
Imanaga's 2026 ERA sits at 3.15 with a K/9 of approximately 9.96 (38 strikeouts in 34.1 innings) through 6 starts as of April 27. For context, MLB starter average ERA hovers near 4.20 and average K/9 is around 8.5 — Imanaga is comfortably above average in both. His 0.87 WHIP further confirms elite contact suppression and walk prevention.
What position does Shota Imanaga play?
Imanaga is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. He pitches every five days in Chicago's rotation. His sharp slider and elite command of multiple pitch types make him one of the more effective left-handed starters in the National League.
How old is Shota Imanaga?
Shota Imanaga was born on May 13, 1993, making him 32 years old during the 2026 MLB season. He joined the Cubs before the 2024 season after establishing himself as one of the top pitchers in NPB with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars.
How does Imanaga perform against left-handed vs. right-handed batters?
As a left-handed pitcher, Imanaga has a natural platoon edge against left-handed hitters — his sharp slider dives away from them. However, his 2026 K/9 of about 9.96 (38 K in 34.1 IP) confirms swing-and-miss against batters of both handedness. His elite command and pitch sequencing prevent the pronounced platoon splits that limit many same-side pitchers.
When is Shota Imanaga's next start?
Imanaga's next scheduled start is reflected in the schedule section on this page. As a rotation starter for the Cubs, he pitches approximately every five days. Check the stats box above for the latest start log and upcoming dates.
What was Shota Imanaga's most recent start?
Imanaga's most recent start (IP, K, ER, pitch count, win/loss) is updated in the stats box at the top of this page and on the dedicated "Today" page. The Today page also includes pitch usage by type, swing-and-miss rates, splits vs RHB/LHB, and a Unico AI breakdown. Live updates run during the game; final results are posted by 18:00 JST.
What team does Shota Imanaga play for?
Shota Imanaga plays for the Chicago Cubs as a left-handed starting pitcher. He joined Chicago before the 2024 season and accepted the Cubs' Qualifying Offer (~$22M) to return for 2026 — his third MLB season. Alongside Seiya Suzuki, he forms the Cubs' Japanese core in their 2026 contention push.
Detailed Analysis
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Data: MLB Stats API · Auto-updated hourly