Shota Imanaga

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

View Shota Imanaga's today start details→

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.