The left-handed Shota Imanaga will make a timely return to the rotation of the Chicago Cubs Thursday afternoon.
The Cubs have lost five of their last seven games entering the final of a four -game road series against the Cardinals of St. Louis.
The cardinals won 8-2 Monday and 8-7 the next day before falling 8-0 Wednesday evening.
IMANAGA (3-2, 2.82 ERA) has been sidelined since I had pressure from the hamstrings on May 4. Before injuring himself, he granted two or less points in six of his eight departures.
The launcher starting from Chicago, Jameson Taillon, checked the start of the rehabilitation of the minor leagues of Imanaga on Friday and liked what he saw.
“Looking at his release, he is right,” Taillon told MLB.com. “I think we are going to get a very good version of Shota Back, which is super exciting because it is one of the best launchers in baseball.”
Cubs launcher coach Tommy Hottovy noted that Iimanaga will probably need time to settle in the majors.
“There will be things on which Shota must continue to work as he returns,” Hottovy told MLB.com. “But just recover it and put it back with the group of guys, which he brings to the table and just this consistent person he is also, it’s great.”
Imanaga has a 1-0 sheet with a 3.29 MPM against Saint-Louis in his career.
Looking to improve their production against tapered hole, the cardinals said that the right -handed service player Garrett Hampson from the derogations of the Cincinnati Reds in time for the last two games in this series.
Hampson started on the central field on Wednesday, striking ninth. The best season occurred in 2023 when he struck. 276 with a .729 OPS for the Miami Marlins. He struck 11 circuits and stole 17 bases for Colorado rockies in 2021.
“It causes a lot of problems on the basics, and it’s really good for us,” said the third goal of Cardinals, Nolan Arenado, who played with Hampson in Colorado. “When it is on the basics, the launchers know it. They are a little worried.”
Jordan Walker voltiseur would normally play against left -handed launchers but is sidelined by appendicitis. Walker landed on the 10-day IL, and the interior player Jose Fermin arrived from Triple-A Memphis to replace him.
“A fairly fast recovery, but it will still be down for four or five days,” said Oliver Marmol, director of the cardinals, about Walker. “It was logical to rest and then withdraw. It will not be an extended period.”
The cardinals postponed the right-hander Andre Pallante (5-3. 4.48 ERA) back per day to start Thursday with additional rest. Pallante has just managed on one of his best starts of the season after having laundered the Reds for six rounds in just three strokes on Friday in a 6-1 victory.
Pallante has a 0-2 file with an MPM of 2.45 in 10 career appearances against Cubs, including three departures.
– Field level media