LHP Imanaga to rejoin Cubs on road next week

CHICAGO -- Left-hander Shota Imanaga volition rejoin the Chicago Cubs aboriginal adjacent week successful St. Louis pursuing a crisp Triple-A rehab commencement connected Friday, manager Craig Counsell said Saturday.

Counsell wasn't definite erstwhile Imanaga would beryllium slotted into Chicago's rotation but said earlier the Cubs' crippled against the Seattle Mariners that the 31-year-old "is gonna marque his adjacent commencement successful the large leagues."

Imanaga, who was 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA arsenic a rookie past season, is coming backmost from a near hamstring strain. He got wounded covering archetypal basal during the sixth inning of a 4-0 nonaccomplishment astatine Milwaukee connected May 4.

Imanaga is 3-2 with a 2.82 ERA successful 8 starts for the Cubs this season. His instrumentality is expected to supply a assistance to the NL Central leaders, who entered Saturday 4½ games successful beforehand of Milwaukee and St. Louis.

Imanaga tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings of two-hit shot for Triple-A Iowa astatine Nashville connected Friday night. He struck retired 8 and walked two.

"Everything went great," Counsell said. "Did what we hoped helium would do. He's successful a presumption to beryllium ready. So he's going to articulation america successful St. Louis and we'll fig retired the adjacent steps."

Before the modulation to Iowa, Imanaga pitched six scoreless innings implicit 2 rehab starts successful the Arizona Complex League. He had a bullpen league successful Arizona past Tuesday.

Imanaga signed a $53 million, four-year declaration with Chicago successful January 2024. He often dazzled successful 29 starts past season, making the NL All-Star squad and finishing 4th successful balloting for the NL Rookie of the Year.

Also Saturday, the Cubs recalled right-hander Nate Pearson from Iowa and designated lefty Génesis Cabrera for assignment.

Pearson is 3-1 with a 2.22 ERA successful 19 appearances since helium was optioned to Iowa connected April 15.

Cabrera had an 8.68 ERA successful 9 games with the Cubs. He signed with Chicago connected May 29 aft being designated for duty by the Mets.