Shota Imanaga
2025 Player Outlook
Imanaga was fantastic for Chicago and fantasy managers last year, going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA (3.72 FIP), 25.1 percent strikeout rate, and 1.02 WHIP. He pumps the strike zone, gets ahead of hitters often (68% first pitch strike rate in 2024), and gets a bunch of swings out of the zone. His fly ball profile in the Windy City will always be potentially problematic, but even last year, he only had a 1.31 HR/9 at home. While his ERA likely ends above 3.00 this year, he’ll hover right around a strikeout per inning, and a good offense backing him should keep his win total in the low-to-mid teens. He’s an excellent SP2 in fantasy formats this season.
Player News
Shota Imanaga pitched relatively well in a no-decision against the Dodgers on Tuesday evening, giving up five runs (two earned) on six hits over his 5 2/3 innings.
The 31-year-old southpaw piled up six strikeouts on the night while issuing a pair of free passes. He gave up three unearned runs in the first inning as Tommy Edman belted a two-out, three-run homer after an error by Gage Workman had extended the inning. Imanaga also served up solo homers to Andy Pages and Will Smith in the second and sixth innings respectively. He generated 10 swings and misses on 101 pitches in the contest while registering a CSW of 26 percent. Imanaga has been brilliant through his first six starts, compiling a 2.38 ERA, 1.06 WHIP and a 27/12 K/BB ratio across 34 innings. He’ll try to get back in the win column when he squares off against the Pirates in Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
Shota Imanaga allowed one run, zero earned, with seven strikeouts over five innings in a no-decision against the Padres on Tuesday.
Imanaga got into some trouble in the third, giving up a hit and walking two batters to load the bases with one out. He got Manny Machado to strike out swinging and escaped the jam with a pop out. Machado got him back in the fifth with a solo homer to put the Padres on the board. However, the homer was not charged as an earned run as a pop foul error extended the at-bat. Imanaga’s day would be done after five frames. He struck out seven. The 31-year-old left-hander will take a 2.22 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, and a 21/10 K/BB ratio across 28 1/3 innings into a start against the Dodgers in Chicago next Tuesday.
Shota Imanaga allowed seven hits and five runs with one walk and four strikeouts over five innings in a loss to the Rangers on Wednesday.
After cruising through four innings, Imanaga fell apart in the fifth. He allowed a two-run home run to the eight-hitter Jonah Heim and then the top of the Rangers’ order came back around for the third time, hit the ball very hard, and ended Imanaga’s outing. His fastball velocity fell down to the upper 80s at times on a cold afternoon in Chicago and should be monitored moving forward. He’s scheduled to face the Padres in his next start.
Shota Imanaga worked 7 1/3 innings while allowing just one one run to pick up a win in the Cubs’ 3-1 victory over the Padres on Friday.
We’re down to one undefeated team. Imanaga will brilliant on Friday, walking just one and striking out four while allowing just four hits. Over his first three starts of the season, the southpaw has given up just two earned runs, and his ERA is a sparkling 0.98 in the process. Yes Imanaga offers some risk because he’s not an elite misser of bats, but there aren’t many hurlers with better command right now. He’ll try and keep this going against the Rangers next week.
DFS Last 5
Date | Opponent | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 22nd | Dodgers | 16 |
| Apr 16th | @Padres | 21.1 |
| Apr 9th | Rangers | 4.5 |
| Apr 4th | Padres | 24.1 |
| Mar 30th | @Diamondbacks | 22.8 |
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