CHICAGO —As the calendar inches toward October, the Chicago Cubs are facing a dilemma that could derail their postseason push. What was once considered a strength — the steady left arm of Shota Imanaga — has suddenly become one of the biggest question marks looming over Wrigley Field.
Last season, Imanaga delivered consistency and dominance, posting 15 wins with a sparkling ERA and establishing himself as one of the most reliable arms in the National League. He was the steady anchor in a rotation plagued by injuries. But now, with the postseason at the doorstep, that same reliability has crumbled.
Against the New York Mets earlier this week, Imanaga lasted just five innings, surrendering nine hits and eight earned runs, including a crushing three-run homer that buried Chicago in an early 6–0 hole. It wasn’t an isolated misstep. In his last seven outings, Imanaga has managed just one win while allowing 25 earned runs on 38 hits — an alarming slide at the worst possible time.
The Cubs are already navigating treacherous waters without ace Justin Steele, who has been sidelined by injury. That placed additional weight on Imanaga and veteran Matthew Boyd to steady the staff. Instead, Imanaga’s struggles have compounded the uncertainty.
While Boyd has been solid, he cannot carry the rotation alone. Much of the attention now shifts toward rookie sensation **Cade Horton**, who has been electric but remains untested under postseason pressure. If Horton is forced into the Game 1 starter role for the Wild Card Series, it would be both a gamble and a glimpse of the Cubs’ desperate reality.
The Japanese left-hander did not shy away from acknowledging his recent struggles, but he insisted his season is not defined by them.
“I know I’ve been struggling, but I won’t let this define my season,” Imanaga said. “I’ll do everything I can to get back to the pitcher I was last year and help this team make a run in October.”
While his words may offer reassurance, the pressure is undeniable. Fans and media alike are questioning whether the Cubs can truly rely on Imanaga when every inning matters most.
Chicago has already lost its grip on the NL Central, with the Milwaukee Brewers cruising at the top. That leaves the Cubs fighting tooth-and-nail for a Wild Card berth. Every remaining game — especially the looming showdown against the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley — carries the weight of a season.
Manager Craig Counsell now faces a difficult balancing act: whether to trust Imanaga to rebound quickly or to shift responsibility to Horton and Boyd in must-win scenarios. For a team that has clawed back into the playoff conversation, the margin for error has all but disappeared.
Shota Imanaga was supposed to be the Cubs’ postseason pillar. Instead, his recent collapse has cast a long shadow over their October hopes. Chicago’s season now hangs on a knife’s edge: either their lefty finds redemption in time to stabilize the rotation, or the Cubs will be forced to gamble on untested arms in the most unforgiving month of the year.
With the clock ticking, the question is no longer whether the Cubs will make the playoffs — but whether Imanaga will be the pitcher who helps them survive once they get there.
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