The Chicago Cubs will be without their ace, for longer than initially expected due to a hamstring strain he sustained. Although early imaging suggested a mild injury and hinted at a possible return in early June, manager Craig Counsell has since said his return won’t happen until “well into June.” He’s set to begin throwing off a mound next week, and if all goes smoothly, he could be back around the six-week mark—similar to the timeline Justin Steele followed in 2024 for a similar injury.
Before going down, top star posted a strong 2.82 ERA over 44.2 innings with 34 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP. In his absence, rookie Cade Horton has stepped up well, giving up just seven earned runs over 14.1 innings in three starts, all Cubs wins.
While losing Imanaga longer than hoped is disappointing, it’s still relatively good news considering how tricky hamstring injuries can be. A rehab start will likely be needed before his return, but the Cubs hope his recovery will mirror Steele’s last season.