2024 Stats
W-L
5-1
ERA
1.86
WHIP
1.00
K
59
SV
0
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Imanaga is a 30-year-old lefthanded starting pitcher who was with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars of Nippon Professional Baseball since 2016. He was posted by his former club and is slated to make his MLB debut this season. Imanaga recorded a 2.80 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 2023, fanning 174 in 148 innings. He throws a four-seam that's been reported between 92- and 94-mph, a slider, curveball, and split-finger changeup. The key to his success is fastball command and the effectiveness of his split-finger offering. Imanaga pitched for Team Japan in the 2023 World Baseball Classic and was deemed to possess the best Stuff+ by the Athletics Eno Sarris. Imanaga's main concern is he carried a high home run rate, especially relative to some of the other pitchers coming to MLB from Japan. He'll be working in bigger parks, but also facing better hitters. Chances are, Imanaga's ability to keep the ball in the yard will drive his major league success. He's expected to fill a mid-rotation role but shouldn't be expected to make more than 25 or 26 starts as he transitions to his new environment. Read Past Outlooks
Takes first loss
Imanaga (5-1) took the loss Wednesday versus the Brewers, allowing seven runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out one over 4.1 innings.
ANALYSIS
Imanaga's last scheduled start was rained out, and instead of pushing him back, the Cubs opted to build in some extra rest for the southpaw. That plan appears to have backfired, as the seven runs he allowed Wednesday matched the total he'd given up in his first nine starts combined. His ERA rose from 0.84 to 1.86, and he's added a 1.00 WHIP and 59:10 K:BB across 58 innings through his first 10 big-league starts. Imanaga will look to shake off his first poor outing when he next takes the mound, which is tentatively projected to be a home start versus the White Sox.
Imanaga's last scheduled start was rained out, and instead of pushing him back, the Cubs opted to build in some extra rest for the southpaw. That plan appears to have backfired, as the seven runs he allowed Wednesday matched the total he'd given up in his first nine starts combined. His ERA rose from 0.84 to 1.86, and he's added a 1.00 WHIP and 59:10 K:BB across 58 innings through his first 10 big-league starts. Imanaga will look to shake off his first poor outing when he next takes the mound, which is tentatively projected to be a home start versus the White Sox.
Pitching Stats
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2024
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
86
Last 10 Games
86
Last 5 Games
91
How many pitches does Shota Imanaga generally throw?
1-10
11-20
21-30
31-40
41-50
51-60
61-70
71-80
81-90
91-100
101-110
111-120
121+
What part of the game does Shota Imanaga generally pitch?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-21%
BAA vs RHP
2024
-21%
BAA vs RHP
| BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022vs Left | .259 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |||
| Since 2022vs Right | .204 | 46 | 10 | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2024vs Left | .259 | 13 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |||
| 2024vs Right | .204 | 46 | 10 | 34 | 4 | |||
| 2023vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2023vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022vs Left | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2022vs Right | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | |||||||
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-53%
ERA at Home
2024
-53%
ERA at Home
| ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Since 2022Home | 1.20 | 0.73 | 30.0 | 9.6 | 0.6 | ||||
| Since 2022Away | 2.57 | 1.29 | 28.0 | 8.7 | 2.6 | ||||
| 2024Home | 1.20 | 0.73 | 30.0 | 9.6 | 0.6 | ||||
| 2024Away | 2.57 | 1.29 | 28.0 | 8.7 | 2.6 | ||||
| 2023Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2023Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022Home | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2022Away | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| More Splits→ | View More Split Stats | ||||||||
Stat Review
How does Shota Imanaga compare to other starting pitchers?
This section compares his stats with all starting pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 120 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 120 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
K/BB
5.90K/9
9.2BB/9
1.6HR/9
0.8Fastball
91.9 mphERA
1.86WHIP
1.00BABIP
.291GB/FB
0.85Left On Base
86.3%Exit Velocity
80.8 mphBarrels/BBE
4.2%Spin Rate
2032 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
22.0%Swinging Strike
15.7%Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Shota Imanaga See More
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Excelling with rare splitter
According to Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, Imanaga is one of only 16 left-handed starting pitchers to throw a splitter since 2008, with his 30.3 percent usage being the highest.
ANALYSIS
The left-hander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball through the first six-plus weeks of his MLB career with a 0.96 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 51:8 K:BB across 46.2 innings. Imanaga's four-seam fastball and splitter are the only two pitches he utilizes more than eight percent of the time, and the splitter has been particularly effective with a 46.3 percent whiff rate and average launch angle of two degrees. His fastball has also been dominant, as opposing batters are hitting just .184 against it.
The left-hander has been one of the best pitchers in baseball through the first six-plus weeks of his MLB career with a 0.96 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 51:8 K:BB across 46.2 innings. Imanaga's four-seam fastball and splitter are the only two pitches he utilizes more than eight percent of the time, and the splitter has been particularly effective with a 46.3 percent whiff rate and average launch angle of two degrees. His fastball has also been dominant, as opposing batters are hitting just .184 against it.
More Fantasy News
Friday's start rained out
Imanaga and the Cubs won't play the Cardinals on Friday due to inclement weather, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
ANALYSIS
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Makes history in no-decision
Imanaga came away with a no-decision in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Pirates, scattering four hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out seven.
ANALYSIS
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Fans eight in no-decision
Imanaga did not factor into the decision Monday against Atlanta, allowing seven hits and three walks over five shutout innings. He struck out eight.
ANALYSIS
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Lasts seven innings in no-decision
Imanaga didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against San Diego, allowing two runs on seven hits and a walk across seven innings. He struck out eight.
ANALYSIS
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Continues to dominate
Imanaga (5-0) tossed seven scoreless innings to earn the win in Wednesday's 1-0 victory over the Mets. He allowed three hits and a walk, while striking out seven.
ANALYSIS
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