As a fly-ball pitcher, home runs are inevitably part of left-hander Shota Imanaga’s game.
He averaged nearly one home run allowed per start last year, yet he still was one of the best starters in the league because most of that damage came with nobody on base. The Texas Rangers took Imanaga deep twice Wednesday, one of which was a two-run homer as part of a four-run fifth inning. Imanaga’s day was over following the fifth after surrendering five runs and seven hits in the Chicago Cubs’ 6-2 loss.
“Looking at it today, I need to make the adjustment of, OK, when the wind is blowing out, either I need to stay lower in the zone or higher in the zone,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “I feel like in order to level up as a pitcher, in that fifth inning I’ve got keep it to two runs and then go back out in the sixth.”
The Cubs (9-6) had a quiet day offensively, managing only four hits, featuring two in the ninth, and one walk.
Despite the home ballpark elements at play during moments of the chilly April games — Corey Seager’s home run off Imanaga in the first inning only would have been gone at Wrigley Field, according to Statcast — the Cubs won their third straight series ahead of a West Coast trip.
“It’s a winning homestand, and it’s on to the next challenge,” manager Craig Counsell said. “There’s always this next challenge ahead of you, and that’s how we’ve got to look at it.”
Here are three takeaways.
1. Timely hits spark the offense.
The Cubs’ offense is more than just the top three hitters in the lineup.
While Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker have set the tone this season, the depth of the order has often been on display. That includes the group’s ability to come through in the clutch situations. The Cubs entered Wednesday leading Major League Baseball with the most runs scored with two outs (49), easily ahead of the next-closest team, the New York Yankees (33).
It was an attribute the Cubs relied on often against the Rangers. In their two wins, nine of their 17 runs scored came on two-out RBIs. They didn’t have many opportunities to convert in Wednesday’s loss, though they cashed in their only chance with a runner in scoring position when Michael Busch’s RBI single brought home Seiya Suzuki, who tripled, to tie the game in the fourth.
2. Jon Berti is delivering with limited playing time.
Going a week between appearing in games is tough for any hitter, even a veteran like infielder Jon Berti.
Berti understood, coming into the season, that his playing time might be limited. Even knowing that, the lack of regular at-bats is challenging. Berti hadn’t started a game since March 29 in Arizona or made an appearance since March 31, but he was in the lineup at second base for Monday’s series opener versus the Rangers.
“It’s obviously not easy, but it’s part of the job,” Berti said this week. “I work hard to stay mentally and physically as ready as I can so that when the opportunity comes, I can help us win.”
Berti manufactured an important early run in the third inning, stealing second and third base after reaching on a hit by pitch, then scoring by beating a throw from first baseman Jake Burger for a 2-0 lead.
Photos: Chicago Cubs lose to Texas Rangers 6-2 at Wrigley Field
“There’s a narrative of the veteran bench player that sometimes gets overdone, but (Monday) night is an example of why that story exists,” Counsell said. “Instincts, experience, he created a run. And that’s why you get guys like that, right? And that’s what you hope from those guys that maybe don’t play a lot with the nature of regular lineup.”
Despite the limited action, Berti’s speed has been an asset for the Cubs, entering Wednesday 5-for-5 in stolen bases. Berti, who led the majors with 41 stolen bases in 2022 with Miami, has so far fit well with how the Cubs have constructed their roster.
3. Walks are key for bullpen success.
Sometimes, a big-picture issue becomes a team talking point.
During the pitching staff’s pre-series game planning meeting ahead of facing the Rangers, pitching coach Tommy Hottovy made clear a priority, especially for the Cubs relievers: don’t issue free passes. Hottovy noted how coming into the three-game set, the Cubs had lost five games and in four of those losses, they averaged eight walks per game.
“We don’t walk people and we are good in the zone, we’re gonna beat a lot of people,” Hottovy told the Tribune. “Sometimes I think we get so hyper focused on the mechanical things and little tweaks we want to do, which is the right thing to do, but don’t lose sight of the overarching thing, which is when we’re in the zone and we’re trusting our stuff in big moments in big parts of the zone, we’re gonna be really good and there’s always that balance you fight with guys.”
The Cubs saw that play out in their series victory over Texas, only walking four batters in the three games and, importantly, none by the bullpen. It’s an encouraging sign, especially in the chilly elements.
Hottovy evaluates performances outing to outing, helping better determine how a reliever might be getting out of whack with his command.
“Early in the year, it’s tough to have four guys all come in the game and all throw perfect. I think you get to that point as the year goes on,” Hottovy said. “That’s why it’s tough when starters aren’t stretched out early, and you need four innings from your bullpen guys to come in and compete.”
