PITTSBURGH — Chicago Cubs left-handed starter Shota Imanaga was removed from the game Tuesday because of cramps in both legs.
Imanaga was visited by manager Craig Counsell and head trainer Nick Frangella following Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Andrew McCutchen’s leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a brief chat, Imanaga headed to the dugout and right-hander Daniel Palencia was brought in to warm up as the Cubs led 4-0. Palencia got out of the inning, stranding runners on the corners thanks to a slick defensive play by first baseman Michael Busch to end the inning.
Imanaga’s velocity sharply decreased from the fifth to the sixth inning. The last four-seam fastball Imanaga threw in the fifth to Oneil Cruz registered at 92.4 mph. The four fastballs to McCutchen averaged 89.6 mph, with one topping out at only 88.7 mph, his lowest velocity of the game. Even his splitter’s velocity dropped by as much as 2 mph between the two innings.
Imanaga didn’t give up a run in his five-plus innings, allowing six hits, one walk and striking out three.
For a rotation already without standout lefty Justin Steele following season-ending elbow surgery, Imanaga’s departure fortunately was not something more serious.
