MILWAUKEE — Could the Chicago Cubs call up top prospect Cade Horton to replace Shota Imanaga after the ace suffered a left hamstring strain in Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers?
“Not even close to (making a decision on Imanaga) yet,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said afterward.
Imanaga will receive an MRI on his left leg Monday, Counsell said, after the left-hander felt something while covering first base on a potential double-play grounder in the sixth inning.
Imanaga said afterward through his interpreter: “I’m at the point where I don’t know what exactly is going on, don’t know what the damage is.”
He was removed from the game with two outs in the sixth in a scoreless tie, and things quickly caved in after he left. Julian Merryweather’s first delivery was a wild pitch, allowing a run to score. A two-run double by Daz Cameron and a run-scoring single by Lake Forest’s Caleb Durbin gave the Brewers a 4-0 lead, and the Cubs offense was muted Sunday, limited to five hits by Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta and the bullpen.
Imanaga’s injury follows a start Tuesday in Pittsburgh in which he left in the sixth inning with leg cramps in both legs. He said he felt good Sunday before the injury, and “there was no sign in the back of my leg” before the start.
“It’s the front of the thigh, that’s different from Pittsburgh,” he said. “I’m walking naturally, so this is the first time it’s ever happened, so I can’t really tell how bad it is.”
In the ninth, the Cubs had another scare when Kyle Tucker slid into second after a stolen base and lay on the ground for a few anxious moments. Counsell said Tucker felt something in his right hip. But Tucker remained in the game and both downplayed it afterward.
“We’ll check on him tomorrow, but pretty optimistic,” Counsell said.
Tucker called it an “awkward, hard slide” and said he had some treatment after the game, but did not elaborate.
“It’s all good,” he said. “I’ll play (Monday). I’ll be fine.”
Tucker has played in all 35 games and helped the Cubs lineup become one of the most lethal in baseball. He’s a free agent after the season and well on his way to a megadeal from some team, perhaps even the Cubs if Chairman Tom Ricketts changes his philosophy on awarding long-term, nine-figure deals that typically go to the game’s elite stars.
The Cubs obviously need to be cautious with Tucker, even though he didn’t sound like the slide would affect his playing time. The offense could survive without him for a few days.
The pitching situation is an entirely different matter if Imanaga goes on the injured list, as seems likely. The Cubs have already lost Justin Steele to season-ending left elbow surgery and replaced him in the rotation with Colin Rea.
Reliever Chris Flexen has starting experience and pitched three innings in Friday’s 10-0 win, so he could be stretched out enough if the Cubs decide to promote from within. Jordan Wicks, who was recently demoted to Iowa, is also on the 40-man roster and could slide into the rotation again.
Even if Imanaga goes on the IL, the Cubs could hold off on making a rotation decision. Jameson Taillon pitched Saturday in Milwaukee and, thanks to an off day, could start on Friday in New York against the Mets on his usual rest.
But Horton is the one Cubs fans have been salivating over. He has a 1.24 ERA in six starts for Triple-A Iowa and threw six innings Sunday, allowing one run on two hits. Horton told the Des Moines Register he’s not paying attention to the hoopla surrounding his hot start and the possibility of him joining the Cubs at some point.
“It’s just a matter of getting ready and going out there each and every day like I’m a big leaguer and pitching like it,” Horton said.
The Cubs don’t want to rush Horton, who missed time in 2024 with a shoulder injury. But sooner or later, he’ll be pitching for the Cubs, and it’s just a matter of when the Cubs believe he’s ready.
