Shota Imanaga
#18 Active2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile
Shota Imanaga’s 2025 campaign was a tale of two halves defined by a mid-season hamstring injury. After a dominant first half (2.65 ERA, 0.93 WHIP), the left-hander struggled following a two-month IL stint, finishing the year with a 9-8 record, a 3.73 ERA, and a career-best 0.99 WHIP across 144.2 innings. While his control remained elite (1.6 BB/9), his strikeout rate dipped to a career-low 7.3 K/9 as his average fastball velocity fell to 90.8 mph. The late-season regression led the Cubs to decline his three-year, $57.7 million team option in November, though the "Throwing Philosopher" eventually returned to the North Side after accepting a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer.
The primary story of 2026 is Imanaga’s regained health and velocity. Manager Craig Counsell recently noted that Imanaga has been "throwing harder" early this spring in Mesa, with his fastball reportedly touching 93 mph—a product of a fully healed hamstring that had previously caused his mechanics to get "out of whack." This uptick in power is a massive development for a pitcher whose success relies on a high-spin, deceptive four-seamer. Despite his MLB commitments, Imanaga has been officially named to the Samurai Japan roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, where he is expected to be a primary arm in a rotation headlined by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
For fantasy managers, Imanaga remains a high-floor asset with an ADP around 115. While the 200-strikeout ceiling of his 2024 rookie year may have moderated, his pristine 0.99 WHIP and the expected return of his "rising" fastball make him a stable SP3. If the increased spring velocity translates to the regular season, he could easily reclaim his status as an NL Cy Young dark horse. He is scheduled to make his first Cactus League start on February 25 against the Padres before departing for the WBC.
DFS Last 5
Game Log
2026 Regular Season| DATE | OPPONENT | DEC | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | WHIP | PC | RESULT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22 | vs. Miami Marlins | 5.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3.93 | 1.11 | 91 | L 8-2 | |
| Sep 16 | vs. Atlanta Braves | W | 6.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 3.99 | 1.11 | 100 | W 4-8 |
| Sep 11 | vs. Pittsburgh Pirates | W | 6.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4.09 | 1.13 | 100 | W 2-12 |
| Sep 4 | @ Miami Marlins | W | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4.13 | 1.13 | 94 | W 6-1 |
| Aug 30 | vs. Cincinnati Reds | L | 5.0 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4.24 | 1.16 | 85 | L 7-5 |
| Aug 23 | @ Seattle Mariners | 2.0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4.00 | 1.13 | 72 | W 19-2 | |
| Aug 17 | vs. Chicago White Sox | 6.0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 4.00 | 1.10 | 96 | W 5-7 | |
| Aug 11 | @ Washington Nationals | 4.2 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3.97 | 1.11 | 86 | W 8-6 | |
| Aug 5 | vs. Los Angeles Dodgers | W | 5.0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3.84 | 1.11 | 89 | W 6-7 |
| Jul 31 | vs. New York Yankees | L | 6.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 3.92 | 1.08 | 101 | L 2-0 |
| Jul 25 | @ Pittsburgh Pirates | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.99 | 1.11 | 3 | W 11-0 | |
| Jul 19 | vs. Minnesota Twins | W | 7.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3.99 | 1.11 | 99 | W 1-7 |
| Jul 10 | @ Cincinnati Reds | L | 5.0 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4.25 | 1.12 | 102 | L 0-4 |
| Jul 4 | vs. St. Louis Cardinals | L | 4.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 4.37 | 1.10 | 86 | L 3-0 |
| Jun 29 | vs. San Diego Padres | 6.1 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4.39 | 1.08 | 97 | W 2-3 | |
| Jun 24 | @ New York Mets | W | 5.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4.50 | 1.05 | 69 | W 10-5 |
| Jun 15 | vs. Colorado Rockies | 5.2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4.36 | 1.06 | 85 | W 4-5 | |
| Jun 10 | @ Colorado Rockies | 5.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4.56 | 1.06 | 90 | L 2-3 | |
| Jun 4 | vs. Las Vegas Athletics | 6.0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4.86 | 1.08 | 84 | W 6-7 | |
| May 29 | @ St. Louis Cardinals | L | 5.1 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 4.50 | 1.07 | 75 | L 5-6 |
| May 24 | vs. Houston Astros | L | 6.0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4.18 | 1.07 | 94 | L 8-5 |
| May 18 | vs. Milwaukee Brewers | L | 4.1 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3.53 | 1.04 | 79 | L 9-3 |
| May 13 | @ Atlanta Braves | L | 7.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2.48 | 0.90 | 96 | L 1-4 |
| May 7 | vs. Cincinnati Reds | W | 6.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 2.47 | 0.93 | 99 | W 3-8 |
| May 2 | vs. Arizona Diamondbacks | W | 7.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 2.61 | 0.85 | 87 | W 0-2 |
| Apr 26 | @ Los Angeles Dodgers | L | 5.1 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 3.15 | 0.87 | 100 | L 0-6 |
| Apr 21 | vs. Philadelphia Phillies | W | 7.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2.17 | 0.72 | 87 | W 4-7 |
| Apr 15 | @ Philadelphia Phillies | W | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 2.45 | 0.77 | 97 | W 11-2 |
| Apr 10 | vs. Pittsburgh Pirates | 6.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 2.81 | 0.81 | 100 | L 2-0 | |
| Apr 5 | @ Cleveland Guardians | 5.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4.50 | 1.20 | 92 | L 5-6 | |
| Mar 29 | vs. Washington Nationals | L | 5.0 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7.20 | 1.60 | 82 | L 6-3 |
| No games against that opponent. | |||||||||||||
| Total | 10-10 | 167.1 | 149 | 74 | 73 | 34 | 36 | 167 | 3.93 | 1.11 | 2,717 | ||
| Total | 1 game | 1-0 | 7.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0.00 | 0.71 | 87 | |
| Total | 2 games | 1-1 | 13.0 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2.08 | 0.69 | 196 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-0 | 6.0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 4.50 | 0.83 | 96 | |
| Total | 3 games | 1-2 | 16.0 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 19 | 4.50 | 1.63 | 286 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-0 | 5.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1.80 | 0.80 | 92 | |
| Total | 2 games | 0-0 | 10.2 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0.84 | 0.94 | 175 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-1 | 6.0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 10.50 | 1.33 | 94 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-0 | 6.0 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 9.00 | 1.17 | 84 | |
| Total | 2 games | 1-1 | 10.1 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 5.23 | 1.65 | 189 | |
| Total | 2 games | 1-0 | 11.0 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 1.64 | 0.64 | 185 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-1 | 4.1 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 16.62 | 2.77 | 79 | |
| Total | 1 game | 1-0 | 7.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 99 | |
| Total | 1 game | 1-0 | 5.1 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 6.75 | 0.94 | 69 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-1 | 6.2 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2.70 | 0.60 | 101 | |
| Total | 2 games | 2-0 | 13.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 1.38 | 0.62 | 184 | |
| Total | 3 games | 1-0 | 12.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 1.50 | 0.67 | 203 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-0 | 6.1 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2.84 | 1.42 | 97 | |
| Total | 1 game | 0-0 | 2.0 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4.50 | 3.50 | 72 | |
| Total | 2 games | 0-2 | 10.0 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 6.30 | 1.30 | 161 | |
| Total | 2 games | 0-1 | 9.2 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 7.45 | 1.45 | 168 | |
AVG, OBP, SLG, ERA and WHIP are season-to-date through each game, not that game alone — so the column reads as a trend and its last value is the season figure. They stay season-to-date when the log is filtered by opponent; the figure for the filtered games is the one in the Total row. The second game of a doubleheader is marked (2).
