Chicago, Illinois – Shota Imanaga, a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, made franchise history on Saturday when he achieved a feat that no Cubs pitcher has accomplished in 115 years. In a game against the Seattle Mariners, Imanaga secured his second win of the season in just his third career start, striking out four batters and giving up only one unearned run in a 4-1 victory.
Imanaga’s stellar performance not only helped the Cubs in their quest to win the series against the Mariners but also placed him in a league of his own. With a 2-0 record, Imanaga currently boasts a perfect 0.000 ERA through 15.1 innings pitched this season, a rare achievement for any pitcher in Cubs history.
According to Baseball Reference’s Stathead tool, Imanaga is the first Cubs pitcher since 1909 to maintain a flawless ERA in his first three career starts. The last pitcher to do so was King Cole, with Ed Reulbach being the only other Cubs pitcher since 1900 to achieve this feat in 1905.
Imanaga’s remarkable statistics speak for themselves – he has only allowed nine hits and one unearned run, with two walks and an impressive 16 strikeouts under his belt. His next opportunity to showcase his talent will be during a four-game series against the Miami Marlins.
The rookie hurler’s exceptional performance has not gone unnoticed, with baseball fans eager to see if he can continue his hot streak on the mound. As Imanaga’s career with the Cubs unfolds, all eyes will be on him to see if he can maintain his outstanding pitching and further solidify his place in the team’s history.