Cubs’ Shota Imanaga offers explanation for success vs. Shohei Ohtani
CHICAGO – To render a batter hitless is something Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga does with ease.
To do that against Shohei Ohtani is a feat unlike many others.
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“With a player like that, I’m up there with the mindset of, ‘He’s gonna get a hit,'” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry after the Cubs walked off the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-10 in 10 innings Tuesday night.
But in the 10 times the two have faced each other in MLB, Ohtani doesn’t have a single hit.
The ever-respectful Imanaga, who won the 2023 World Baseball Classic with Ohtani on the Japanese national team, chalked up his incredible feat against the superstar to luck.
“The fact that (Ohtani) hasn’t gotten a hit is just a coincidence,” Imanaga said with a smile on his face. “That coincidence has continued ten times in a row.”
With the wind blowing out in the Cubs’ first 2025 meeting at Wrigley Field with the Dodgers Tuesday night, Imanaga surrendered three home runs to Los Angeles hitters. Ohtani, who has six longballs on the year, could not get a hold of one like his teammates. Imanaga proceeded to strike out the three-time unanimous MVP twice Tuesday – something he had only done once before in their meetings.
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The craziness of the back-and-forth, 21-run game sent Imanaga’s outing under the radar but he settled in to go 5 2/3 innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out six. The performance brought his ERA to 2.38 in 34 innings pitched this year.
After Imanaga gave up a three-run home run to Tommy Edman in the first inning, the Cubs’ offense responded right away with a five-run frame.
“They’re amazing,” Imanaga said of a Cubs offense that has an MLB-leading +42 run differential. “Even when I gave up runs, they scored more. It’s very reassuring.”
Following Wednesday night’s contest, the Cubs will be done playing the reigning World Series champions for the season – meaning the Imanaga vs. Ohtani saga will have to continue in 2026 (or on an even bigger stage in the playoffs).
“The next 10 at-bats (Ohtani) might get 10 hits,” Imanaga quipped. “So for me, this has been a small miracle.”