Imanaga will return in St. Louis; Hodge struggles
Shota Imanaga passed his final test Friday night, on the mound for the Iowa Cubs in Nashville.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell confirmed Imanaga's next start will be in the big leagues, likely during the upcoming four game series in St. Louis. Imanaga went on the 15-day injured list May 5 with a left hamstring strain.
“Everything went great,” Counsell said before Saturday's game against Seattle. “Did what we hoped he would do. He's in a position to be ready, so he's going to join us in St. Louis and we'll figure out the next steps.”
Imanaga threw 72 pitches Friday, giving up no runs, 2 hits and 2 walks, with 8 strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Counsell was asked about the upcoming roster move when Imanaga is activated. Logic suggests either Ben Brown or Cade Horton will be sent down to Iowa. But with Horton starting Saturday, and Matthew Boyd suffering a bruised shoulder from a line drive on Friday, there's no reason to make a decision until the time arrives.
“We can have a great ideas about what we're going to do, but it's not today, so they can all change,” Counsell said. “It's our job to kind of think in advance, but also, things happen.”
The mention of using a six-man rotation for a couple turns was raised, and Counsell placed that in the realm of possibilities.
“Everything is kind of on the table and you play out a bunch of scenarios,” he said. “Then let the days play out until we have to make a decision.”
Hodge hit hard:
While everything went well with Imanaga on Friday in Nashville, the same can't be said for reliever Porter Hodge.
Hodge was tagged for 7 runs in the seventh inning, 6 earned, on 4 hits and 2 walks. He gave up 3 singles and a triple, then hurt his own cause with a bad throw on a sacrifice bunt.
“I would say it wasn't as bad as it looked,” manager Craig Counsell said. “But obviously it wasn't a good outing.”
So Hodge will pitch again for Iowa on Sunday or Tuesday, and could still be back with the Cubs soon. He's been on the injured list since May 18 with a left oblique strain.
“We want Porter here,” Counsell said. “Let's have a good outing, so just get him on track and he'll be back.”
Pearson in, Cabrera out:
The Cubs did make a roster move Saturday, calling up reliever Nate Pearson, while lefty Genesis Cabrera was designated for assignment. Cabrera gave up 6 runs in the previous two days.
Pearson had a rough go early this season in the big leagues, with a 10.38 ERA in eight appearances. In Iowa, he's at 2.22.
“I don't think Genesis pitched as poorly as some of the lines,” Counsell said. “There was some bad luck in there. But also. we've got to be careful this weekend, frankly, with the (hot) weather. We've got to be protective with our pitching. That's important.
“So we've got a fresh arm here. Nate's been throwing the ball well. I feel like he's made some progress there, so I look forward to seeing him again.”
Waiting game for Boyd:
There was no firm update on the status of pitcher Matthew Boyd, who had to leave Friday's start with a bruised left shoulder. He caught a screaming line drive right at him, but the side of his shoulder was struck by the ball and glove in the process.
“I don't think we're going to know anything here for a couple days,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It's just a swelling issue. It's going to go away as the days go on. Right now, he's on schedule to pitch and if we get closer to that and he's unable to kind of have a normal four days in between starts, then we'll reevaluate.” …
Vidal Brujan got a start at third base for Matt Shaw on Saturday. Counsell called it a day of rest for Shaw, a chance to give Brujan some reps, and also a reset day for Shaw, who has gone 4-for-39 at the plate (.103) over the past 11 games.