Cubs starting pitchers’ home run troubles a major cause for concern

ST. LOUIS — The Chicago Cubs’ pitching staff’s home run problem has become glaring. In Friday’s 6-5 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, Shota Imanaga gave up three long balls — that’s eight in his last three outings — including a three-run shot in the first inning after he was staked to a 3-0 lead.

“We’re not going to stop Shota giving up home runs; he’s gonna give up some home runs,” manager Craig Counsell said. “The first inning, that’s part that I think he definitely can control. And that’s the part that can’t happen.”

Imanaga gives up home runs. His 13 allowed are tied for the fourth most in baseball. But when he allows men on base before them, things really fall apart for him and the team. Earlier in the week, Counsell had lamented the issue. “Three-run homers? Those change games,” he said. That remains a concern.

In the first inning Friday, Imanaga hit a batter and doled out a five-pitch walk. Then he served up a center-cut fastball that Nelson Velázquez sent 405 feet into the Cubs bullpen.

“The offense put up three runs, and giving up three runs right there, that’s tough for the atmosphere of the team,” Imanaga said through an interpreter.

The most concerning issue, though, is that Imanaga doesn’t even lead the team in home runs allowed. That ignominious distinction belongs to Jameson Taillon, who tops MLB with 19 homers allowed. The Cubs lead all of baseball with 82 home runs allowed. The starting staff is the main culprit, with 54 homers allowed.

“Yeah,” Counsell said, “that’s bothersome.”

The problems with the starting staff are a simmering issue that was briefly overlooked due to a stalled offense. As the Cubs were losing 10 straight and 14 of 16, their offensive struggles took center stage. The criticism was deserved, but the reality is the bats had performed quite well to that point. And a veteran group with a deep bench had enough of a history of success that Counsell could trust they’d once again find their stride.

But as bad as the offense was during that stretch, the starting pitchers also had the worst ERA in baseball during the 10-game losing streak. The injuries — Cade Horton out for the year, Justin Steele suffering a setback, Matthew Boyd and Edward Cabrera currently on the shelf — are catching up with them.

After Imanaga gave up five runs in 5⅓ innings, the starters have a 4.73 ERA on the season, 24th in baseball. They’re giving up 1.61 home runs per nine innings, with only the Colorado Rockies’ and Athletics’ starting staffs posting worse rates. Both play in ballparks that are offensive havens.

The small bit of good news for the Cubs is that they’re slowly getting healthy. Boyd will make a rehab start Sunday with Iowa. He’ll likely need one more rehab outing after that but could return to the rotation in 10 days. Cabrera will throw an “extensive” bullpen Sunday and could be close to a return as well.

But even with their return, this team will need to find a way to keep the ball in the park with more regularity. Imanaga’s recent stretch is especially concerning. Once seen as a potential ace of the staff, the lefty has watched his ERA balloon from 2.32 to 4.37 with three rough starts. Outside of Ben Brown, right now there isn’t a starter whom Counsell can fully trust to keep runs off the scoreboard and the ball in the yard.

The Cubs need to get healthy. They need Imanaga to get right and for Brown to stay hot. Otherwise, their recent rough patch could just be the beginning of their troubles.

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