The Chicago Cubs continued to rely heavily on Shota Imanaga to stabilize their injury-plagued pitching rotation during a 3-0 defeat to the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field on Saturday. The game experienced a 15-minute delay between the sixth and seventh innings due to dense fog that enveloped the stadium, momentarily hampering visibility.

Imanaga, who started for the Cubs, pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out eight and issuing three walks. The right-hander surrendered his 21st home run of the season early in the game, conceding a solo shot to Cardinals’ infielder JJ Wetherholt on the first pitch of his 18th start. Despite a 4.28 ERA and a career-high 1.10 WHIP, Imanaga’s ability to consistently take the mound has been a rare constant for the Cubs amid a challenging season for the pitching staff.

Manager Craig Counsell emphasized Imanaga’s importance to the rotation, noting his reliability in a year marked by numerous injuries. “We’ve needed that this year. Our team has needed that this year,” Counsell said, highlighting Imanaga’s durability compared to others in the staff.

The Cubs’ pitching depth has been significantly hampered by injuries and underperformance. Cade Horton exited after only one full start due to a right elbow injury and is sidelined for the season. Justin Steele continues his recovery from elbow surgery and is unlikely to contribute in 2026. Ben Brown, who showed potential before being mentioned as a possible All-Star, was sidelined with a stress reaction in his neck. Other rotation members have also faced setbacks: Matthew Boyd has struggled through seven starts with a 5.08 ERA, while Edward Cabrera is on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. Jameson Taillon is also recovering from a left hamstring strain, with plans for a rehab start at Single-A South Bend.

With Imanaga leading the rotation, the Cubs have relied heavily on Colin Rea and other fill-ins to cover starts. Rea has made 14 starts, second only to Imanaga’s 18 this season. Counsell expressed appreciation for the consistency Imanaga and Rea have provided. “What’s so important about Shota this year is he’s made every start. In a season where we’ve had a lot happen, we’ve been able to count on Shota and Colin, frankly. That’s a good feeling,” he said.

Offensively, the Cubs struggled to mount a response against the Cardinals’ pitching staff, which included starter Kyle Leahy and four relievers who combined to hold Chicago to five total hits. The Cubs left eight runners on base and have scored only one run in their last two games, a stark contrast to the 23-run outburst they posted against the San Diego Padres just days earlier.