The Chicago Cubs opened a seven-game homestand Friday night at Wrigley Field with a 2-0 loss to the New York Yankees, despite a strong outing from left-hander Shota Imanaga. The Cubs were unable to provide sufficient offensive support, marking their 10th shutout loss of the season.
Imanaga, who has emerged as a reliable starter for the Cubs this season, pitched 6⅓ innings, allowing two solo home runs and four hits while striking out six batters without issuing a walk. He retired the first 11 hitters he faced before conceding a 450-foot homer to Amed Rosario in the fourth inning, followed by another solo shot to Spencer Jones in the fifth. The left-hander’s splitter and sinker were particularly effective, generating 19 swings and misses, with ten coming on the splitter alone.
“Not enough run support for him today, but he was fantastic,” said outfielder Ian Happ, praising Imanaga’s competitiveness and ability to keep left-handed hitters off balance. Manager Craig Counsell echoed those sentiments, describing Imanaga’s start as “excellent” and noting the pitcher’s skill in pitching deep into the seventh inning.
The Cubs’ offense struggled against Yankees right-hander Will Warren, who held Chicago to four hits across 6⅔ innings and struck out seven without issuing a walk. The Cubs, who had entered the game leading Major League Baseball in walks drawn, failed to generate any free passes—a rarity for the lineup this season, having drawn walks in nearly every other game.
“I think any time somebody can get 27 outs against us and we don’t have a walk, that means somebody’s doing a pretty good job,” Counsell said.
Reliever Antoine Kelly, a Chicago native and Maine East graduate, made his major-league debut in relief, pitching 1⅓ scoreless innings and recording his first career strikeout against Yankees slugger Ben Rice. Kelly was recalled shortly before the game following the placement of right-hander Gavin Hollowell on the 15-day injured list due to right shoulder inflammation. Hollowell’s injury further underscores the Cubs’ ongoing pitching challenges, as the team currently has 13 pitchers on the injured list.
With the MLB trade deadline approaching Monday, Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer is expected to seek pitching reinforcements to bolster the staff for a potential postseason run. The Cubs hold the top National League wild-card spot but remain six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central, intensifying the need for roster improvements.
Several injured pitchers, including closer Daniel Palencia and right-hander Justin Steele, are progressing toward potential returns, which could provide additional internal support. Steele expressed optimism about the group’s ability to contribute later in the season.
Imanaga, reflecting on his performance, noted the ongoing adjustments pitchers and hitters make during games as each side works to out-think the other. His recent consistency, including a 3.67 ERA this season and a 0.92 ERA in three starts since the All-Star break, highlights his value to the Cubs' rotation.
Despite the loss, the Cubs remain focused on improving both internally and through potential acquisitions as they continue their push toward October baseball.