Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell calls out Shota Imanaga after 6-5 loss to Cardinals
The Chicago Cubs entered their series against the St. Louis Cardinals, having won each of their past two games. For the first time in almost two weeks, Chicago was feeling confident. Of course, this was because these last two wins came on the heels of a brutal 10-game losing streak.
Indeed, the game got off to a good start for the Cubs, too. Ian Happ hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning. It was the third consecutive game in which he hit a home run, signaling that the struggling left fielder maybe has found his groove.
Unfortunately, starting pitcher Shota Imanaga could not keep the lead.
Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell calls out Shota Imanaga for home run issues
For most of the season thus far, Imanaga has been one of the only Cubs starting pitchers that has been able to stay healthy. Early on in the year, he was an anchor and performed exceptionally well.
Over this last three starts, though, he Imanaga has been anything but. In the loss, he surrendered a three-run home run in the bottom of the first; a solo home run in the fourth; and a solo home run in the fifth.
Needless to say, May has not been his month:
Shota Imanaga’s April/May stats:
April – 2.15 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 2 HR allowed, 31 K
May – 5.80 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 10 HR allowed, 31 K
— Jacob Zanolla (@jacobzanolla) May 30, 2026
Imanaga has given up a combined eight home runs in his last three starts, and his ERA is up to 4.37 on the year.
After the loss, manager Craig Counsell was not subtle in his criticism for Chicago’s $22 million pitcher, saying, “We’re not going to stop Shota giving up home runs; he’s gonna give up some home runs. The first inning, that’s part that I think he definitely can control. And that’s the part that can’t happen.”
When reminded by the media that Chicago leads all Major League Baseball with 82 home runs allowed, and that the starting staff has allowed 54 of them, Counsell responded, “Yeah. That’s bothersome.”
With so many starting pitchers on the injured list, the Cubs current starters need to figure it out quickly. Otherwise they may be in for another long losing streak.
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The post Chicago Cubs: Craig Counsell calls out Shota Imanaga after 6-5 loss to Cardinals appeared first on ChiCitySports.
Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chicago-cubs-craig-counsell-shota-imanaga-home-runs/
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