Chicago Cubs left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga made an impressive return from injury on Thursday, pitching five scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals. This marked his first game back since being sidelined on May 4 due to a strained left hamstring, revitalizing the Cubs’ rotation with a confident performance.

Performance Details and Game Impact

In his outing, the 31-year-old right-hander from Japan threw 77 pitches, including 49 strikes, allowing only one hit—a first-inning single off Masyn Winn. After that initial baserunner, Imanaga retired 10 consecutive batters before issuing a single walk and recording three strikeouts. He left the mound with a 2-0 lead and saw his ERA improve to 2.54. Caleb Thielbar, another left-handed pitcher, took over to begin the sixth inning.

Roster Changes and Season Context

To accommodate Imanaga’s activation from the 15-day injured list, the Cubs designated right-hander Michael Fulmer for assignment. Fulmer, 32, appeared in two scoreless relief outings during the Cubs’ recent four-game series with St. Louis but struggled with ongoing health issues. Prior to this season, Fulmer underwent Tommy John surgery twice, once in 2019 and again more recently, complicating his ability to maintain consistent play. In 2023, he posted a 4.42 ERA across 58 appearances and had a brief stint with the Boston Red Sox before joining the Cubs on a minor league contract.

Imanaga’s Season and Rehab Progress

Imanaga has started nine games this year, holding opposing teams to two or fewer runs in seven of those outings. He earned All-Star honors as a rookie last year after going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA. Before Thursday’s major league return, he made three minor league rehab starts, most recently with Triple-A Iowa, where he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Meanwhile, the Cubs have maintained a 25-16 record leading the NL Central during his absence, highlighting the importance of his return to the team’s pitching staff.