CHICAGO (AP) — The road for Shota Imanaga from Japan to the major leagues included at least one sharp observation that has served him well in his transition to life with the Chicago Cubs. “Watching foreign players in Japan and how they try to figure out how to get support from the fans, essentially I’m just doing the opposite of that, coming over here,” Imanaga said through a translator. “It was something I thought about.” From his entertaining pitching style to his trips to Dunkin’ Donuts — “Either I order a small iced latte or a medium,” he said — Imanaga has moved with a purpose in his acclimation to the big leagues. And he is making it look easy at the moment. Relying on a deceptive four-seam fastball that he usually locates at the top of the strike zone, along with a splitter that plays at the bottom, Imanaga is 5-0 with a 0.84 ERA for the contending Cubs. The left-hander also has 58 strikeouts and nine walks in 53 2/3 innings — thrusting himself into the early conversation for NL Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award. |
Alec Marsh and 4 relievers combined for a 6New Godzilla x Kong film continues to lead Chinese box officeTravis Kelce laughs at girlfriend Taylor Swift getting 'Punk'd' by Justin Bieber in 2012Michael Harris II hits an RBI double in the 10th inning to lift Braves past Marlins 4Connecticut Senate passes wideInside A Place In The Sun presenter Danni Menzies' luxurious holiday in the Cayman IslandsMaple Leafs forward William Nylander sits out 3rd straight game to open the playoffsDwayne 'The Rock' Johnson gets emotional during 'lifeTrump will be in NY for the hush money trial while the Supreme Court hears his immunity case in DCAaron Judge homers 1 pitch after Joe Boyle is called for a balk as Yanks top A's 7