Shota Imanaga isn’t just looking to win—he’s looking to dominate. As the Chicago Cubs’ lefty ace gears up for his Opening Day showdown against the Dodgers in the Tokyo Series, he’s made one thing crystal clear: giving up even a single run is unacceptable.
“If I give up one run or more, it’s something we do not deserve,” Imanaga stated with conviction. “And he’s a guy to bump up their team. So giving up a run is giving them momentum. That’s why I’m trying to eliminate any runs.”
That “he” is Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He is the star player for the Dodgers this season. He is considered one of Japan’s top baseball talents in recent times. Imanaga is not just getting ready for his game. He’s getting ready to kick off what might turn out to be a pitching battle of the season.
“Giving up runs is giving them a momentum, so that’s why I’m trying to eliminate any runs.”
Shota Imanaga’s main focus today was run prevention. pic.twitter.com/YJ9hzMC7VU
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) March 18, 2025
Moreover, Imanaga understands the stakes. This isn’t just any Opening Day; it’s a matchup on his home soil, where baseball is revered at the highest level. With the entire baseball world watching, the Cubs’ left-hander isn’t interested in giving the Dodgers any edge, especially not against a pitcher like Yamamoto, whose presence alone elevates Los Angeles. Momentum matters. One mistake, one run, could shift the energy of the game and put the Cubs on their heels. Imanaga knows it. He thrives on it.
“I want to eliminate any runs,” he reiterated. That’s not just a strategy—it’s a mission.
Imanaga is coming off a stellar final spring training start, where he blanked the Guardians and walked off to a standing ovation. That performance wasn’t just about refining his stuff—it was a statement. He’s in peak form, his confidence is sky-high, and he’s not afraid to set expectations. Facing a lineup stacked with stars like Ohtani, Freeman, Sasaki, and Betts is the real challenge. But Imanaga isn’t backing down. In fact, he’s embracing it.
This Tokyo Series isn’t just about the Cubs and Dodgers—it’s about pride, legacy, and the heart of Japanese baseball. It’s a showdown between two aces who carry the weight of expectation. On one side, we have Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the Dodgers’ $325 million superstar, a pitcher who arrived in MLB with sky-high hopes. On the other, Shota Imanaga, the Cubs’ under-the-radar signing is eager to prove that dominance isn’t measured by price tags but by performance. This isn’t just another early-season matchup—it’s a statement game on a global stage.
And for Imanaga, that statement is clear: when he’s on the mound, runs don’t come easy. The Dodgers may have stacked their lineup with power, but Imanaga thrives on precision, execution, and an unshakable mentality. Yamamoto might be LA’s golden arm, but Imanaga? He’s the pitcher with something to prove, the one determined to silence the doubters.
Counsell’s controversial call: protecting Cubs arms or overthinking?
Imagine throwing seven no-hit innings against one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball, only to be told your night is over. That’s exactly what happened to Shota Imanaga, and Cubs fans aren’t happy about it. Craig Counsell insists he pulled Imanaga purely for his long-term health, saying, “It was 100% about taking care of Shota.” On the surface, that sounds reasonable—after all, this is just his second MLB start, and he was approaching 100 pitches. But with history on the line, was this really the right call?
Baseball is changing, but fans haven’t forgotten the magic of a pitcher finishing what he started. Imanaga wasn’t laboring, wasn’t showing fatigue, and with just six outs to go, the decision to pull him felt like modern over-managing at its peak. At 98 pitches, he was still within a manageable workload, and if he showed signs of tiring, a reliever could have been ready. Instead, Cubs fans were left with a combined no-hitter—still impressive, but not nearly as special.
In the end, Counsell may have had good intentions, but to many, it feels like he took the ball away from Imanaga and from history far too soon. And the Cubs should remember that a single mistake against this team doesn’t just cost a run—it could change the game entirely.
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