MILWAUKEE — As Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga evaluated his first MLB postseason appearance last week in preparation for his start Monday against the Brewers, his hung splitter to Padres slugger Manny Machado stood out. But he also homed in on other misses that didn’t lead to a two-run home run.
“As a pitcher, if you’re scared of missing like that, that’s just going to help the hitter,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry after the Cubs’ workout Sunday. “As a pitcher, yes, that’s going to happen throughout a game. But just making sure I’m keeping on my mind that I’ve got to stay calm at all times.”
Manager Craig Counsell announced that Imanaga would take the ball in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. It’s a high-stakes contest after the Cubs dropped the opener to the Brewers 9-3 on Saturday.
A win would even the series. A loss would leave the Cubs no room for error in the best-of-five set.
“Everything that I’ve done up to that point, that’s all I can do,” Imanaga said of what he learned from his first taste of the MLB playoffs. “You can’t all of a sudden do something that you’ve never done before. So just understanding that, all that preparation and hard work that came up to that point.”
Imanaga has pitched in big games before, from his time in Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball to starting the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game for Team Japan to following opener Andrew Kittredge in Game 2 of the wild-card series against the Padres. But Monday will be his first start in the MLB postseason.
“He doesn’t sometimes come across as this fierce competitor because he’s really joyful on the mound,” Counsell said. “That doesn’t come across as fierce, necessarily, but he’s a fierce competitor.
“He’s trying to figure out a way to get you out, and he’s trying to figure out a way to be better. And that’s going on pitch to pitch; that’s going on in between starts. He’s really good at that part of it.”
The Cubs could use a sharper performance from Imanaga, even though Machado’s two-run blast accounted for the only runs he allowed in four innings last week.
The Brewers traditionally have been a tough matchup for Imanaga. He has a 5.73 ERA against them in four regular-season starts.
Chourio’s status uncertain
Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio’s status for the rest of the series is uncertain after he exited Game 1 with an injury to his right hamstring — the same one he pulled legging out a triple against the Cubs in late July.
Brewers manager Pat Murphy characterized Chourio’s MRI exam as “inconclusive” and said he would further test his hamstring during the Brewers’ workout Sunday.
“It’s not a serious hamstring strain, but it’s not necessarily something that won’t limit him,” Murphy said.
Facing an opener
Murphy announced that left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby will serve as the Brewers’ opener Monday.
Murphy insisted he didn’t know if right-handed starter Quinn Priester would follow, but that’s certainly an option. The Brewers have used an opener ahead of Priester against the Cubs before.
The Cubs slightly alter their lineup depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher. It’s unclear whether Counsell will cater his lineup to the opener or likely bulk pitcher.
