Rainout pushes Imanaga's start to Monday against Mets

CHICAGO -- As the grounds crew unfurled the tarp on the infield at Wrigley Field on Sunday morning, Shota Imanaga was in the outfield going through a light workout. He went through some stretching drills and then played catch for a few minutes.

Imanaga was forced to shift his routine after Sunday’s game against the Blue Jays was postponed due to a rainy forecast that was predicted to last late into the evening. Instead of starting against Toronto in the finale of this series, Imanaga is now slated to take the ball Monday in the opener of a four-game set against the Mets in New York.

The Cubs and Blue Jays are scheduled to make up the postponed game at 1:20 p.m. CT on Aug. 6. For the North Siders, that added game creates a seven-game homestand with sets against the Yankees (July 31-Aug. 2) and Dodgers (Aug. 3-5) prior to hosting Toronto again.

While surveying the tarp-covered diamond on Sunday morning, Cubs manager Craig Counsell noted that Imanaga would start Monday. Beyond that, Chicago’s rotation schedule is to be determined at the moment.

Originally, the Cubs announced Edward Cabrera, Javier Assad and Ben Brown as the probable pitchers for the first three games against the Mets. There is now some flexibility to move things around in light of Sunday’s rainout. There is also the expected return of veteran lefty Matthew Boyd, who is on the 15-day injured list due to a left knee injury.

The 35-year-old Boyd worked four scoreless innings in a Minor League rehab start for High-A South Bend on Saturday, logging 59 pitches in the effort. In the outing, the lefty struck out seven, scattered two hits and had no walks on his line. It was Boyd’s first start since dealing with some left shoulder soreness that forced the Cubs to delay his return.

Both Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy and Boyd indicated on Sunday that the pitcher had recovered well a day after that appearance for South Bend. The lefty is scheduled to throw a bullpen session in New York on Monday and the Cubs will determine his next step from there. It is possible Boyd could be activated as early as Thursday.