MINNEAPOLIS -- The Cubs were able to enjoy Shota Imanaga's return to strengthen the rotation for one whole week before another injury hit the staff. Jameson Taillon strained his calf while doing running drills last week, landing on the injured list and continuing what has been a season-long cycle of setbacks for the starters.
And while Imanaga has continued to look like himself three starts into his comeback -- the latest a quality start on Tuesday night before the Twins piled it on late to deal the Cubs an 8-1 loss at Target Field -- reeling in rotation help at the Trade Deadline remains a pressing need.
For his part, Imanaga believes he can press on as a rotation leader in Chicago’s quest to last deep into the postseason.
“Since in the first half I missed some time,” Imanaga said via his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry, “I think that energy, I can use and bring that into the second half. And doing my best in the second half and building my rhythm, that’s going to be my goal.”
Imanaga missed seven weeks between May and June due to a left hamstring injury, rejoining the rotation on June 26. Lefty Justin Steele was lost for the season in April due to left elbow surgery. Taillon is expected to miss at least a month after sustaining what he called a “moderate” strain of his right calf on July 3.
Veteran lefty Matthew Boyd has provided a steady hand for the starting staff, making his first career All-Star team in the process. Rookie Cade Horton has been solid in his first taste of the Majors and veteran righty Colin Rea has pitched admirably as a starter. Even with Imanaga back, though, the depth behind that group has thinned.
That makes targeting rotation help at the July 31 Deadline the Cubs’ top priority.
“Obviously, getting Shota back is a big help,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said during the last homestand. “But you can never have enough pitching depth. Listen, we’ve had a lot of conversations with teams. We’ll continue to have a lot of conversations.”
Hoyer pointed out that things tend to ramp up after the MLB Draft, which is set for July 13-14, leading into the All-Star break. Sandy Alcantara (Marlins) and Mitch Keller (Pirates) are two names that have already popped up in trade rumors and reports linked to the Cubs.
Before the trade season really picks up steam, Cubs manager Craig Counsell is focused on piecing together the staff for the periods on either side of the All-Star break. Counsell currently has righty Chris Flexen and lefty Jordan Wicks as multi-inning options in the bullpen. One of them might be a bulk solution for Friday’s game against the Yankees. Righty Ben Brown offers another alternative at Triple-A Iowa.
“Guys have stepped up and shown that they’re capable,” Taillon said recently. “We’ve got a lot of good arms in the room and guys that can fill different roles. What a luxury to have a guy like Chris Flexen, who can throw multiple innings, or call up a guy like Jordan Wicks, who is more than capable of getting big league hitters out.
“I’m going to work hard to be back as quick as I can, but I think we’ve got the pieces to carry us for a bit.”
Having a bullpen day wedged between the four starters, however, is likely not a sustainable long-term strategy.
“We’re looking to kind of raise our replacement level and raise our talent level,” Hoyer said of the team’s hunt for pitching at the Deadline. “That’s really the challenge. I think acquiring guys that provide depth -- we know we can do that. I think the question is if we can find guys that are better than our current alternatives.”
In the meantime, the Cubs are fortunate to have someone like Imanaga, who limited the Twins to a pair of first-inning runs before swiftly adjusting to their aggressive approach. He ended with just one strikeout in six frames, but has now pieced together a 2.76 ERA in his three starts since returning from the IL.
“He’s pitching like Shota does,” Counsell said. “And I don’t think he’s as good as he can be yet.”
Imanaga expressed confidence that the rotation could keep holding the line.
“When I was hurt, everybody else in the rotation stepped up,” Imanaga said. “Right now, what I’m focusing on is doing my best to help the team win. And I think every individual in the rotation, they have the capacity. If they reach their potential, I think we’ll be one of the top rotations.”