
Cubs ace Shota Imanaga progressing from hamstring strain
CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs ace left-hander Shota Imanaga has taken a step toward returning from a left hamstring strain that has sidelined him since May 4, manager Craig Counsell said on Wednesday.
Before the Cubs series finale again Colorado, Imanaga threw a 28-pitch bullpen session, ran and took fielding practice.
'So all in all, a very good workday,' Counsell said. 'Kind of repeat that this weekend, assuming everything turns up well tomorrow, and then go from there.'
Imanaga would next progress to the Cubs training facility in Mesa, Arizona. That could happen when the Cubs start a nine-game road trip Tuesday, Counsell said.
Imanaga was an All-Star last season, his first in the majors after coming from Japan, going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts. He signed a $53 million, four-year contract with Chicago in January 2024, then finished fourth in balloting for the NL Rookie of the Year.
The 31-year-old started this season at 3-2 and 2.82 ERA in eight starts before getting hurt in Milwaukee as when he went to cover first base on a potential double play in the sixth inning of a 4-0 loss.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Winnipeg Free Press
33 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
London Knights beat Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 for 3rd Memorial Cup title
RIMOUSKI, Quebec (AP) — Philadelphia Flyers prospect Denver Barkey scored twice in the second period and the London Knights beat the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-1 on Saturday night for their third Memorial Cup title. Jacob Julien and Easton Cowan also scored and Austin Elliott made 31 saves to help the Ontario Hockey League champion Knights win the junior hockey championship a year after losing in the final to host Saginaw. After a 3-1 loss to Western Hockey League champion Medicine Hat on Tuesday night in round-robin play, London beat Moncton 5-2 on Friday night in the semifinal game to set up the rematch with the Tigers. London also won the Memorial Cup in 2005 and 2016. The Knights are owned by former NHL players Dale and Mark Hunter and Basil McRea, with Dale Hunter serving as president and coach and Mark Hunter as general manager. Dale Hunter won his third title to match former Kamloops and Vancouver coach Don Hay's record. Medicine Hat star Gavin McKenna spoiled Elliott's shutout bid early in the third period, and Harrison Meneghin stopped 20 shots for the Tigers. They won the Memorial Cup in 1987 and 1988. Julien opened the scoring midway through the first period. Cowan, a first-round pick by Toronto, and Barkey scored in a 1:40 span early in the second and Barkey made it 4-0 on a power play with 7:52 left in the period. ___ AP sports:


Winnipeg Free Press
33 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Chase Call hits 2 of 5 UC Irvine home runs and Anteaters stay alive with win over Arizona State
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Chase Call hit two of UC Irvine's five home runs and the Anteaters defeated Arizona State 11-6 on Sunday to advance to the championship round of the Los Angeles Regional. Alonso Reyes, Jacob McCombs and James Castagnola also went deep for UC Irvine. The Anteaters (43-16) advanced to play UCLA later Sunday. A UCLA win would wrap up the home regional for the Bruins. A UC Irvine win would force a deciding game on Monday. Call and Reyes hit two-run home runs in a four-run fourth inning that gave the Anteaters a 6-1 lead. UC Irvine starter Ryder Brooks had a 7-2 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth but was pulled after allowing a two-run double by Brandon Compton. Ricky Ojeda replaced Brooks and gave up an RBI double by Beckett Zavorek to make it 7-5. Brooks was charged with five runs. The Anteaters responded in the top of the seventh, scoring four runs that included a two-run home run by Castagnola. Brooks (7-3) got the win. Ojeda and David Utagawa combined to allow one run in 3 2/3 innings. Derek Schaefer (3-1) allowed five runs in three-plus innings for the Sun Devils (36-24). ___ AP college sports:


Winnipeg Free Press
an hour ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Wake Forest wins 3rd straight elimination game at regional to force deciding game against host Vols
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Wake Forest won its third straight elimination game at the Knoxville Regional, this time on a bases-loaded walk by Jack Winnay for a 7-6 victory over No. 14 national seed Tennessee on Sunday night. Wake Forest (39-21) forced a deciding game on Monday against Tennessee, which is looking for its fifth consecutive super regional appearance. The Vols (45-17) had their 14-game win streak in regionals come to an end. Haiden Leffew (4-1) struck out the side in the top of the ninth inning to give Wake Forest a chance for a walk-off in the bottom half. Matt Scannell led off the ninth with a walk and he scored when Winnay drew a four-pitch walk against Nate Snead. Marek Houston homered in the first and singled up the middle in the ninth for Wake Forest. Javar Williams added a two-run shot in the fourth — the 14th of the regional for the Demon Deacons — for a 6-2 lead. Andrew Fischer and Levi Clark each had a two-run homer for Tennessee to tie it at 6-6. Tennessee reliever Brandon Arvidson allowed five earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, while striking out 12. Snead (4-2) fielded a bunt in the ninth but Kade Lewis reached safely to load the bases for Winnay. Houston also homered in the first game of the day for Wake Forest. ___ AP sports: