Shota Imanaga is pitching like an ace for the Cubs (Hour 2)
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The Mully & Haugh Show dives deep into Shota Imanaga's resurgence as the Cubs' ace in 2026, celebrating his dominant performance against Kyle Schwarber and the Phillies, where he struck out three times and posted a career-high 26 swing-and-misses. The hosts reflect on his journey from a struggling second half in 2024 to a transformed offseason, including skipping the WBC to focus on his health and preparation. They debate whether the Cubs' decision to offer him a qualifying one-year deal was a procedural box-check or a missed opportunity, acknowledging that his current form exceeds even his 2024 peak. The conversation shifts to the Cubs' offensive awakening, with 20 runs scored over two games, and the looming challenge of the struggling Mets, who are on an eight-game losing streak and plagued by offensive collapse. Guest John Heyman joins to analyze the Mets' woes, the league-wide spike in arm injuries tied to velocity and breaking balls, and the risks of long-term contracts for young players like Kevin Conigle and Cole Emerson. The episode closes with excitement over new debuts, including Sam Antonacci, and cautious optimism about the Cubs’ potential turnaround, while avoiding the word 'momentum'.
Shota Imanaga has reestablished himself as the Cubs' best pitcher in 2026, with 31 strikeouts and only 5 walks in four starts.
Imanaga skipped the WBC to focus on his offseason preparation, a sacrifice that underscores his commitment to the Cubs.
The Cubs’ decision to offer Imanaga a qualifying one-year deal was likely procedural, not a reflection of confidence in him at the time.
The Mets are in a deep slump—eight losses in a row, scoring just 12 runs in eight games—making them vulnerable to a Cubs sweep.
Arm injuries across MLB are rising, likely due to high velocity and aggressive breaking ball usage, especially in spring training.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Shota Imanaga’s Dominant Return to Form
“He's got a bigger repertoire and a bigger pitch mix. I think he's got more confidence in using all those pitches.”
The Cubs’ Offseason Strategy and Imanaga’s Qualifying Offer
The hosts dissect the Cubs’ decision to offer Imanaga a qualifying one-year deal, revealing that it was more about protecting themselves than expressing confidence. They reflect on how recency bias clouded their perception of his 2024 performance.
The Mets’ Collapse and the Cubs’ Opportunity
“They stink. It's unbelievable. Eight-game losing streak, they scored 12 runs in the eight games, six of them in one game.”
Arm Injuries and the Velocity Epidemic in Baseball
“The most injuries do occur in spring training in April as pitchers do ramp up. I think we were fairly lucky in spring training this year.”
Long-Term Contracts and the Risk of Overpaying Young Talent
The hosts and John Heyman debate the wisdom of long-term deals for young players like Kevin Conigle and Cole Emerson. They caution that while some may succeed, many early extensions carry high risk, especially without proven major league production.
“They stink. It's unbelievable. Eight-game losing streak, they scored 12 runs in the eight games, six of them in one game.”
“He's got a bigger repertoire and a bigger pitch mix. I think he's got more confidence in using all those pitches.”
“He skipped the WBC because he wanted to focus on us, honestly.”
Hosts
Guest
Shota Imanaga
person
Cubs
other
Mets
other
John Heyman
person
Kyle Schwarber
person
White Sox
other
Luis Robert
person
World Baseball Classic
other
Freddy Peralta
person
Dustin
person
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