Imanaga (4-0) earned the win Friday over the Red Sox, allowing one run on five hits and one walk across 6.1 innings. He struck out seven.
It was another strong outing from Imanaga, with Boston's lone run coming on a Tyler O'Neill solo homer in the fourth inning. It's safe to say the 30-year-old southpaw has exceeded expectations thus far -- Imanaga's yet to allow more than two earned runs in a start, as his ERA now sits at a stellar 0.98 with a 0.80 WHIP and 28:3 K:BB across five outings (27.2 innings). He's currently slated for a road matchup with the Mets in his next start.
Assad didn't factor into the decision Thursday, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over 5.2 innings against the Astros. He struck out five.
Although Assad was only at 85 pitches, he was pulled one out before becoming eligible for the quality start after allowing a pair of baserunners. Although Assad has completed six innings only once in five starts, he boasts a 2.00 ERA and a 26:9 K:BB with a 2-0 record. He's tentatively scheduled for a start against the Mets early next week.
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Cubs' Hector Neris: Claims another save
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Neris picked up the save Thursday against Houston, allowing two walks and no hits over a scoreless inning. He didn't log a strikeout.
Neris converted on his third save of the last five days and appears to have a decent hold on the Cubs' closing job, replacing Adbert Alzolay. However, Neris's walk issues persisted Thursday, handing out two free passes to bring his season total to nine in nine innings. His lack of control has been uncharacteristic, as Neris combined for just 48 walks in 141 appearances during his previous two seasons with the Astros.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Launches first-career homer
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Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Thursday's 3-1 win over the Astros.
Crow-Armstrong went yard in his third at-bat of 2024, tagging Bryan Abreu for a two-run shot in the sixth inning as his first career long ball. One of the top prospects in the Cubs system, Crow-Armstrong failed to collect a hit in 19 plate appearances a season ago and will look to fare better during this MLB stay while Cody Bellinger (ribs) is sidelined.
Straily signed a split contract with the Cubs on Thursday, Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports.
Straily, 35, spent some time at Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks organization in 2022 but aside from that has pitched in the Korea Baseball Organization since 2020. He last appeared in the majors in 2019 with the Orioles. Straily presumably will be assigned to Triple-A Iowa, although he could initially go to extended spring training or a lower affiliate.
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Cubs' Matt Mervis: Not starting Thursday
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Mervis is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.
Following his promotion from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Mervis served as the Cubs' designated hitter in both of the ensuing two games, going 0-for-6 with three strikeouts between those contests. Though he'll retreat to the bench Thursday, the lefty-hitting Mervis will likely see the bulk of the starts at DH against right-handed pitching until the Cubs get Seiya Suzuki (oblique) back from the 10-day injured list.
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Cubs' Christopher Morel: Gets first off day of season
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Morel is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.
The Cubs will hand Morel his first day off of the season while he's fallen into a slump at the dish of late; he's gone 4-for-45 (.089 average) and is getting on base at a .222 clip over his last 13 games. Morel still looks to be entrenched in an everyday role at third base, but Nick Madrigal will occupy the hot corner Thursday.
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Cubs' Yan Gomes: Losing work to Amaya
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Gomes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Astros.
The 36-year-old is on the bench for the seventh time in 10 games and appears to have moved into the No. 2 catcher role behind youngster Miguel Amaya, who draws another start Thursday. Gomes is a trusted game caller behind the plate but has taken a big step back with the bat in 2024, posting a .486 OPS while striking out at a career-worst 35.1 percent rate through 37 plate appearances.
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Cubs' Brennen Davis: Makes return from IL
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Triple-A Iowa reinstated Davis (undisclosed) from the 7-day injured list Tuesday.
He returned to the lineup for Iowa on Wednesday, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and three RBI while serving as the designated hitter in an 8-2 win over Buffalo. Davis opened the season on the IL while recovering from an unspecified injury but went 7-for-28 with a 6:9 BB:K over an eight-game rehab assignment with High-A South Bend.
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Nabs second straight victory
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Taillon (2-0) earned the win over Houston on Wednesday, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and two walks while striking out four batters over 5.2 innings.
Taillon yielded a fair amount of baserunners, but he was unscored upon outside of a two-run third inning. The right-hander notched just five whiffs among his 89 pitches, though that didn't prevent him from picking up his second straight victory to begin the campaign. Taillon got a late start to the season after opening on the injured list due to a back injury, but he already seems to be settled in as a key piece of Chicago's rotation.
Neris allowed a solo home run but still managed to secure the save in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Astros. He struck out one.
Neris started the frame by allowing a home run to Jose Altuve, but he rebounded to retire the next three batters and earn his second save of the season. With Adbert Alzolay out of the closer's role following four blown saves, Neris figures to see plenty of endgame opportunities in the near future for the 15-9 Cubs. If the veteran pitches well, he could hold onto the job for the rest of the season.
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Cubs' Dansby Swanson: Sets tone with home run
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Swanson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Wednesday's 4-3 win over the Astros.
Swanson got the Cubs going early, hitting his big blast with two outs in the first inning to set the tone for the rest of the game. The shortstop, who is up to three home runs now for the season, has been off to a bit of a slow start overall with just a .235 batting average. However, Swanson will continue to see regular playing time, and he should be a strong fantasy asset the rest of the way.
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Cubs' Miguel Amaya: Hits bench Wednesday
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Amaya is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Astros.
Though he'll give way to Yan Gomes behind the dish Wednesday, Amaya seems to have edged ahead of the veteran on the depth chart at catcher. Amaya started in four of the previous five games and owns a 302-point edge in OPS over Gomes for the season (.772 to .470).
Cubs' Kyle Hendricks: Throwing off mound this weekend
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Hendricks (back) will throw a bullpen session this weekend in Boston, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.
The Cubs will map out a plan for Hendricks' rehab based on how he feels during and after the bullpen session. Hendricks was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with a lower-back strain. Given his 12.00 ERA in five starts this season, the team might elect to give him ample time on a rehab assignment with the hope that he can get back on track upon returning from the IL.
