Cubs (Imanaga) vs Cardinals (Pallante): 6/26/25, 1:15pm

[PeanutPunch33]

Feels good to have our ace back 

[chibears55]

Great job by Imanaga, hes likely done if hes on a pitch count.

Hopefully we have the good bullpen today and the bats can add on a few more.

[squally1313]

76 pitches, 5 scoreless innings from Shota. Pretty much all you can ask for (besides more Ks). Thinking he starts the 6th but we'll see. 

[Outshined_One]

3 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

76 pitches, 5 scoreless innings from Shota. Pretty much all you can ask for (besides more Ks). Thinking he starts the 6th but we'll see. 

I'd be inclined to pull him if he were struggling or had long at bats in the 5th, but dude's cruising.  I hope they let him start the 6th.

[DrCub]

1 minute ago, Outshined_One said:

I'd be inclined to pull him if he were struggling or had long at bats in the 5th, but dude's cruising.  I hope they let him start the 6th.

Agreed.  At least see what he does with the first batter or two.  Have someone warming up. 

[BigSlick]

the baseball gods demand more runs.... they demand it.... provide it for them.

 

do not let our king down.

[We Got The Whole 9]

Shaw swings at some really ****** pitches. His approach has been terrible.

[Bull]

Just tuning in in the bottom of the 6th. 

Obviously I missed all of Shota's start, but 1 hit, one walk through 5: I don't even need to ask how he looked. 

Man, it's good to have him back. 

[chibears55]

14 minutes ago, We Got The Whole 9 said:

Shaw swings at some really ****** pitches. His approach has been terrible.

Yea, as much as I like Shaw and his glove, I think it will be best for him to go back down and really put some work in with the bat and be ready for 2026.

Obviously they'll need to go get another 3Bmen beforehand and im really hoping now that Hoyer can get Suarez who could be back tomorrow, sooner rather then later.

Edited June 26, 2025 by chibears55

[squally1313]

Would prefer more offense at some point here. Hopefully Cardinals are in getaway mode, but 9 more outs with a low strikeout bullpen is just asking for a BABIP disaster, and that's before considering the concept of the Cardinals doing annoying Cardinals things

[Transmogrified Tiger]

1 minute ago, squally1313 said:

Would prefer more offense at some point here. Hopefully Cardinals are in getaway mode, but 9 more outs with a low strikeout bullpen is just asking for a BABIP disaster, and that's before considering the concept of the Cardinals doing annoying Cardinals things

I agree with the sentiment, although with Keller and Palencia lined up for 5-8 of these last 8 outs there is some swing and miss thankfully.

[mul21]

4 pitch walk is a bad way to start, Brad.

[UMFan83]

Keller making me very nervous

[UMFan83]

This is the opposite of what he did against Seattle.

[chibears55]

Need a DP here

[UMFan83]

PCA

[Outshined_One]

That also works.

[chibears55]

Hot damn, PCA almost overran that

[JHBulls]

That almost makes up for PCA’s error the other day. He just saved 2 runs. 

[Chicago Al]

What a catch, that sounded like trouble off the bat.

[Geographyhater8888]

Even a slumping PCA catches a base clearing 2 out double if anyone else is in center field. 

[Geographyhater8888]

4 outfielders

[Jason Ross]

21 minutes ago, chibears55 said:

Yea, as much as I like Shaw and his glove, I think it will be best for him to go back down and really put some work in with the bat and be ready for 2026.

Obviously they'll need to go get another 3Bmen beforehand and im really hoping now that Hoyer can get Suarez who could be back tomorrow, sooner rather then later.

Matt Shaw, in around 240 PA's is rocking a wRC+ over 140 in Triple-A. I'm sorry, but this sentiment that he's going to work through these things in Iowa is pretty wrong. He's dominated the level. I cannot explain to people enough that the gap between Double-A and Triple-A has shrunk massively and the gap between Triple-A and MLB has grown greatly. For a really good example of this, look at how the Cubs have handled Cade Horton and how the Reds have handled Chase Burns. The best arms are essentially skipping the level after a few good starts. What this means is that going to Iowa to face the Kenta Maeda's of the world isn't going to help a rookie make the jump, especially when they've dominated the level. Rookies are not getting exposed to the high level arms in Triple-A they were a few years ago - MLB teams have brought those guys up to not waste bullets before the TJS they will (almost) inevitably have.

I understand people would like a better option at 3b right now (Shaw's had a nice game offensively today, he's hit the 2nd hardest ball of the day, and has a single already) but this idea that sending him to Iowa is going to be the fix, isn't it. The approach needs to be challenged at the MLB level. This is what rookies do, I cannot stress this enough. 3-4 months of struggle is how rookies get through it right now. 

There might come a point where the Cubs will have to replace Shaw this year. But when he comes back up, expect more of this. More Iowa isn't the answer to fixing this. It's more MLB.

[BKHoo]

43 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

76 pitches, 5 scoreless innings from Shota. Pretty much all you can ask for (besides more Ks). Thinking he starts the 6th but we'll see. 

Definitely all you could ask for in his first start back. 

[UMFan83]

Dammit Busch, I would have taken a GIDP there to get the run home.

Edit: ok that accomplishes the same thing.

Edited June 26, 2025 by UMFan83