Nationals (Irvin) vs Cubs (Imanaga): 3/29/26, 1:20pm

[Brock Beauchamp]

Can the Cubs open the 2026 season with a series win?

	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT	TOT
Brown, B	0	0	49	0	0	49
Milner	0	0	11	0	0	11
Webb, J	0	0	15	0	16	31
Maton	0	0	0	0	9	9
Thielbar	0	0	0	0	16	16

[Bertz]

Irvin had a good spring training, but nothing from it looks especially notable to shift your priors on him. 

This game is about Shota.

[Bertz]

Probably not ideal with Shota pitching

[CUBDOM4life]

36 minutes ago, Bertz said:

Probably not ideal with Shota pitching

Was about to say I’m excited to see Shota today but now maybe not so much

[Derwood]

I know people are itchy about Shota and the long ball, but I'm here to remind you that 25 of the 31 homers he surrendered in 2025 were solo shots

[PeanutPunch33]

I know people here don't love him but I'd take Zac Gallen over Shota in a heart beat for the same contract (1 year, 22 mill).  I'm surprised the Cubs brought him back but hopefully it turns out to be a good decision 

[CUBDOM4life]

[chibears55]

Got my banana ball email today, my name was not chosen to get a ticket to see them at Wrigley this year... 😒

 

Go Cubs, Bregman gonna hit 2 bombs today

[Bertz]

Would seem to point to the Tampa or Pitt series for him to come back if there are no setbacks.

 

[Stratos]

https://x.com/MLBBruceLevine/status/2037961487797436456

[Eeyore]

Should be a good day to sit in the first few rows of the bleachers 😞

[Jason Ross]

That was a good sequence from Shota. And he was hitting 93mph. That's a big deal. 

[Tryptamine]

Yeah, our pitching is not great.

[PeanutPunch33]

Imanaga is ass 

[Eeyore]

🙄

[Jason Ross]

Sigh. Some weak contact and then Weimer hit a HR on a pitch well below the zone.

[chibears55]

Just couldn't get through the first after striking out first two guys 🤦

Two singles and the bomb 

[Papa Cub]

Same old Shota 

[JHBulls]

That was one of those good average innings from Shota. 

[cl smooth]

love me some Shota Imanaga! 

[Derwood]

bloop, bloop, HR off the shoe tops. 

[chibears55]

Cubs need to respond with at least one here, this is likely a day where 10 runs is needed

[Derwood]

It's not like he threw a meatball for the HR. 

[Papa Cub]

1 minute ago, chibears55 said:

Just couldn't get through the first after striking out first two guys 🤦

Two singles and the bomb 

It’s what he does - way too early and little sample size, but their pitching is looking like hot garbage so far. Horton and hopefully Cabrera can be stable. The others I have zero confidence in 

[Jason Ross]

To be fair to Shota, that pitch (labeled here as 4) is well off the plate.