Shota Imanaga's unbelievable start for the Cubs gets a reality check in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE — Regression was inevitable for Shota Imanaga, the Japanese pitcher whose first nine starts for the Chicago Cubs were almost spotless. It was always a matter of how soon it would happen and how much of a decline, not whether he could go undefeated and keep his ERA within range of zero. The game is forever humbling.

Two months into his rookie season, it’s conceivable that Imanaga will pitch in the All-Star Game, earn Cy Young Award votes and start Game 1 of a playoff series. Everyone in Imanaga’s camp and Jed Hoyer’s front office would have taken that when Imanaga signed a four-year, $53 million contract in January. All of their big-picture objectives remain in sight.

There will also be more moments like Wednesday night’s 10-6 loss at American Family Field, where the Milwaukee Brewers were all over Imanaga’s fastball/splitter combination. These things happen, and it was never as easy as Imanaga made it look. But given how this team is constructed, the Cubs will have trouble being good enough if Imanaga is less than extraordinary.

Because the Brewers aren’t going away. Not after watching manager Craig Counsell jump to a big-market rival. Not after trading Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles. Not after showing interest in Imanaga but ultimately passing on the 30-year-old left-hander. So much will change over the next four months, but so far Milwaukee’s system still works.

Brewers fans booed Counsell when he walked out to the mound in the fifth inning to take the ball from Imanaga. In giving up seven runs, Imanaga’s ERA increased from 0.84 to 1.86. He had allowed only five earned runs in his first nine major-league starts, a beginning that surpassed even Fernando Valenzuela’s and “Fernandomania” with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1981.

“It’s hard for me to say I’ve proven something,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “We’re a third of the way into the season. Hopefully in the next two-thirds, I can prove something.”

That attitude is a major reason teammates appreciate Imanaga and believe he will continue to make adjustments. They will need him to make up ground on the Brewers, a first-place team that heads into Thursday afternoon’s series finale with a 4 1/2-game lead over the Cubs in the National League Central.

The Brewers didn’t appear to be off-balance or uncomfortable against Imanaga, a fly-ball pitcher who had surrendered only three home runs to the first 209 major-league hitters he faced. But there was Christian Yelich, Milwaukee’s No. 3 hitter, hammering a first-pitch fastball an estimated 441 feet out to right-center field for a two-run homer in the first inning.

Imanaga struck out only one of the 22 Milwaukee hitters he faced. He didn’t get in trouble with walks — there was just one — or bad defense. The Brewers put up five runs in the third inning with three singles, a double and a home run off Imanaga.

“He’s been the definition of an ace,” Cubs outfielder Ian Happ said. “This day was coming. He’ll learn from it. He’ll move on and figure out what was a little bit different today and come back the next start and be great.”

Imanaga had not pitched since May 18, when the Cubs won their second 1-0 game started by him. Counsell and pitching coach Tommy Hottovy rearranged their pitching plans off a rainout last weekend in St. Louis, skipping Imanaga in the rotation so he could get extra rest and then go on a six-day schedule for his next start.

The same instincts that led Counsell to pull Ben Brown from Tuesday night’s game after seven no-hit innings factored into that decision to prioritize Imanaga’s future and give him a break. Keeping those long-term interests in mind is a way Counsell gains respect from players. It’s part of how the Brewers consistently functioned as a strong second-half team.

The Cubs also iced one of the hottest pitchers in baseball history.

Imanaga downplayed that angle — “I don’t really think there was an issue with that” — and said the time off was “good for recovery.” During his 10-day layoff, the Cubs experienced a five-game losing streak and flipped their run differential from positive to negative. The Cubs are now a .500 team through 56 games: 8-2 in games started by Imanaga, and 20-26 in the rest of their schedule.

“I guess the historic start is over,” Counsell said. “The great start is still here. Nothing changes from my perspective. He’s been a joy to watch. He’s been a huge part of us getting a bunch of wins. I look forward to him going out there again.”

(Photo: Stacy Revere / Getty Images)