SP - Chicago Cubs
- Age 32
- Bats: L
- Throws: L
2026 Outlook
- Draft Rank (ECR)
- P #62
- Best / Worst
- #37 / #87
- ADP
- #175
Eligibility
- Yahoo
- SP
- ESPN
- SP
- CBS
- SP
Availability
Shota Imanaga followed up a brilliant 2024 debut (2.91 ERA, 25.1% K rate, 4.0% BB rate) with a more volatile 2025 campaign, as his ERA climbed to 3.73 and his strikeout rate dipped to 20.6%. While he continued to limit walks at an elite clip (4.6% BB%) and suppress batting average (.218 BAA), a spike in home run rate (5.5% HR%) and hard-hit contact (43.9%) led to a sharp jump in FIP (4.86). The batted-ball profile shift — fewer ground balls (29.1%) and more fly balls (39.7%) — suggests his margin for error narrowed considerably compared to 2024. Fantasy managers should view Imanaga as a mild faller entering 2026 drafts, though his strong command and projected workload stability keep him firmly in SP2 territory if the homer regression stabilizes.
