The Chicago Cubs received positive news regarding Shota Imanaga, who made a successful return to game action after a hamstring injury. Imanaga struck out four batters in two innings during an Arizona Complex League game, demonstrating his readiness to rejoin the team.

Pitching coach Tommy Hottovy expressed satisfaction with Imanaga's performance, noting he maintained expected velocity and effectively applied techniques practiced prior to the outing. Imanaga is scheduled for another game where he aims to pitch three innings, which could lead to a third rehab start with Triple-A Iowa, crucial for his return to the Cubs' rotation.

Despite missing key players like Justin Steele for the season, the Cubs have excelled with a mix of young talents and veterans, maintaining a lead in the NL Central. Imanaga's comeback is anticipated to provide a significant boost to their pitching roster as they push for postseason contention.