Imanaga starts Game 2 for Chicago in a must-win NLDS clash with Milwaukee. The 32-year-old lefty brings a methodical, competitive mindset and a joyful mound presence that Counsell praised as fierce in execution. Milwaukee jumped ahead in Game 1, so Chicago leans on a veteran-led clubhouse—Turner, Swanson, Santana, Pomeranz—to steady the ship as the series shifts to a pivotal night.

Milwaukee’s 9-3 Game 1 rout over Chicago sets a brutal tone for the NLDS, with Matt Boyd pulled after a disastrous six-run first that doomed the Cubs from the jump. Michael Busch staked the Brewers to the early lead with a leadoff homer as Brewers pitchers silenced the Cubs bats for most of the day. Chicago countered with sparse offense and a bullpen shuffle that’ll dictate Game 2, where Shota Imanaga’s rest could swing the series’ rotation and continue the ongoing post-season chess match over pitching depth.

Counterpunching and adaptation defined the day: Counsell’s crew poured it on, and the Cubs must reassemble quickly with questions about starting assignments, pitching rest, and bullpen leverage. The historic lens—older postseason decisions and coaching gambits—underscores why every mound move in October becomes scrutiny, shaping how fantasy managers value rotation slots and daily lineups as the series progresses.

In a game that spoiled the opener’s fun and raised the stakes, the focus shifts to who starts Game 2, how rest affects arms, and which bullpen profiles hold the most upside in a close-out-or-cover scenario. The Brewers’ confidence is buoyed by early momentum; the Cubs must adapt quickly to avoid a swift series-deflating 2-0 hole.

Cubs will open NLDS vs Milwaukee without Cade Horton, who is on the 15-day IL with a right rib fracture. Horton injured Sept. 23 and was placed on IL Sept. 27. He finished with a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 118 innings, and a sensational late-season run (1.03 ERA over his final 61.1 IP) that put him among the game's elite rookies. Chicago must lean on Matthew Boyd, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon and Collin Rea to bridge the gap in a high-stakes series.

The injury reshapes the Cubs’ playoff math, elevating the importance of veteran depth and bullpen execution. Horton’s absence magnifies the workload on the top four and raises questions about future playoff health. For fantasy managers, Horton’s absence could tweak rotation usage, win expectations, and bullpen split plans in a tightly contested NLDS.