Cubs' Shota Imanaga has brutal four-word message after NLDS loss to Brewers

Matt Sullivan

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Cubs' Shota Imanaga has brutal four-word message after NLDS loss to Brewers image

After their Game 1 loss, the Chicago Cubs sent out their ace, Shota Imanaga, to the mound to try and bounce back from Matthew Boyd's rough outing against the Brewers.

Through two batters, Imanaga was in control as he notched two strikeouts of Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang. However, things completely unraveled from there. He allowed two singles followed by a three-run home run to tie the game. He gave up four runs total, receiving the loss for the Cubs in Game 2.

After the game, Imanaga shared a very blunt and brutal four-word assessment of his performance against the Brewers through an interpreter on Marquee Sports Network.

Cubs' Shota Imanaga gives brutal assessment of Brewers' NLDS start

"I ruined the game," Imanaga said. "So there's a lot of frustration within myself."

While the three-run homer he allowed in the first inning tied the game, he came back out and got the next five Brewers out before, once again, allowing a home run. This time, it was a solo shot to William Contreras that wound up being the winning run.

After Christian Yelich singled off Imanaga in the third, he was pulled for Daniel Palencia, who then went on to give up a three-run homer of his own to make it 7-3, where the final score ended up.

Imanaga's second postseason start for the Cubs was a 2.2-inning outing where he allowed five hits, four earned runs, and was on the hook for the loss. Imanaga saying he ruined the game is a stretch, but it's undeniable that his performance was part of why the Cubs lost.

More: ‘He's a fierce competitor': Craig Counsel explains why Cubs' Shots Imanaga will start vs. Brewers in Game 2 of NLDS

Now, one loss away from elimination, the Cubs fortunately get to return home to try and capitalize on home-field advantage to begin making a comeback in the NLDS.

If the Cubs can force a Game 5, Chicago might wind up sending Imanaga back out there for the series finale in what could be a great way for the second-year lefty to make up for what he deemed a ruined game.

In the year, Imanaga had a 3.73 ERA and a 9-8 record with 117 strikeouts in 25 starts. While he didn't pitch as well as he did in 2024, when he had a 2.91 ERA in 29 starts in his first year in the Majors, Imanaga was still a solid starter for the Cubs.

But his rough outing against the Brewers has the Cubs on the verge of elimination. While Imanaga may have "ruined" Game 2 of the NLDS, the Cubs aren't eliminated just yet, as the series moves to Chicago for Game 3, and if necessary, Game 4.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.