Fewest At-Bats Per Home Run
MLB Players vs Reds since 1906 - Minimum: 300 At-Bats
Barry Bonds 9.85
Andruw Jones 10.71
Ian Happ 11.24
#Cubs

Opponents with 2 outs and runners in scoring position against Javier Assad this season: 0-for-20 with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. #Cubs

Shota Imanaga is having a historic start to his career 😳

Shota Imanaga's 22 whiffs were the most induced by a #Cubs pitcher in a single game since Drew Smyly had 23 against the Giants on Sept. 9, 2022.

Most whiffs induced by a #Cubs pitcher in a single game this season
Today Shota Imanaga 22
May 7 Shota Imanaga 20
April 1 Shota Imanaga 20
March 31 Jordan Wicks 19

The #Cubs are 8-1 in Shota Imanaga's 9 starts. That includes a pair of 1-0 wins.

Shota Imanaga in 4 May starts: 0.69 ERA, 1.04 WHIP. Only 2 runs allowed on that 8th inning HR by Jurickson Profar on May 7. He has 30 K, 6 BB, 26.0 IP in these 4 starts. #Cubs

#Cubs : 5-0 in Shota Imanaga's home starts. His line in those home starts: 1.20 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 32 K, 2 BB, 2 HR allowed, 30.0 IP. 0 Runs allowed in 3 of 5 starts.

If Shota Imanaga would have exited after 7 innings on May 7 vs the Padres - and not allowed the 2-run HR to Jurickson Profar - his ERA would be 0.50. #Cubs

Shota Imanaga has 9 starts in his MLB career. Six of those starts were with 0 ER and at least 4 IP. That's the most by any MLB pitcher to begin a career since 1913. #Cubs
h/t Sportradar

Most Consecutive Starts to Begin MLB Career
At Least 4 IP and No More than 2 ER - Since 1913
2024 Shota Imanaga 9
2019 Aaron Civale 9
1994 Bobby Muñoz 9
#Cubs
h/t Sportradar

Most Walk-Off RBI Before Turning 25
#Cubs Since 1974
Christopher Morel 3
Ryne Sandberg 3
Starlin Castro 3
h/t Sportradar

Lowest ERA in first 9 MLB starts
MLB Pitchers Since 1913 - Minimum: 45 IP
2024 Shota Imanaga 0.84
1981 Fernando Valenzuela 0.91
#Cubs

#Cubs rookies with 2+ HR in team's first 12 games of a season since 2002: 2024 Michael Busch, 2022 Seiya Suzuki, 2015 Jorge Soler, 2014 Mike Olt, 2008 Geovany Soto.

Christopher Morel with the #Cubs first grand slam at Petco Park.

Last 3 #Cubs with a grand slam in a road game against the #Padres : 1991 Ryne Sandberg, 1998 Sammy Sosa, 2024 Christopher Morel.

Shota Imanaga: 25 strikeouts out of 60 batters face. 41.7 percent strikeout rate. 2023 MLB average: 22.7% (Imanaga nearly doubled that average this spring.)

Shota Imanaga had 25 strikeouts and 3 walks in 12.2 innings this Spring Training. That's a K-to-BB ratio of 8.33. The 2023 MLB average: 2.65. #Cubs

Shota Imanaga finished Spring Training with 25 strikeouts in 12.2 innings. That set a pace of 17.76 K/9 IP. 60 batters faced - 41.7 percent strikeout rate. #Cubs

An event 64 years in the making... #Cubs and #Cardinals complete first Spring Training showdown since 1960.