Shota Imanaga joins Fergie Jenkins and Dennis Eckersley in exclusive Cubs club originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
Chicago puppies jug Shota Imanaga may have given up his first earned runs of the season in Saturday’s win over the Miami Marlins, but he was still able to continue his historic start to the 2024 campaign.
Imanaga is now 3-0 for the Cubs, posting a 0.84 ERA with 21 strikeouts and just two walks in 21.1 innings of work.
According to StatheadImanaga is just the fourth pitcher in Cubs history to start a season with those numbers through four starts, and he joins some incredible company.
Kyle Hendricks was the most recent pitcher to reach those benchmarks, doing so in 2020 with a 3-1 start in his first four starts, posting 20 strikeouts and two walks.
Dennis Eckersley began the 1985 season in equally dominant fashion, with two complete game shutouts and an excellent 1.85 ERA. He had just one unintentional walk in his first 34 innings pitched over his first four starts.
Finally, Fergie Jenkins began the 1968 season in dominant fashion, with 28 strikeouts and just one walk in her first four starts.
Imanaga’s remarkable start has him tied for second in the league with three wins, second in the league with a 0.84 ERA, and with the NL’s best WHIP of 0.75.
Imanaga’s next start has yet to be decided, with the Cubs facing the Houston Astros at home on Tuesday and the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Friday.
