Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga has been nearly untouchable whenever he takes the mound against the Pittsburgh Pirates. His latest performance added another chapter to what has become one of the most dominant individual pitching matchups in recent MLB history.
According to OptaSTATS, Imanaga has allowed just one total run across his six career starts against the Pirates, making him the first MLB pitcher in more than 60 years to accomplish a remarkable feat against one opponent.
Imanaga has dominated the Pirates
Imanaga’s numbers against Pittsburgh are almost difficult to believe.
The Cubs left-hander has now thrown 38 career innings against the Pirates while allowing just one run, giving him a microscopic 0.24 ERA in those appearances. He has also consistently kept Pittsburgh’s lineup from producing much hard contact or sustained offense.
The dominance has included multiple spectacular outings. Earlier this season, Imanaga threw six no-hit innings against Pittsburgh while striking out nine and walking just one batter. At that point, MLB noted that he had allowed only one run across his first five meetings with the Pirates.
That level of consistency is what makes the latest statistical accomplishment so remarkable.
Imanaga first to do it since Juan Marichal
OptaSTATS notes that Imanaga is the first MLB pitcher since Juan Marichal to allow no more than one run over a span of six starts against the same opponent.
Marichal accomplished the feat against the New York Mets during the 1965-66 season, more than six decades ago. The Hall of Fame right-hander was in the middle of one of the best stretches of his legendary career at the time, posting ERAs of 2.13 in 1965 and 2.23 in 1966 for the San Francisco Giants.
For Imanaga to join Marichal in a statistical category that has remained untouched for more than 60 years is a remarkable accomplishment.
And considering Pittsburgh is currently fighting to stay alive in the National League playoff race, Imanaga’s dominance could not come at a more important time for the Cubs. Whenever the Pirates see Shota Imanaga, scoring runs has essentially become an impossible task.
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