The Cubs have weathered injuries before. However, this one arrived just as momentum was building. With Shota Imanaga sidelined, a steady rotation suddenly faced fresh uncertainty, and a stretch of tough roster choices loomed large.

Shota Imanaga’s unavailability hasn’t thrown the Cubs off course, but it’s definitely pushed the front office into some tough reflection. His absence has forced them to look beyond just filling innings—it is related to managing stars smartly and not burning them out. With his return getting closer, the decision is not just related to plugging him back in; it is related to balancing momentum with maintenance, and that matters more than ever, considering the star logged 44 2/3 pitched with a sharp 2.82 ERA before the hamstring strain knocked him out in May.

That broader outlook is exactly what Cubs manager Craig Counsell touched on in his current comments. “We have pitched well in his absence,” Counsell said in reaction to a reporter’s question related to finding a silver lining. “I would rather have Sho out there… but this is the result of other players stepping up… He’s gotten a break—it wasn’t an arm injury… but he’s going to have challenges coming back that maybe he wouldn’t have had if he was pitching on a regular basis.” The manager’s statement hints at the larger picture—an unplanned pause that could extend Imanaga’s long-period freshness just in time for a postseason push.

This is where that silver lining really shines: the rotation has not collapsed. Right-hander Jameson Taillon, with a 3.84 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, and southpaw Matthew Boyd, with a 2.79 ERA and 1.17 WHIP, have held firm, providing much-needed stability. Even with the struggles of 25-year-old Ben Brown with a 5.57 ERA and 1.48 WHIP, the Cubs have weathered the storm. Such a resilience has kept the team in control of the NL Central, enabling Imanaga’s return to be a bonus—not a necessity.

That said, the team still has work to do. Speaking to the media ahead of first pitch on Thursday, Manager Counsell also highlighted, “We just want to evaluate Friday’s start and go from there,” confirming that Imanaga will be reassessed after his Triple-A outing with the Iowa Cubs. It is a vital moment. Despite six scoreless innings during the period of the star’s Arizona Complex League rehab outings, the transition back to MLB speed is no cakewalk. The team knows the margin for error is slim, specifically, with postseason hopes heating up.

So now the Cubs stand at a fork. Stick with the current rotation and gamble on continuity? Or bring Imanaga back into the mix and shuffle roles yet again? The luxury is that the Cubs lead the NL Central by 5.5 games and carry a +106 run differential. However, with October dreams in sight, every roster call matters.

While Shota Imanaga’s path back to the field could reshape the team’s rotation, another vital star on the roster is attracting spotlight for a completely different reason.

Pete Crow-Armstrong shuns derby spotlight despite MVP-caliber surge

In a season where nearly everything has clicked for the Cubs, Pete Crow-Armstrong has been a bright revelation. The 22-year-old outfielder is not only guiding the team in home runs with 20 but is sitting seventh in all of MLB. This is a stat line that has propelled the star into midseason MVP contention. Crow-Armstrong’s hot bat, paired with elite defensive play, has turned heads across the league and helped fuel the team’s 5.5-game lead atop the NL Central. However, despite such a superstar arc, he is turned down on one major opportunity to shine.

Confirming the decision before he hit a huge 452-foot home run against the Brewers, the star told reporters that he would not participate in this year’s Home Run Derby, citing the distinctiveness in his batting approach. “That’s a different kind of power,” Crow-Armstrong admitted per Marquee Sports Network. “I don’t know if I can withstand however long the timer is there. That’d be a struggle.” The star has also poked fun at his limitations, saying, “(Batting practice) pop is a different kind of pop. I don’t got it like that.” For his fans eager to see their star mash bombs in the Derby, Crow-Armstrong’s humility could be disappointing—however, it also highlights a maturity in knowing his limits and safeguarding what matters most: team performance.

Still, this decision has not stopped the hype. The star currently leads all NL outfielders in fan voting, and while Crow-Armstrong is skipping the Derby, he is still on track to participate in the All-Star Game itself. His 2025 leap is more elite given the expectations: entering the season as more of a complementary star, Crow-Armstrong is now driving the offense alongside Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki, who have combined for over 50 homers as a trio. As the team continues the march toward the postseason, PCA’s bat could just be the secret sauce keeping everything on track.

With Imanaga on the brink of returning and PCA opting for rest over spectacle, the team is proving that smart decisions fuel long-period success. As the Cubs are targeting a deep playoff run, balancing health, depth, and momentum will be key. Stay tuned — this team’s story is only heating up.

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