Mark Grote

Listen, man.

The Cubs guys who were leading them last year and kicking and screaming when there was no Kyle Tucker, right?

Those guys have not gotten off to great starts, but it doesn't matter, right?

Because the pitching has been so good.

And everybody, one through nine, has gotten the job done offensively.

That's why the Cubs are a team that people are picking to, at the very least, be the biggest challenger to the Dodgers in the National League.

And still have a chance to maybe get to the World Series.

They just got to get the division title first.

Got to get favorable matchups in the playoffs, the postseason.

This is all building towards the postseason, and you hope that they'll add an ace or two.

But I want to point out, they do have an ace on the staff right now, as was confirmed even further last night to, I don't know, people who would try to tell you that Edward Cabrera was the best pitcher on the team.

Oh, okay.

Let me ease up off the gas and let you say what you want to say about Shota Imanaga after you've seen what you've seen.

So last night, that was the game where I officially said to myself, he's back.

Shota Imanaga.

This is what we're seeing is for real.

What we're seeing is 2024 Shota Imanaga.

This is fourth straight.

Really good performance.

And last night was not even nearly as good as the performance previous to this one where he had the 11 strikeouts and one walk.