Imanaga won't start as scheduled Saturday against the Guardians, as the game was postponed due to rain, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
The two teams will play a doubleheader Sunday to make up Saturday's game, and Imanaga will take the mound during the nightcap, per Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network. The 32-year-old southpaw will be looking to bounce back from a poor showing in his season debut, during which he allowed four earned runs on six hits and two walks over five innings.
Harvey (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while retiring just two batters in relief to take the loss Friday against the Guardians.
Both of the hits Harvey allowed left the yard, as he served up a solo home run to Gabriel Arias and a two-run shot to Chase DeLauter in the seventh inning in an eventual 4-1 defeat for the Cubs. The righty reliever had tossed 2.1 scoreless frames across his first two appearances with his new team, but Friday was a step backward. Harvey should be able to rebound, and he's still positioned as a key setup arm in Chicago ahead of closer Daniel Palencia.
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Cubs' Colin Rea: Works in relief of injured starter
Rotowire
Rea allowed one run on four hits across 3.1 innings of relief in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Guardians. He walked one and struck out four.
Rea entered in the second inning after starter Cade Horton (forearm) departed early. After the game, the Cubs announced that Horton will be headed to the injured list, which will open up a rotation spot at least temporarily. Rea made 27 regular-season starts for Chicago last year and has 103 career starts at the MLB level, so he certainly has the experience to slide in if needed. Ben Brown is also an option to make starts, though the Cubs have not announced their plans for Horton's spot yet.
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Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong: Steals base in loss
Rotowire
Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 4-1 loss to the Guardians.
With Cleveland starting lefty Joey Cantillo, Crow-Armstrong slid down to eighth in the order, but he still managed to make an impact. The speedy outfielder has stolen three bases through seven games and is batting a respectable .269, but his .629 OPS reflects a lack of power so far. Friday's double was the first extra-base hit of the season for Crow-Armstrong, who is still in search of his first 2026 home run after going deep 31 times during the regular season last year.
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Cubs' Cade Horton: Headed to injured list
Rotowire
Manager Craig Counsell confirmed after Friday's loss to the Guardians that Horton (forearm) will need to spend time on the injured list, Kyle Williams of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
Horton was pulled from his start Friday after tweaking his forearm in the second inning. He's set to travel back to Chicago and undergo imaging in the next few days, at which point the details of his injury will be revealed, but the Cubs have already decided to hold him out for at least a couple of weeks. Ben Brown and Colin Rea are candidates to move from the bullpen and take Horton's place in the rotation, though no replacement has been named yet.
Cubs' Cade Horton: Leaves start with forearm injury
Rotowire
Horton was removed from Friday's start against the Guardians in the second inning due to right forearm discomfort.
Horton's last pitch was clocked at 93.8 mph, which is about a two-mph dip from where he usually sits. The righty immediately called for the trainer after that offering before walking off the field and into the clubhouse. Horton yielded one walk over one-plus scoreless inning before being pulled. A stint on the injured list is a very real possibility, but the Cubs will send Horton for an MRI to determine the severity.
Cubs' Daniel Palencia: Closes door in non-save situation
Rotowire
Palencia worked around a hit in a scoreless frame in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Angels. He struck out one and walked none.
Palencia has now made two scoreless appearances so far this season but has yet to see any save opportunities. Those should come for the flamethrowing righty, who looked good as Chicago's closer last year and then continued to impress for Team Venezuela during its championship run through the World Baseball Classic last month. Palencia is the Cubs' unquestioned end-game option, with offseason additions Hunter Harvey and Phil Maton working ahead of him in setup roles.
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Cubs' Matt Shaw: Tallies two hits, two RBI in win
Rotowire
Shaw went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Angels.
Shaw has started four of Chicago's first six games of the season in right field, with Michael Conforto also working into the mix. The former delivered his first multi-hit effort of the year Wednesday, and he should continue to see regular time in right until Seiya Suzuki (knee) is able to return. When Suzuki does come back, Shaw may shift into more of a super-utility role for the Cubs due to his ability to play the infield.
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Cubs' Michael Busch: Records two hits in win
Rotowire
Busch went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Angels.
Busch ceded leadoff duties to Nico Hoerner with the Cubs facing lefty starter Yusei Kikuchi, but the former only slid down to fifth in the order and still turned in a strong effort. The Chicago first baseman is reportedly going to face southpaws more often this season, and Wednesday was a quality showing in that regard. While Busch will likely still perform better against righties overall, his ability to stay in the lineup most days should boost his fantasy stock.
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Cubs' Nico Hoerner: Paces offense from leadoff spot
Rotowire
Hoerner went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-2 win over the Angels.
With Chicago facing lefty starter Yusei Kikuchi, Michael Busch slid down to fifth in the order, with Hoerner grabbing the leadoff spot. He responded with his first three-hit effort of the season and also added his fourth stolen base of the year. Hoerner is now riding a five-game hitting streak, and his ability to consistently get on base and run frequently when he does makes him a solid fantasy contributor.
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Cubs' Matthew Boyd: Bounces back in first win
Rotowire
Boyd (1-1) earned the win Wednesday against the Angels, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out 10.
Boyd was dialed in for his second start after coughing up six runs in a rough season debut, turning in his ninth career game with at least 10 strikeouts. The left-hander threw 64 of his 98 pitches for strikes Wednesday, and he also registered a staggering 20 whiffs on the afternoon. Boyd will be looking to carry this momentum into his next start, which is slated for next week at pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field versus the Rays.
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Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: Sitting versus southpaw
Rotowire
Ballesteros is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Angels.
The Cubs are facing a lefty in Yusei Kikuchi for the first time this season, so the left-handed-hitting Ballesteros will receive his first day off. Miguel Amaya will occupy the designated-hitter spot in Wednesday's rubber match.
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Cubs' Seiya Suzuki: Set to begin rehab assignment
Rotowire
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Wednesday that Suzuki (knee) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Knoxville on Friday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.
Counsell expects the rehab assignment to last 3-to-7 days, setting Suzuki up to make his season debut next week, either on the road against the Rays or at home versus the Pirates. Suzuki is working his way back from a strained PCL in his right knee, an injury he suffered in mid-March while playing for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.
Cubs' Jameson Taillon: Struggles with walks in first start
Rotowire
Taillon did not factor into the decision Tuesday against the Angels. He pitched 4.2 shutout innings, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out three.
Making his first start of the season, Taillon threw 85 pitches and uncharacteristically struggled with walks after walking just 1.9 batters per nine innings during the 2025 campaign. Taillon's fastball velocity was also down at 90.8 mph after he averaged 92.3 mph last season. Taillon's next start is lined up for Monday in Tampa Bay.
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