Left-hander Shota Imanaga had a challenging outing against the Texas Rangers, giving up five runs and striking out only two before being pulled after five innings. Despite his tendency to allow homers, Imanaga has been effective with runners not in scoring position. The Chicago Cubs struggled offensively, tallying just four hits, but managed to tie the game briefly with a two-out RBI single from Michael Busch. Manager Craig Counsell emphasized the importance of timely hitting, as the Cubs lead MLB in two-out RBIs. Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Kyle Tucker have been instrumental in their success this season, while Jon Berti has shown his value even with limited playing time by contributing crucial runs.

The Cubs’ pitching coach, Tommy Hottovy, highlighted the necessity of minimizing walks for bullpen success, a strategy that paid off as the bullpen issued no walks during the series against the Rangers. This performance signals positive momentum as the Cubs prepare for their upcoming West Coast road trip.