Cubs Heroes and Goats: Shōta Imanaga is the Superhero vs. the Pirates

The “17-game stretch” narrative around the Chicago Cubs underscores how scheduling can shape a season once early-season balance is tested. The sequence reportedly expanded to 17 games after a Toronto game in Chicago in June was rained out and rescheduled, creating a defined chunk of the calendar. The Cubs’ specific context includes coming off a long break, then facing another off day just six games later, a rhythm the article describes as close to ideal for managing pitchers while roles and endurance are established. It also notes that if either Matthew Boyd on Friday or Shōta Imanaga on Saturday had been hit hard, the stretch could have unraveled. Instead, the two combined for 13 innings across 19 total innings, with three Cubs relievers working once. The piece frames the situation as a realistic shot for one playoff series win, while two would be uphill and three monumental.