Shota Imanaga is working on a strong finish to his impressive rookie season

Shota Imanaga is working on a strong finish to his impressive rookie season. Originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

The end of Shota Imanaga’s first year in the Major League is very similar to the beginning of the season for the Japanese left-hander.

This is a really positive sign for Imanaga and the Chicago Cubs.

Imanaga showed no signs of fatigue and threw seven scoreless innings against the Washington Nationals on Sunday, allowing six hits, striking out four players and not allowing a walk.

The Cubs are coming off a disappointing season after starting the year with playoff aspirations, but Imanaga, 31, has been a bright spot since arriving from Japan, signing a four-year, $53 million contract with Chicago in January.

Imanaga made a smooth transition to the major leagues, going 5-0 with a sparkling 0.84 ERA in his first nine starts. He doesn’t look like he’s slowing down at the end of the year; before facing the Nationals, he was 5-0 with a 2.73 ERA in his last five appearances.

Imanaga, who has a 2.91 ERA in 173 1/3 innings in 29 starts, made the NL All-Star team and will likely finish in the top five in voting for NL Rookie of the Year. He likely has one more start left this year, next weekend against Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.

“Shota has very good baseball instincts,” manager Craig Counsell said, “and he shows it. I mean, I think that’s absolutely true, and that’s a great part of watching him.”

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