Imanaga to Start Friday as Cubs Lead Division

Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga is scheduled to make a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Iowa on Friday as he recovers from a left hamstring strain suffered on May 4. Imanaga holds a 3-2 record with a 2.82 ERA in eight starts this season and previously finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting after signing a $53 million, four-year contract. Cubs manager Craig Counsell indicated the team will re-evaluate Imanaga's status following his Friday outing, which comes after six scoreless rehab innings in the Arizona Complex League. The Cubs currently lead the NL Central by 6.5 games and have the league's best run differential, with a record just behind the Dodgers for the NL's best. Reliever Porter Hodge, recovering from an oblique strain, is expected to make at least one more rehab appearance in Iowa before returning. Imanaga and Hodge's returns are anticipated to further strengthen the Cubs' pitching staff.