Shota Imanaga crashes into MLB awards party.
The Cubs’ rookie starter hit the ground running shortly after arriving from Japan last offseason, and it looks like some hardware could be coming his way in year one.
Imanaga started his first six games and went 5-0 with a 0.78 ERA, becoming the first MLB player since at least 1901 to start his career with those numbers.
He leads all eligible pitchers in earned run average and ranks in the top 10 in WHIP (0.75), batting average (.172), and K/BB (8.75).
The southpaw’s strong start has propelled him to the top of the National League Rookie of the Year odds boards at most major sportsbooks.
National League Rookie of the Year odds
| player | odds |
|---|---|
| Shota Imanaga | +300 |
| Yoshinobu Yamamoto | +340 |
| Jared Jones | +550 |
| michael bush | +850 |
| jackson merrill | +1100 |
| Andy Pages | +1500 |
| Paul Skeens | 20/1 |
| jackson chorio | 20/1 |
| Lee Jeong Ho | 20/1 |
After opening the season at +1100 and winning the National League Rookie of the Year title, the fifth-best odds on FanDuel, Imanaga named Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has a 2.91 ERA in seven appearances, as his favorite.
Yamamoto, a fellow Japanese pitcher who also came overseas last offseason, has been the favorite to win the award since spring training.
Imanaga has had a great first month in the big leagues, earning him a spot in the National League Cy Young mix.
He crashed out of the top five of the race (+1500) at FanDuel, beating out established favorites like Zack Wheeler (+270), Tyler Glasnow (+550), Freddy Peralta (+1200), and Dylan Schiess (+1200). I followed one of the starters.
Just like in the Rookie of the Year race, Imanaga lightly pushed aside Yamamoto, who was +1600 points away from winning, in conversation.
Learn everything you need to know about MLB betting
Imanaga was of little note in the race for the Cy Young Award before the season started. Caesars Sportsbook had Imanaga win at 40/1 before the start.
If he can maintain this form and win both awards, Imanaga will become the second pitcher in MLB history to win the Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award in the same season, following Fernando Venezuela (1981).
