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MILWAUKEE \u2014 As Cubs<\/a> left-hander Shota Imanaga<\/b> evaluated his first MLB postseason appearance last week, in preparation for his start Monday against the Brewers, his hung splitter to Padres slugger Manny Machado<\/b><\/a> stood out. But he also honed in on other misses that didn\u2019t lead to a two-run home run.<\/p>\n \u201cAs a pitcher, if you\u2019re scared of missing like that, that\u2019s just going to help the hitter,\u201d Imanaga said through Japanese interpreter Edwin Stanberry after the Cubs\u2019 workout Sunday. \u201cAs a pitcher, yes, that\u2019s going to happen throughout a game. But just making sure I\u2019m keeping on my mind that I\u2019ve got to stay calm at all times.\u201d<\/p>\n Cubs manager Craig Counsell<\/b> announced Sunday that Imanga would take the ball in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. It\u2019s a high-stakes contest, with the Cubs trailing the Brewers 1-0 after dropping the series opener 9-3 on Saturday.<\/p>\n A win Monday would even the series. A loss would leave the Cubs no room for error in the best-of-five clash.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything that I\u2019ve done up to that point, that\u2019s all I can do,\u201d Imanaga said of what he learned from his first taste of the MLB playoffs. \u201cYou can\u2019t all of a sudden do something that you\u2019ve never done before. So just understanding that, all that preparation and hard work that came up to that point, and do my best.\u201d<\/p>\n Monday will, however, be a new experience. Imanaga has pitched in big games before, from his time in Japan\u2019s Nippon Professional Baseball, to starting the 2023 World Baseball Classic championship game for Team Japan, to following right-handed opener Andrew Kittredge Wednesday against the Padres in Game 2 of the wild-card series. But Monday will be his first MLB postseason start.<\/p>\n \u201cHe doesn\u2019t sometimes come across as this fierce competitor because he\u2019s really joyful on the mound,\u201d Counsell said. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t come across as fierce, necessarily, but I think he\u2019s a fierce competitor.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s trying to figure out a way to get you out, and he\u2019s trying to figure out a way to be better. And that\u2019s going on pitch to pitch; that\u2019s going on in between starts. He\u2019s really good at that part of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Cubs could use a sharper performance from Imanaga on Monday, even though Machado\u2019s two-run blast accounted for the only runs he allowed in four innings last week.<\/p>\n The Brewers have traditionally been a tough matchup for Imanaga. He\u2019s recorded a 5.73 ERA against them in four regular-season starts.<\/p>\n Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio<\/b>\u2019s status for the rest of the series remains in flux, after he exited Game 1 with an injury to his right hamstring \u2014 the same one he pulled legging out a triple against the Cubs in late July.<\/p>\n Brewers manager Pat Murphy<\/b> characterized Chourio\u2019s MRI as \u201cinconclusive\u201d and said he would further test his hamstring during the Brewers\u2019 workout Sunday.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a serious hamstring strain, but it\u2019s not necessarily something that won\u2019t limit him,\u201d Murphy said.<\/p>\n Murphy announced Sunday that left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby<\/b> will serve as the Brewers\u2019 opener Monday.<\/p>\n Though Murphy insisted he didn\u2019t know if right-handed starter Quinn Priester<\/b> would follow, that appeared to be the most likely scenario. The Brewers have used an opener before Priester against the Cubs before.<\/p>\n The Cubs use slightly different lineup construction depending on the handedness of the opposing pitcher. It\u2019s unclear whether manager Criag Counsell will cater his lineup to the opener or likely bulk pitcher.<\/p>\nChourio status in flux<\/h3>\n
Facing an opener<\/h3>\n