The Mets decisively defeated Shota Imanaga, securing third place in the wildcard race. Imanaga gave up two home runs and eight runs in his final regular season start.

Trying to achieve double-digit wins for two straight seasons, Japanese pitcher Shota Imanaga faltered in his final regular season start, pitching just 5.2 innings and allowing two homers and a season-high eight earned runs. The Cubs fell 5-8 to the Mets, with Imanaga taking his eighth loss of the year and ending with a 9-8 record, missing out on double-digit wins in his first two MLB campaigns.

On the 26th, Shota Imanaga faced the Mets at home and ran into trouble in the first inning. With one out and runners on second and third, Mark Vientos hit a foul ball near third base. The Cubs’ third baseman and shortstop collided while trying to catch it, but shortstop Dansby Swanson eventually secured the ball despite falling into the stands. Although the ball was quickly returned to home plate to tag Francisco Lindor out, the runners advanced due to Swanson’s fall, allowing the Mets to score first. Imanaga then gave up another hit to Brandon Nimmo, bringing in another run for the Mets. Nimmo was later caught stealing, ending the inning’s third out.

In the second inning, Imanaga retired the side in order with three strikeouts, including two swinging. Including the first out in the third inning, he struck out three consecutive batters. With one out in the third, Lindor hit his 30th home run of the season, extending the Mets’ lead to 3-0. The homer cleared the Cubs’ home left field fence. Lindor became the fifth player this season to reach the 30 home run and 30 stolen base milestone. After the homer, Imanaga retired the next two batters to end the inning.

In the fourth inning, after one out, Imanaga allowed three consecutive hits. The most damaging was Brett Baty’s three-run homer, pushing the score to 6-0. After the home run, Imanaga retired six straight Mets hitters. In the sixth, the Mets added three more hits in the inning, including a double, increasing the lead to 8-2 and prompting Imanaga’s exit. He nearly completed six full innings, throwing 91 pitches with 58 strikes, recording three strikeouts and one walk, allowing nine hits including two home runs, and conceding a season-high eight earned runs.

Imanaga struggled with injuries this season, appearing in only two games during May and June. He started 24 games, five fewer than last year, finishing with a 9-8 record and a 3.73 ERA, both worse than his rookie MLB season when he posted 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA.

The Mets claimed this victory to improve their record to 82-77, temporarily holding third place in the National League wildcard race. However, they cannot relax yet, as the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks trail by only one and two games respectively.