Cubs defend decision to pitch Imanaga to Machado in Game 2
CHICAGO — The Cubs faced a charged moment late in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series as manager Craig Counsell stood by a decision that drew mixed reactions from observers: leaving left-hander Shota Imanaga to pitch to Manny Machado in the fifth inning. The Padres knocked in two runs on Machado’s first-pitch splitter, sparking a 3-0 lead that ultimately held when San Diego sealed the win and forced a decisive Game 3 back at Wrigley Field.
“The results suggest that we should have done something different,” Counsell said after the loss. “Really just confidence in Shota, plain and simple there. I thought he was pitching well. I thought he was throwing the ball really well, and, unfortunately, he made a mistake.” The decision, already nuanced by the Cubs’ opener strategy in the game, prompted further questions about in-game risk versus matchup convenience in a win-or-go-home setting.
The game situation that shaped the call
The fifth inning arrived with Fernando Tatis Jr. drawing a walk and then taking second on Luis Arraez’s sacrifice bunt. That sequence created an open base and a tempting moment to consider walking Machado. Counsell said he weighed the options but ultimately decided to challenge Machado with Imanaga rather than issue the free pass. “Walking him wasn’t in my head,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “That splitter was meant for down in the zone.”
Yet the pitch did not end up in the Cubs’ favor. Machado delivered the decisive blow, and the Padres stretched their lead. The Cubs had started Game 2 with an opener strategy designed, on the surface, to limit early exposure to the heart of San Diego’s lineup. In the fifth, however, that plan collided with the immediate pressure of a one-run ballclub facing a power hitter in a pivotal moment of the series.
Machado’s perspective and the Padres’ stance
Machado, who has faced Imanaga earlier in the season, faced questions about the decision after the game. “I’m 0-for-6 at that point. So yeah, I’m not thinking about that. For myself, I was just thinking about trying to get to Imanaga,” Machado said. Padres manager Mike Shildt offered a pragmatic perspective, noting that his focus is on his own club’s execution. “I’ve got my hands full with my own club. I can’t be thinking about anybody else’s strategy,” Shildt said, underscoring the professional realities of a high-stakes postseason series.
What it means for Game 3
The series now swings to a winner-take-all Game 3 at Wrigley Field on Thursday. Chicago will start right-hander Jameson Taillon, aiming to stabilize the rotation after the Game 2 setback. The Padres will counter with Yu Darvish, a known postseason competitor, hoping to carry momentum through a national television crowd and a charged Chicago atmosphere.
Taillon spoke about embracing the moment. “I’m excited. As [Game 2] got going there, I started to get excited for tomorrow. You do a lot of work throughout the season for big moments. I’m looking forward to it,” he said, capturing the investor’s mindset that defines postseason appearances. For Darvish, the key will be maintaining the mix that has made him a reliable playoff presence while assessing how the Cubs defended their pitcher-selection approach in the earlier game.
Why the decision matters for the Cubs
Baseball strategists will parse the Game 2 decision for days, but the fundamental question remains: was the risk worth the potential reward? Counsell’s faith in Imanaga reflected confidence in his left-handed starter’s ability to navigate tough moments. The counterpoint is simple: a single miscue can tilt a high-leverage inning, and a 3-0 lead can be squandered quickly in the postseason. As the teams head to a decisive game, managers, players, and fans will be scrutinizing every matchup, every pitch, and every decision that could define a season’s arc.
With the stakes high and a national audience watching, the Cubs and Padres will attempt to translate strategy into a victory that would end the series or extend it. Game 3 promises to be a tense, finely balanced contest, with a stadium loud enough to feel like a pivotal moment in a longer rivalry between two ambitious franchises.
