The Cubs’ slim playoff hopes may have received a late-season jolt on Wednesday with their first Wrigley Field no-hitter in 52 years.
Shota Imanaga started the combined no-no, pitching seven innings in a 12-0 rout against the Pirates.
Afterward, catcher Miguel Amaya praised Imanaga’s “consistency” and told Cubs reporter Taylor McGregor, “Everything was in its right spot.”
Relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge wrapped the no-hitter with six consecutive outs, pulling the Cubs within four games of the Braves for the NL’s final wild-card spot.
The no-hitter is the Cubs’ first since June 24, 2021 and 18th in franchise history.
Incredibly, it’s also the first by the Cubs at Wrigley Field since 1972.
Chicago (72-68) entered the day with long odds of reaching the playoffs, but an early September no-hitter could be what it needs to push its season into late October.
Per Baseball-Reference, the Cubs entered Wednesday with a 5.1 percent chance to make the playoffs. That might be generous. ESPN lists Chicago’s postseason odds at 1.7 percent.
Since July 31, Chicago has been among the hottest teams in baseball.
It began the day 20-10 over the span, the league’s fourth-best record, with the offense leading the charge, scoring 185 runs, which only trails the Diamondbacks.
The bats stayed hot against the Pirates, notching 17 hits in 39 at-bats.
Imanaga improved to 12-3 with a 2.99 earned run average this season with his no-hit performance.
If the Cubs’ pitching continues to match the success the team’s had at the plate, they might be able to do the unthinkable and reach the playoffs.
