The Cubs wrap up their San Francisco series Thursday afternoon, and we’re getting exactly who we want on the mound – Shota Imanaga. With our playoff hopes still very much alive, getting our ace for the series finale at Oracle Park feels like the baseball gods are smiling on us. Logan Webb goes for the Giants, so this should be a good old-fashioned pitcher’s duel.
Game Info
- When: Thursday, August 28, 2025 at 3:45 p.m. EDT
- Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco
- TV: Marquee Sports Network
- Pitchers: Shota Imanaga vs Logan Webb
Why Cubs Fans Should Feel Good
Shota Imanaga has been everything we hoped for and more when we signed him. He’s 8-6 with a 3.03 ERA, but he’s been even better lately – just a 2.33 ERA in August and hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any start this month. When Shota’s on the mound, we always have a chance.
The Giants counter with Logan Webb, who’s having a solid year at 12-9 with a 3.16 ERA. He’s been tough at home (2.77 ERA at Oracle), but our hitters have seen enough good pitching this year to be ready for the challenge.
The Numbers Look Decent
Vegas has this as basically a pick ’em game – both teams at -110, which shows how evenly matched this is. The total is just 7 runs, which makes sense with these two pitchers going.
One model gives the Giants a slight edge at 53.3%, but honestly, that’s close enough that it could go either way. We’ve got a solid road record (35-32) and we’re great at bouncing back after losses (39-17).
What We Need to Do
Our offense has been clicking when we get 10+ hits (37-5 record), so we need to work Webb’s pitch count and get into their bullpen. Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong have been key contributors, and Matt Shaw has been showing some pop lately.
The Giants are good at fighting back when they’re trailing late, so we can’t let up if we get ahead. But with Imanaga dealing the way he has been, we should be able to keep their offense in check.
Cubs Fan Reality Check
Look, we’ve been in tougher spots than this. We’re still in the playoff hunt, Imanaga gives us a great chance every fifth day, and we’ve been playing solid baseball on the road.
Oracle Park can be tricky, but we’ve got our best pitcher going in a crucial game. That’s all you can ask for. If Shota brings his A-game like he has all month, we should be flying home with a series win.
The Bottom Line
This is the kind of game that could define our season. Win, and we keep rolling toward October. Lose, and we’re looking over our shoulder at teams trying to catch us.
With Imanaga on the mound, I like our chances. Let’s finish this road trip strong and head home feeling good about where we stand.
Let´s go Cubs!