Oakland Athletics vs Chicago Cubs Preview
Today's Starting Matchup
Today's starting pitching matchup features Oakland Athletics's J.T. Ginn (3-3, 2.87 ERA) against Chicago Cubs's Shota Imanaga (4-6, 4.37 ERA).
Oakland Athletics's J.T. Ginn posts an solid 2.87 ERA this season, while Shota Imanaga has been league-average at 4.37. There is a clear gap in starting pitching quality.
Advanced metrics: J.T. Ginn — FIP 4.12, K% 21.6%, 59.7 IP / Shota Imanaga — FIP 4.44, K% 24.3%, 70.0 IP
Team Season Comparison
2026 season record: Oakland Athletics 30-31 (.492), Chicago Cubs 32-30 (.516).
Recent form: Oakland Athletics on a 2-game win streak, Chicago Cubs on a 3-game losing streak.
Based on starting pitching, Oakland Athletics holds the edge.
Bullpen Analysis
Oakland Athletics bullpen: 13 relievers on the active roster. Key arms: Gage Jump 3.75 ERA, 10K in 12.0IP, Hogan Harris (Closer) 2.48 ERA, 33K in 29.0IP, J.T. Ginn 2.87 ERA, 52K in 59.2IP.
Chicago Cubs bullpen: 13 relievers on the active roster. Key arms: Ben Brown 1.92 ERA, 53K in 51.2IP, Caleb Thielbar 4.05 ERA, 15K in 13.1IP, Colin Rea 4.59 ERA, 52K in 64.2IP.
Win Probability
Projected win probability: Oakland Athletics 54% vs Chicago Cubs 46%
Factors: Oakland Athletics's starter owns the lower ERA, Chicago Cubs's home-field advantage. Of course, baseball's inherent randomness means actual results may differ.
Key Tactical Points
Workload comparison: J.T. Ginn averages 6.0 IP per start vs. Shota Imanaga at 5.8 IP. Getting six-plus innings from the starter significantly eases the bullpen burden.
Shota Imanaga has allowed 13 HR this season — a concern against a lineup with extra-base power.