3 Key Takeaways from the Cubs' Series Win Over Mariners

2.  Jed Hoyer’s Offseason Continues to Look Strong 

Michael Busch and Shota Imanaga showed out in this three-game series at T-Mobile Park. Busch has now homered in four consecutive games dating back to the finale in San Diego. 

The former Dodger is the only Cubs rookie to accomplish such a feat dating back to 1901. While he dropped a couple of throws over to first base in this series, his bat more than made up for those mistakes. It’s still early in the 2024 campaign, but Busch is doing his best to be the guy at first the Cubs have been searching for since trading away Anthony Rizzo at the deadline in 2021. 

Imanaga has yet to allow an earned run through his first three starts in the show. The 30-year-old rookie went 5.1 innings against Seattle in the second game of this set and continued to look extremely sharp. Imanaga allowed five hits and an unearned run while punching out four Mariners to improve to 2-0 in his first big league season. 

The absence of Justin Steele has hit this rotation hard in April, but Imanaga has more than answered the bell. Hoyer was able to ink the southpaw on a rather team-friendly deal back in January, so the Cubs are getting a solid bang for their buck early on. 

In terms of new additions to the organization, Busch and Imanaga were arguably the biggest moves the front office made this offseason. Both acquisitions look promising early on and could be a major part of this team’s success now and in the future.