In what promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented left-handed pitchers, the Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga is set to take the field for his 14th big league career appearance this afternoon. With an impressive 1.89 ERA, a 25.8% strikeout rate, and a 3.6% walk rate, Imanaga is making a strong case for being the NL starter for the upcoming All-Star game.

Imanaga's last start against the Cardinals showcased his exceptional skills, as he pitched 7 innings, allowing only 4 hits, 1 earned run, while striking out 6 batters and issuing no walks. However, the New York Mets, the Cubs' opponents today, have been performing exceptionally well against left-handed pitching this season, boasting an impressive 118 wRC+.

Meanwhile, the Mets will counter with Jose Quintana, a familiar face to Cubs fans as he played for the team before. Despite a challenging season overall, Quintana has managed to deliver three quality starts in his last five outings. However, his performances have been inconsistent, with two of those quality starts being just barely achieved, while two others were notably short and ineffective.

The Cubs lineup may have an advantage today, considering Quintana's history with the team and the presence of former Mets catcher Tomas Nido in the Cubs dugout. However, it remains to be seen if they can capitalize on these factors against a determined Mets team, who have won 8 of their last 10 games.

With his impressive performance so far this season, Shota Imanaga is proving to be a valuable asset for the Cubs. As he prepares for several more starts leading up to the All-Star break, all eyes will be on him to see if he can continue his dominant display on the mound.

As the Cubs and Mets clash in this exciting match, fans can anticipate a competitive showdown between two left-handed pitchers with contrasting recent performances. Will Imanaga and the Cubs' lineup overcome the Mets' proficiency against lefties, or will Quintana find his rhythm and lead his team to victory? Only time will tell as the game unfolds this afternoon.