Tatsuya Imai came into 2026 as one of the most hyped new pitchers in baseball, but had his fair share of struggles early in the season and had many wondering if he could handle the majors.
That being said, he appears to be turning a corner.
Two starts ago, he pitched six innings of a combined no-hitter, and Saturday he backed it up with another dominant performance, striking out eight against the Athletics. That makes two solid outings in a row since the historic no-hitter.
Imai came into Saturday's start with a 2-3 record and 5.52 ERA, per MLB. He had struggled with command, spent time on the IL with arm fatigue, and openly discussed adjusting to life in the US. Many questioned whether he could be a reliable rotation piece.
What Changed?
The no-hitter against the Rangers on May 25 was a turning point. He has found a comfortable position on the mound and had the kind of performance that showed why the Astros signed him in the first place. The growing pains were anticipated, but lasted longer than anyone thought. However, they seem to have passed, and he has a different presence on the mound. Two dominant starts in a row suggest this is real.
Those eight strikeouts against the Athletics in a 13-2 blowout win are huge for Imai. The offense gave him a huge cushion early, which helped him settle in. He looked confident and in command throughout.
The Astros needed Imai to figure it out, especially with Burrows still struggling and Brown not yet back. If Imai can be a reliable number two or three starter this rotation gets very dangerous. With Hader closing and the offense clicking this team is starting to look whole.
Two starts are not a large sample size, but the signs are encouraging. The Imai that everyone expected at the start of the season may finally be showing up, better late than never. The Astros need him to keep it going.
