Pitchers Boost Velocity in 2026, Raising Questions About Performance and Health The 2026 Major League Baseball season has seen a notable surge in fastball velocity, with the average four-seam fastball clocking in at 94.6 mph through early April. This marks a significant jump from the 91.9 mph average recorded in 2008, when pitch-tracking technology first became widely used. Similarly, sinkers have gained speed, averaging 93.9 mph this season compared to 90.7 mph in 2008. While velocity has long been a focal point for pitchers, the 2026 season highlights how improvements in speed are reshaping performance and health outcomes for several key players. Shota Imanaga, the Cubs’ left-handed starter, has emerged as a standout example of how velocity can rebound after injury setbacks. Imanaga missed nearly two months of the 2025 season with a left hamstring strain, which led to a drop in his fastball velocity. His four-seamer averaged 90.7 mph during his final 17 starts of the year, down from his rookie season average of 92.1 mph. This decline contributed to a down year, as his fastball became his least valuable pitch, with a run value of -10. However, Imanaga has since rebounded, carrying over his Spring Training velocity bump into the 2026 season. Through April 6, his four-seamer averaged 92.2 mph, a +1.4 mph increase from 2025. The improvement has translated to tangible results. Imanaga has thrown 12 pitches at least 93 mph this season, a stark contrast to just 13 such instances in 2025. In his April 3 start against the Guardians, his fastball sat at 92.6 mph in the fifth inning, matching his pre-injury velocity. Imanaga acknowledged the importance of velocity, stating, “For me, velo isn’t everything, but obviously, having velocity is an advantage.#major_league_baseball #cubs #marlins #shota_imanaga #janson_junk
Cubs vs. Pirates MLB Prediction and Betting Insights for April 10, 2026 The Chicago Cubs will host the Pittsburgh Pirates in a three-game series starting on Friday, April 10, 2026. The matchup, set for 2:20 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field, features two teams with contrasting records. The Pirates enter the series with a 7-5 overall record, having split their last four games and posting a 3-3 road record. The Cubs, meanwhile, sit at 6-6, with a 3-3 home record in 2026. The game will be highlighted by the starting pitching matchup, with Chicago’s Shota Imanaga (0-1, 4.50 ERA) facing Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski (0-0, 4.00 ERA). Imanaga has allowed just one earned run in 26 innings against the Pirates this season, while Mlodzinski has yet to record a win in 2026. The Cubs are favored on the money line at -143, meaning bettors would need to wager $143 to win $100, while the Pirates are listed at +120. The over/under total for the game is set at 6.5 runs. SportsLine’s Projection Model, which has historically performed well in MLB betting, simulated the game 10,000 times and concluded the total would likely exceed 6.5 runs. The model’s analysis suggests the Pirates have a strong chance to push the total over, as they’ve gone Over in four of their last five games. The Cubs, meanwhile, have also leaned toward the Over in five of their last six Friday games. The model’s projections for individual player performance add depth to the prediction. For the Pirates, Oneil Cruz, Bryan Reynolds, and Ryan O’Hearn are expected to collectively contribute over 1.8 total bases, while the Cubs’ Alex Bregman and Michael Busch are projected to exceed 1.7 total bases. The model’s simulation also indicated a high likelihood of the total runs surpassing 8.7, with the Over hitting 71% of the time.#wrigley_field #cubs #pirates #shota_imanaga #carmen_mlodzinski
