Cubs didn't need Shota Imanaga to start Sunday — he already had proved his ability in standout rookie season

As left-hander Shota Imanaga crossed Waveland Avenue, from the Cubs players’ parking lot to the team offices, the dozen or so fans gathered in the Sunday morning drizzle cheered and called his name.

It was a departure from last offseason, when Imanaga wandered Chicago anonymously as he pondered his free-agency decision.

With his season over — the Cubs determined earlier this weekend that they had enough pitching to cover the final two games without Imanaga starting Sunday — all he...