Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga strikes out nine in 3-1 spring victory against A's

MESA, Ariz. — Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga continued his spring success with nine strikeouts in his third Cactus League start Thursday.

Imanaga allowed three hits in 4⅓ scoreless innings in the Cubs’ 3-1 spring victory against the Athletics.

More important, he kept the ball in the park. Imanaga said he thought he threw his fastball well but still wanted to work on his efficiency.

‘‘In my head, a pitcher should get strikeouts but also limit his pitch count,’’ Imanaga, who signed with the Cubs as a free agent from Japan, said through an interpreter. ‘‘Today, I got some strikeouts but threw a couple of pitches too much [70].’’

Imanaga said he wants to build on the performance. He will have to adjust to the shorter rest between starts in America and said he has been conversing with right-hander Kyle Hendricks and left-hander Justin Steele about their routines.

‘‘I talked to them about what they do after an outing the day after,’’ Imanaga said. ‘‘Usually focus in on the recovery aspect. When it is a day for recovery, 100% focus on that.’’

Bullpen options

Manager Craig Counsell knows how to work a bullpen and use pitchers at the opportune time. Right-hander Jameson Taillon going down with a back injury not only adds a question mark to the rotation but also has ramifications for the bullpen.

The Cubs have multiple guys who can swing between starting and relieving. Right-hander Hayden Wesneski has had some success in a relief role, and left-hander Jordan Wicks has had a stellar spring after getting a taste of the majors last season.

Wesneski pitched 40⅓ innings with a 3.57 ERA out of the bullpen last season. He had more success as a reliever than as a starter (49 innings with a 5.51 ERA) because he struggled against lefties. Left-handers slashed .298/.369/.617 against Wesneski in 2023.

In the Cubs’ 8-3 victory Wednesday against the Guardians, Wesneski faced several lefties and didn’t allow a run.

‘‘At the end of the game, they had, I think, seven left-handers in the lineup,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘It was a day where he got to really focus on pitching against left-handed hitters. He navigated that well.’’

Wicks and Wesneski have similar demeanors.

‘‘They have a real mature presence about themselves,’’ Steele told the Sun-Times of Wesneski and Wicks. ‘‘They did a pretty good job of shooting through the system, being as polished as they were coming out of the draft. To their credit, they’ve been sponges, absorbing everything.’’

Injury update

Counsell gave an update on left fielder Ian Happ, who has been dealing with a strained left hamstring.

‘‘We’re in good shape,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘There’s a schedule for him to certainly be in games next week.’’

Happ took part in some hitting drills before the game Thursday, and Counsell said he has been running, too.

Cubs 3, A’s 1

The Cubs (12-7) were largely in control against the Athletics, finishing with six hits, but they went just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. They ran into trouble in the top of the seventh inning when veteran pitcher Carl Edwards Jr. took the mound. He faced six batters, walked three and loaded the bases, allowing the A’s to score a run. Daniel Palencia came in and escaped the jam.

• Infielder David Bote connected on a solo home run off Sean Newcomb in the bottom of the eighth. He’s batting .273 in spring training.

• Outfielder Seiya Suzuki drove in a run in the bottom of the first with one of his two doubles.

• Palencia threw 1⅓ innings, striking out two and allowing one hit.

• On deck: Cubs at White Sox, 3:05 p.m. Friday, Glendale, Jordan Wicks vs. Chris Flexen. Spring Breakout game: White Sox prospects at Cubs prospects, 4:05 p.m. Friday, Mesa, Marquee.