34 Zach Plesac SP

Plesac was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Plesac had a strong performance in the Cactus League, posting a 3.24 ERA with a 9:2 K:BB ration across 8.1 innings. However, with a delayed start to the season, both Mike Clevinger (knee) and Carlos Carrasco (elbow) will have the chance to get healthy and re-claim rotation spots. Meanwhile, Adam Plutko is out of minor-league options, meaning Plesac is now likely to begin the season in Triple-A Columbus' rotation. Still, he should be one of the first names called upon should injuries impact Cleveland's big-league pitching depth.

Plesac will likely either open in the big-league rotation or in the rotation at Triple-A, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Assuming Mike Clevinger (knee) and Carlos Carrasco (elbow) are fully recovered when play resumes, the Indians will either open the year with Adam Plutko in the rotation or in the bullpen, as he is out of options. If Plesac makes the rotation, that would mean Plutko opens the year as a long reliever. Bell notes that Plesac looked "extremely sharp" in his final Cactus League outing against the Giants. He finished spring training with a 3.24 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 9:2 K:BB in 8.1 innings (three starts).

Plesac spent time this offseason learning a new grip for his curveball in an effort to improve pitch accuracy and usage, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Plesac struggled to locate his curveball in 2019 and only threw it 10 percent of the time. His goal this offseason has been to make the pitch a more consistent weapon to complement his fastball, changeup and slider. The 25-year-old held opposing hitters last season to a .220 batting average against his curveball, while only his changeup was more effective, resulting in a .208 batting average against. Plesac allowed one run on two hits and recorded two strikeouts across two innings in Monday's 12-8 Cactus League loss to the Rockies.

Plesac allowed two runs on six hits with one walk and six strikeouts across five innings in a no-decision against the Nationals on Friday.

If it weren't essentially an elimination game for the Indians, manager Terry Francona might have gone with him a little bit longer because Plesac only threw 74 pitches in five frames. Plesac will end the season with two straight no-decisions after posting a complete-game shutout on Sept. 10. He finishes the year with an 8-6 record, 3.81 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 88 strikeouts in 115.2 innings.

Plesac allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three against the Phillies on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision.

Plesac's outing went fairly well until the fifth inning, when he allowed two of the first three batters he faced to reach base and was pulled. However, Oliver Perez proceeded to allow a three-run homer, with two of those runs charged to Plesac. While his ERA on the season still checks in at a respectable 3.82, Plesac has now surrendered four or more earned runs in four of his last six starts. He'll look to get things back on track in his final regular-season appearance, currently projected to come Friday at Washington.

Plesac isn't listed among the Indians' probable starters for the club's three-game series versus Detroit that begins Tuesday.

Plesac's turn was initially scheduled to come up Tuesday, but the Tribe will grant him some additional rest after he fired 114 pitches in a complete-game shutout of the Angels on Sept. 10. The change should prove beneficial for the rookie from a workload-management standpoint, but it comes as a disappointment for fantasy managers, who may have been counting on Plesac receiving a two-start week. Instead, Plesac will miss out entirely on a favorable matchup versus Detroit -- Aaron Civale and Mike Clevinger are scheduled to pitch in the final two games of the series Wednesday and Thursday, respectively -- and likely slot back into the rotation Friday or Saturday at home versus the playoff-contending Phillies.

Plesac (8-6) got the win against the Angels on Tuesday, throwing a complete-game shutout while giving up just four hits, striking out five and walking two as the Indians bagged an 8-0 victory.

Plesac got roughed up for six earned by the White Sox in his last start, but he bounced back by spinning a gem against the Angels, going the distance and cruising to his eighth win of the season. The 24-year-old right-hander has shown well in his 19 starts this season, posting a 3.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 79:37 K:BB across 106.1 innings. He'll look to build on this spectacular effort in his next start, which will see him take on the Tigers in a home matchup Tuesday.

Plesac (7-6) allowed six runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts across five innings while taking a loss against the White Sox on Thursday.

With this defeat, Plesac suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time this season, and quite frankly, this may be his worst two-game stretch of the season. Plesac has allowed 10 runs in his last 10 innings mostly because of three homers he yielded. Plesac owns a 3.98 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 74 strikeouts across 97.1 innings this season. He will look to rebound at the Angels on Tuesday.

Plesac (7-5) was handed the loss Tuesday in Tampa Bay after giving up four runs on six hits across five innings. He struck out four and walked one.

Plesac came out for the sixth inning trailing 3-2 but was removed after walking the leadoff hitter, only to see reliever Tyler Clippard serve up a two-run homer. The 24-year-old has a 3.61 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 70:33 K:BB over 92.1 innings and lines up to face the White Sox on Thursday.

Plesac (7-4) picked up the win after allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out five over 5.2 innings Friday against the Royals.

Plesac threw the ball well in this one, surrendering his lone run in the sixth inning on an RBI triple. Unfortunately, he missed a quality start by one out. The 24-year-old right-hander owns a 3.40 ERA and 1.20 WHIP with 66 punchouts over 87.1 innings this year.

Plesac (6-4) struck out five and allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and one walk over 4.2 innings to take the loss against the Yankees on Saturday.

Plesac has given up 11 earned runs in 20.2 innings over his last four starts, but that was against the Astros, Rangers, Red Sox and Yankees. Saturday the right-hander allowed three solo homers, including back-to-back shots from Didi Gregorius and Gleyber Torres in the fourth inning. He came out for the fifth but permitted one more solo blast to D.J. LeMahieu before departing after 96 pitches. Plesac has allowed 15 homers in 81.2 innings but still holds a 3.53 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He's scheduled to pitch next Thursday against the Mets at Citi Field.

Plesac allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks over five innings Monday, striking out two during the win over Boston. He did not factor in the decision.

It was just the second time in his last seven outings that Plesac allowed more than two runs. He had a fine outing overall except for an ugly fourth inning where he coughed up two runs on a walk and three hits, including a J.D. Martinez homer. The rookie righty is still a perfect 3-0 since the start of July. Plesac will get another tough matchup in New York against the Yankees on Saturday.

Plesac allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven across six scoreless innings in the first game of the Indians' doubleheader against the Rangers on Wednesday. He did not factor into the decision.

Plesac held the Rangers scoreless through six innings, but he was given no run support and was thus denied a win despite the strong effort. After racking up 60 pitches through three innings, Plesac worked more efficiently through the final three frames and retired nine of the last 11 batters he faced. Though he has only a 54:27 K:BB across 72 innings this season, Plesac has worked six or more innings in three of his last four starts and has a strong 3.13 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. He'll draw his next start Monday against Boston.

Plesac won't make his scheduled start Tuesday against the Rangers since the game was postponed due to rain, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

The game will be made up via a traditional doubleheader Wednesday, with Plesac starting Game 1, per Meisel. The Indians will employ a bullpen game for the nightcap, pushing Mike Clevinger's start to Thursday.

Plesac (5-3) picked up the win in Friday's 8-3 victory over the Royals, giving up one unearned run on six hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out four.

The rookie attacked the zone all night, throwing 72 of 104 pitches for strikes, and only a fifth-inning error by Mike Freeman allowed Kansas City to get on the board at all against Plesac. He'll take a 3.10 ERA and 44:22 K:BB through 61 innings into his next start Thursday, at home against the Astros.

Plesac (4-3) picked up the win after allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out six over six innings Sunday against Kansas City.

Plesac gave up a run in the first inning, followed by another in the third, but he'd leave the contest with a three-run lead. He fired 67 of 106 pitches for strikes and threw a first-pitch strike to 13 of the 24 batters he faced. The 24-year-old right-hander owns a 3.50 ERA and 1.09 WHIP with a 40:20 K:BB across 54 innings this season.

Plesac allowed no hits and one walk while striking out one across three scoreless innings Tuesday against the Tigers. He did not factor into the decision.

Plesac had little trouble working through the Tigers' lineup, needing only 39 pitchers to complete three innings. However, the game went into a lengthy rain delay, costing him the chance to work deeper into the contest. He now owns a 3.56 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 34 strikeouts and 18 walks across 48 innings for the season. With the Indians playing seven games this week, Plesac is very likely to stick with the big-league club and make his next start Sunday against Kansas City.

Plesac was recalled from Triple-A Columbus and will start Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

Plesac will return to the big leagues Tuesday and figures to slot in as the Indians' fifth starter moving forward. He made eight starts with Cleveland prior to his demotion July 6, posting a 4.00 ERA over 45 innings, though he did get roughed up in his last major-league outing against the Royals, giving up three runs over just 2.2 innings of work.

The Indians will recall Plesac from Triple-A Columbus to start Tuesday's game against the Tigers.

Cleveland sent Plesac to the minors July 6 following his eighth big-league start, which provided the team with some extra roster flexibility since its schedule allowed for a shortened rotation. The rookie will now move back up to the majors with the Indians requiring a fifth starter for the first time during the second half. Plesac acquitted himself well during his first callup period, posting a 4.00 ERA and 1.18 WHIP over 45 innings.

Plesac was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Saturday.

Plesac was optioned in order to make room for Greg Allen to return to Cleveland. This is unlikely to effect Plesac's status in the rotation, as he was not scheduled to pitch again prior to the All-Star break. The right-hander has managed a 4.00 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 33 strikeouts across 45 innings this season.