34 Zach Plesac SP

Plesac gave up four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6.2 innings in a no-decision against the White Sox on Thursday.

Yolmer Sanchez got to Plesac for a homer, but Plesac was otherwise sharp until he ran out of gas in the seventh, when he gave up a three spot. Plesac broke team protocols earlier this season and was subsequently optioned to the alternate site, but on the field he's been marvelous (2.28 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 57:6 K:BB in 55.1 innings). The 25-year-old righty lines up to slot in directly behind ace Shane Bieber in the postseason rotation for Cleveland.

Plesac (4-2) earned the win over the Tigers on Friday, allowing five hits and one walk over 7.2 scoreless innings. He struck out 11.

Detroit couldn't touch Plesac, who racked up 16 called strikes and 21 swinging strikes on 112 pitches. It was his second double-digit strikeout performance of the season, and Plesac now has a 2.28 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and 26:2 K:BB in 27.2 innings since his return from the alternate training site. The incident that led to his removal from the big-league roster earlier this year and his subsequent comments will stain his season, but on the field Plesac has looked like one of the best young pitchers in the game. He lines up to face the White Sox in his final start of the regular season.

Plesac (3-2) allowed five runs on six hits and a walk while striking out five across seven innings to take the loss Saturday against the Twins.

Plesac didn't allow any sustained rallies, but he did give up three home runs. That resulted in a disappointing outing and marked only the second time in six starts this season that he's allowed multiple long balls. On the positive side, he continues to show he can work deep into games, as he has completed at least six frames in all of his starts to this point. He'll look to get back on track in a friendly matchup at Detroit on Friday.

Plesac (3-1) picked up the win in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Royals, allowing one run on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.

The right-hander took a shutout into the seventh inning before Adalberto Mondesi drove a fastball into the empty concourse in right field. Plesac has delivered quality starts in all five of his trips to the mound this season, and he'll carry a 1.32 ERA and 34:2 K:BB through 34 innings into his next outing Saturday in Minnesota.

Plesac (2-1) allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks while striking out six across six innings to earn the win Tuesday against the Royals.

Plesac made his first start since Aug. 8, but showed no signs of rust. He retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced, with the only run he allowed coming on a solo home run in the sixth inning. Through four starts this season, Plesac has pitched no fewer than six innings and allowed one or fewer earned runs on three occasions. He projects to draw his next start Monday in a rematch against Kansas City.

Plesac was recalled as expected ahead of his scheduled start Tuesday against the Royals.

The start will be Plesac's first in over three weeks, as he'd been placed on the restricted list and subsequently demoted after violating COVID-19 protocols by going out in Chicago following his previous outing back in early August. He owns a 1.29 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 24:2 K:BB in his three starts so far this season.

The Indians will recall Plesac from their alternate training site to start Tuesday's game against the Royals, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Plesac hasn't pitched for Cleveland since Aug. 8, when he struck out seven over six shutout innings against the White Sox. Following the start, Plesac broke COVID-19 protocols by going out in Chicago, prompting the Indians to place him on the restricted list before sending him to the alternate site. More than three weeks later, he'll finally slot back into the rotation as a replacement for Mike Clevinger, who was traded to the Padres on Tuesday. Plesac was exceptional during his first three starts of the season (1.29 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 24:2 K:BB over 21 innings), so he'll warrant an immediate pickup in any fantasy league where he might have been dropped following his demotion.

Team president Chris Antonetti called Plesac on Tuesday and explained that there is not an opportunity for him in the majors at this time, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

The team announced that Mike Clevinger will be called up to rejoin the rotation Wednesday, so naturally the team needed to address what Plesac's status was, as he and Clevinger were getting punished for similar reasons. The team is understandably bringing back the better pitcher of the two while saving a spot in the rotation for Triston McKenzie, who dazzled in his big-league debut last week. Plesac will presumably be the next man up when a spot opens in the rotation, but for now he has lost his spot in the rotation.

Plesac isn't guaranteed to be recalled from the Indians' alternate site to make a start for the big club during its weekend series with the Tigers, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

After Plesac broke MLB's COVID-19 protocols by going out in Chicago following his Aug. 8 start against the White Sox, the Indians sent him back to Cleveland a day later before placing him on the restricted list Aug. 11. He was then optioned Friday to the Indians' alternate training site, where he'll have to remain for at least 10 days unless Cleveland facilitates an earlier promotion by placing another player on the injured list in a corresponding move. Fellow starting pitcher Mike Clevinger was also optioned Friday after going out with Plesac in Chicago, but Cleveland's schedule since that series with the White Sox has thus far allowed the team to get by with a four-man rotation that now includes Adam Plutko. While Cleveland will first require a fifth starter this Saturday, the frustration many teammates felt over Plesac's and Clevinger's breach of protocol could prompt the organization's brain trust to delay bringing back either pitcher to fill the void. If that's the case, the recently recalled Logan Allen would likely be the top candidate to make a spot start versus Detroit this weekend.

Plesac was reinstated from the restricted list and optioned to Cleveland's secondary training site Friday.

Plesac has been excellent this season, posting a 1.29 ERA and a 0.67 WHIP through his first three starts, but his celebratory night out with teammate Mike Clevinger and friends following his previous outing (which violated league health and safety protocols) will cost him the opportunity to make his fourth start of the year any time soon. Both players were moved from the restricted list to the secondary training site Friday, and it's not clear when either will next take the hill.

Plesac (not injury related) was placed on the restricted list Tuesday.

Plesac was sent home by Cleveland on Sunday after violating team rules, and his placement on the restricted list will free up a spot on the active roster. The right-hander will have to quarantine for at least three days and test negative for COVID-19 before he's allowed to rejoin the team. The earliest that he'd be able to return is Friday, but the team may choose to impose additional punishments.

Plesac was sent home by Cleveland on Sunday after violating the league's health and safety protocols, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.

Plesac reportedly went out with friends in Chicago following Saturday's start against the White Sox, which resulted in a violation of team rules and league protocol. As a result, he'll be quarantined for 72 hours and tested daily for COVID-19 before he's allowed to rejoin the club. Cleveland took quick action with the right-hander in order to prevent exposure to the rest of the team. The Indians play only five games during the upcoming week, so Plesac looks like a natural choice to temporarily move to the bullpen before the team next requires a fifth starter Aug. 22 versus the Tigers.

Plesac improved to 1-1 on the season after throwing six shutout inning Saturday against the White Sox, striking out seven while walking one and allowing five hits.

Plesac has opened the year with three strong starts, allowing a total of just three runs. He's struck out 31.2 percent of opposing batters this season while walking just 2.6 percent, dramatic improvements on his 18.5 percent strikeout rate and 8.4 percent walk rate from his rookie season last year.

Plesac (0-1) allowed three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over seven innings in a loss to the Reds on Monday.

Plesac more than held his own opposite Sonny Gray; he had the Reds frozen for most of the night with his diverse pitch mix and deceptiveness (24 called strikes). However, he gave up a homer to Nick Castellanos in the fourth and another to Joey Votto in the sixth to surrender the lead. He may not have a win to show for his efforts so far this season, and Plesac did have a FIP pushing 5.00 last year, but a 17:1 K:BB in the early going suggests he's primed for a dramatic step forward. Up next is a road matchup against the White Sox.

Plesac allowed three hits and no walks while striking out 11 across eight scoreless innings Wednesday against Cleveland. He did not factor into the decision.

Plesac certainly pitched well enough to earn the win, but couldn't get any run support. He threw 98 pitches -- 72 of which went for strikes -- and generated an impressive 17 called strikes and 20 swinging strikes. He allowed only one extra-base hit, which came off the bat of Adam Engel to lead off the sixth inning. He'll have the chance to follow up on this impressive outing in his next start, currently projected for Monday at Cincinnati.

Plesac will be Cleveland's fifth starter to begin the season, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Plesac had been optioned to Triple-A Columbus back in March, but he's evidently impressed enough in summer camp to win a starting role, beating out Adam Plutko for the job. Plesac posted a 3.81 ERA in his 21-start debut last year, but that came with an unimpressive 4.93 FIP, in part due to his low 18.5 percent strikeout rate.

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.