Guardians option Zach Plesac to Triple-A Columbus

In what has been a long overdue move, the Cleveland Guardians have optioned starting pitcher Zach Plesac to Columbus. It has been an underwhelming season so far for Plesac, who simply is no longer a viable option to stick in Cleveland's rotation.

This comes after it was announced that Plesac was being supplanted by Peyton Battenfield for Friday's game at home against Minnesota. Even if Plesac was not replaced by Battenfield for Firday's game, it was still not a great matchup. Several Twins batters have had plenty of success against Plesac previously. Willi Castro has nine hits in 18 at-bats with one double and one triple. Michael A. Taylor is 2-9, both hits going for doubles. Max Kepler is only 1-9, but that lone hit was a round tripper. Carlos Correa has four hits in eight at-bats, including one double and one home run.

The 2023 season has pretty much been a disaster for Plesac and it was evident in his first start. Plesac failed to escape the 2nd inning in Oakland, allowing six runs on seven hits to a historically bad Athletics squad. There has only been one game in which Plesac pitched this season in which four runs did not come across to score, a far from acceptable performance.

Plesac pitching poorly is not exactly a new trend. The 28-year old right hander has been hit very hittable since his first 29 starts, with a 3.32 ERA, 1.088 WHIP, and 7.6 strikeouts per nine. The following 55 games have not been kind to Plesac, as he has strugged mightily with a 4.72 ERA, 1.309 WHIP, and 6.5 strikeouts per nine. Those numbers have gone in the absolute wrong direction for Plesac this season. The 18 earned runs on 37 hits in 21.1 innings has Plesac with a 7.59 ERA, 1.969 WHIP in addition to his career-low 5.9 strikeouts per nine.

Perhaps this will help Plesac right the ship and at least become serviceable again. Even if that does occur, Plesac is not guaranteed a spot in the Guardians rotation as he has been leapfrogged by Logan T. Allen and Tanner Bibee with Gavin Williams on the way. There is also the fact that Aaron Civale and Triston McKenzie will be returning from the injured list at some point and their respective positions in the rotation are not in jeopardy. Barring a new wave of injuries or this team completely bottoming out, Plesac may be out of luck when it comes to being a member of the Guardians pitching staff in the future.