Zach Plesac Stats
- Height / Weight
- 6' 3" / 220 lbs.
- Date of Birth (Age)
- 1/21/1995 (28)
- Experience
- 1
- College
- Ball State
Zach Plesac Season Stats
Last 10 Games
Zach Plesac News
Former Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Zach Plesac has elected free agency. The 28-year-old righty was designated for assignment back in June and will now hit the open market this winter. He put up a poor 7.59 ERA, 1.969 WHIP, and 14:5 K/BB ratio over 21 1/3 innings (five starts) during the 2023 campaign. At one point, he looked like an up-and-coming star back when he put up a sparkling 2.28. ERA and 0.795 WHIP over 55 1/3 innings (eight starts) during the shortened 2020 season but it's been downhill from there. He should be able to earn another opportunity this offseason based on his pedigree.
Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Zach Plesac was designated for assignment by the team's front office on Sunday. The 28-year-old became especially expendable with Triston McKenzie's return plus the integration of a number of top prospects into Cleveland's rotation this year. Plesac looked like an ace in the making during a breakout 2020, notching a 2.28 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 55 1/3 innings during the truncated campaign. The right-hander has a suppressed 4.76 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 153 innings since 2022. Plesac might latch on to a pitcher-needy club soon, but his redraft fantasy value is virtually nonexistent currently.
The Cleveland Guardians officially optioned right-hander Zach Plesac to Triple-A Columbus on Thursday. Rookie right-hander Peyton Battenfield is expected to start on Friday against the Minnesota Twins in Plesac's rotation spot. Plesac had a rough 7.59 ERA in five starts this year, and opponents were posting a .374/.404/.576 slash line against him. The 28-year-old will go down to the farm to work some things out before Cleveland considers giving him another shot in the big-league rotation. Battenfield, 25, moved to the bullpen recently to make room for prospects Logan Allen and Tanner Bibee in the rotation, but he'll get another chance to impress the team in a starting spot. In his first four big-league outings (three starts), Battenfield has allowed 10 runs (nine earned) on 16 hits (three homers) while walking 11 and striking out 14 in 17 1/3 frames.
Zach Plesac Stats
Last 10 Games
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac took a big leap forward in his sophomore season posting a 2.28 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and 57 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings. The right-hander may have been a tad lucky as his FIP (3.39) and xFIP (3.50) were both a full run higher than his ERA. A look under the hood, however, reveals a starter who may be on the verge of a full-season breakout. Plesac posted a strong 27.7 percent strikeout rate and induced swinging strikes on 14.5 percent of his pitches, both improvements over his rookie year. Most importantly, he stopped issuing free-passes, cutting his walk rate over 5.5 percent from 2019. Despite the small sample, there is evidence to support Plesac's sharp improvement. He cut his four-seamer usage by 13 percent and started throwing more sliders and changeups, superior pitches in Plesac's arsenal. The slider generated a superb 42.7 percent swinging-strike rate and had just a .069 batting average against. His changeup allowed a .125 batting average against and was the primary factor in Plesac's improved numbers versus left-handed batters. He's a tad risky since his breakout came in the shortened-season, but a pitcher with Plesac's upside should be drafted in the top-60 picks of fantasy drafts.
