Zach Plesac Picks Up Quality Start, Win In 2024 Debut
Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Zach Plesac (1-0) picked up the quality start and win in his 2024 debut Monday night, giving up three runs in six innings on four hits and two walks with one strikeout in a 5-3 victory against the Milwaukee Brewers. Plesac was incredibly efficient on the night, as he only needed 86 pitches to get through six innings. The only two blemishes on his stat sheet were a pair of home runs by Jake Bauers and Brice Turang. The veteran right-hander signed a minor-league deal in the offseason and has been pitching for the Triple-A Salt Lake City Bees since the beginning of the season. Plesac produced a 5.42 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 13 starts in Triple-A this season and only drew the start due to Jose Soriano (abdomen) being a late-scratch earlier in the day. Although Plesac had an encouraging start, there's no clarity on whether he will remain in the rotation moving forward.
The Los Angeles Angels have optioned right-hander Zach Plesac to the minors. The former Cleveland Guardians starter entered camp as a rotation candidate or even a long reliever but it appears his 2024 campaign will begin with Triple-A Salt Lake. It's been a rather unfortunate fall from grace for the 29-year-old who impressed with a 3.81 ERA across 21 starts as a rookie in the 2019 season. He went on to post a tidy 2.28 ERA in eight starts during the shortened 2020 season but has struggled since. Most recently, he worked to a 7.59 ERA across five starts with the Guardians in the 2023 season and struggled mightily to a 6.08 ERA across 19 outings (18 starts) with Triple-A Columbus. Plesac remains well off the fantasy radar as he looks to regain his form in the minors to begin the 2024 season.
Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that right-hander Zach Plesac will open spring training as a candidate for the starting rotation. However, Plesac could still wind up in the bullpen or even in the minors to kick off the 2024 regular season. The top five Angels starters heading into camp are left-handers Patrick Sandoval, Tyler Anderson and Reid Detmers and right-handers Griffin Canning and Chase Silseth. Plesac, 29, is probably going to need an injury to one of the aforementioned starters in order to open the year in the Halos' rotation. After looking decent with the Cleveland Guardians in 2019 and 2020, he has struggled each of the last three years, going a combined 14-19 with a 4.72 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 77 walks and 214 K's in 295 2/3 frames over 55 outings (54 starts).
The Los Angeles Angels signed free-agent right-hander Zach Plesac to an undisclosed deal over the weekend. Plesac made his big-league debut with the Cleveland Guardians in 2019 and had a career-best 2.28 ERA, 0.79 WHIP and 57 strikeouts in eight starts in the shortened 2020 season. He wasn't as good in 2021 and 2022 before stumbling to a 7.59 ERA (4.47 FIP) and 1.97 WHIP with five walks and 14 strikeouts in five starts this past season. The 28-year-old wasn't much better in the minors, persuading the Guardians to move on from him. The Angels can use all the pitching help they can get, but it's unlikely that Plesac will be much more than a long-relief arm or spot starter if he makes the major-league roster out of spring training.
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.
Zach Plesac Optioned, Peyton Battenfield Expected To Start Friday
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.
Cleveland Guardians right-hander Zach Plesac (hand) will switch spots with Aaron Civale in the starting rotation this week and be moved back to Saturday against the Kansas City Royals, with Civale going on Friday. Plesac will then potentially move to a relief role for the postseason. Civale will make his final start of the regular season next Wednesday. The 27-year-old Plesac will be coming off the injured list to start this weekend. He'll return to a 3-11 record, 4.39 ERA (4.49 FIP), a 1.31 WHIP, 99 strikeouts and 37 walks in 127 innings pitched over his 23 starts in 2022.
Cleveland Guardians pitcher Zach Plesac (hand) is tentatively scheduled to start Friday against the Kansas City Royals. He was placed on the injured list on September 2 with a fractured right hand. The 27-year-old threw 45 pitches during a simulated game on Tuesday. He has gone 3-11 with a 4.39 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and 99 K's in 127 innings (23 starts). Plesac will most likely be on a pitch count, making him hard for fantasy managers to trust even if he does make his start on Friday. Managers should wait to see how Plesac pitches on Friday before inserting him into their lineups.
The Cleveland Guardians placed starting pitchers Zach Plesac (hand) and Aaron Civale (forearm) on the injured list on Friday and added Xzavion Curry and Kirk McCarty to the active roster in corresponding moves. Plesac was scratched from his start on Friday against the Seattle Mariners with a right hand fracture, while Civale is dealing with right forearm inflammation. Pitching prospect Cody Morris will make his major league debut on Friday against Seattle and will be a risky streamer for fantasy managers. There's a chance that both Plesac and Civale won't pitch for the Guardians again in 2022. Plesac has gone 3-11 with a 4.39 ERA (4.50 FIP), 1.31 WHIP and 99 K's in 127 innings (23 starts). Civale has a 5.40 ERA (3.94 FIP), 1.31 WHIP and 75 strikeouts in 75 innings (16 starts).