Strong Outings By Cleveland Rookies Could Put Slumping Plesac’s Spot In The Rotation In Jeopardy

The Cleveland Guardians are nothing if not consistent. They are off to their usual start this season. Through their first 27 games the Guardians were 13-14, in second place in the AL Central, 2.5 games behind division leading Minnesota.

Through their first 27 games last season the Guardians were 13-14, in third place in the AL Central, 3.5 games out of first.

Through their first 27 games in 2021 the Guardians were 14-13, in third place, 2.5 games out of first.

At this very early juncture in the season, the offensive profile looks a lot like it did last season, when they won 92 games and the AL Central title. Guardians hitters this year have drawn the second most walks in the American League, and have struck out the fewest times. They lead the league in stolen bases, have hit the fewest home runs, and their 3.96 runs per game ranks fifth in the league.

Cleveland’s pitchers have the second fewest strikeouts, but also the second fewest walks, and they have allowed the fourth fewest home runs. Their 3.92 ERA ranks eighth in the league.

In other words, so far, this year’s Guardians look a lot like last year’s Guardians, which, if that trend holds throughout the summer could be good news for Guardians’ fans.

Unfortunately, however, this year’s Guardians have been struck by the same misfortune that plagued last year’s team for much of the season, when Cleveland rarely had its five-man starting rotation healthy and performing well at the same time.

In the first month of this season, that dark cloud continues to hover over Manager Terry Francona’s rotation.

Right-hander Triston McKenzie, who last year finished in the top 10 among American League pitchers in eight categories, including strikeouts, innings pitched, ERA, and WAR for pitchers, has yet to throw his first pitch in a regular season game this year.

When healthy, McKenzie slots in as the No.2 starter, behind ace Shane Bieber in the Guardians’ rotation, but McKenzie has been on the injured list since the start of the season due to a strained muscle in his back.

Aaron Civale, a 12-game winner in the rotation two years ago, has only started two games due to an oblique strain, and Sam Hentges, Cleveland’s best left-handed reliever, who averaged over 10 strikeouts per nine innings last year, has yet to throw a pitch in 2023 due to shoulder inflammation.

Fortunately for the Guardians, as was the case last year when injuries sidelined some pitchers, Cleveland’s depth of young pitching talent has been able to step in and keep the rotation from jumping the track.

In the span of four games, left-hander Logan Allen and right-hander Tanner Bibee, both making their major league debuts, were outstanding. In a 7-4 win over Miami, Allen pitched six innings, allowing one run on five hits, with eight strikeouts and one walk.

Bibee, in a 4-1 win over Colorado, produced almost the same numbers: 5.2 innings, six hits, one run, eight strikeouts, and no walks.

Cleveland is counting on its pitching to keep the club in the hunt this season, but one starter who has been his own worst enemy the last three years is Zach Plesac. In five starts this season, the 28-year-old right-hander is 1-1 with a 5.79 ERA.

Starting in 2020, Plesac has missed time during the season in three consecutive seasons, due to violating COVID protocol (2021), a broken thumb suffered when he banged it on a chair following a bad start in Chicago (2021), and a broken hand, the result of Plesac punching the ground after giving up a home run in Seattle (2022). In those three starts Plesac has a combined record of 14-19 and a 4.72 ERA.

In his first two years with Cleveland (2019-20), Plesac was 12-8 with a 3.32 ERA and appeared to be a budding star in the Guardians’ rotation. Then came three years of poor judgement. His most recent start came Saturday in Boston, when he lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits in an 8-7 Cleveland loss.

Barring a turnaround by Plesac in the near future, his spot in the rotation could be in jeopardy when McKenzie returns. Meanwhile, Allen made his second major league start on Sunday in Boston in a Cleveland loss, and Allen was good again, pitching five innings and allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

In his first two major league starts Allen is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA, with 16 strikeouts and three walks in 12 innings. His star is ascending as Plesac’s is descending, while Cleveland’s starting rotation continues to be in a state of flux.

Bibee’s next start will be Tuesday in New York, against the Yankees, and a good start in that game could result in some hard questions regarding Plesac’s spot in the rotation.