Zach Plesac's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

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.