The 2020 MLB season fooled us on more than one occasion.
We thought several players were here to stay or were true stars just because they had a good run in a 60-game season.
However, each campaign is 162 games for a reason, because it provides a larger sample for some stats and situations to stabilize.
In the specific case of Cleveland Guardians starter Zach Plesac, he was brilliant in the pandemic season.
He posted a 2.28 ERA in eight starts and 55.1 innings, with six walks and 57 punchouts.
But his true talent level became evident in 2021, 2022, and 2023.
He had a 4.67 ERA in 2021, a 4.31 mark last year, and is up to a 7.59 ERA in 2023.
He forced the Guardians’ hand with his performance.
The Guardians have optioned starter Zach Plesac to Triple-A Columbus.
— Mandy Bell (@MandyBell02) May 4, 2023
Plesac is no ace, but he is also not 7.59-ERA bad.
The thing is that if the Guardians rotation is remotely close to full health, he isn’t a top-five option.
Shane Bieber, Triston McKenzie, Cal Quantrill, Aaron Civale, Tanner Bibee, and Logan Allen are all better alternatives than him.
Not all of those names are healthy, but the organization prefers to roll with Peyton Battenfield, Bieber, Allen, Quantrill, and Bibee for the time being.
Depending on how he performs, Battenfield might have a chance to keep a rotation spot when McKenzie or Civale are ready to return.
Plesac will stay at Triple-A Columbus and will serve as organizational depth for the time being.
The Guardians are 14-17 as of Thursday afternoon, yet they are just three games out of first place.
That position is occupied by the Minnesota Twins at the moment.
NEXT: A Guardians Rookie Made Impressive Franchise History
