Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Zach Plesac is back with the big club. David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Zach Plesac returns to Indians after controversy, will pitch Tuesday

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/31/20

On the same day that the Cleveland Indians traded right-hander Mike Clevinger to the San Diego Padres, the Tribe confirmed that fellow righty Zach Plesac is returning to the club and will pitch Tuesday evening versus the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Chris Antonetti has announced that Zach Plesac will take Mike Clevinger's spot in the rotation. He will start tomorrow night in KC.
— 92.3 The Fan (@923TheFan) August 31, 2020

Plesac, 25, hasn't taken the bump in the big leagues since he helped the Indians defeat the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 8. Both he and Clevinger violated MLB health and safety protocols when they went out for a social dinner in Chicago that evening, and the Indians responded by demoting the pair to the team's alternate training site.

Clevinger returned to the main roster and threw against the Minnesota Twins last Wednesday in what turned out to be his final outing in a Cleveland uniform.

Reports surfaced last week that the Indians were fielding calls from other clubs about both Plesac and Clevinger. In three appearances this summer, Plesac holds a 1-1 record with a 1.29 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, and 24 strikeouts.

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