Cleveland Indians: Zach Plesac 1st rehab start a step in right direction
The Cleveland Indians rotation is a step closer to help, with starter Zach Plesac making his first rehab start with the Akron RubberDucks June 29.
The Immaculate Inning owner wasn’t great on a soggy night in Akron, but he didn’t need to be.
Plesac pitched 1 2/3 innings, faced nine batters, surrendered three hits, 3 runs (two earned) and struck out two. He threw 33 pitches, 22 of which went for strikes.
The Indians rotation looked doomed when its big three went down, in the order of Plesac, Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale. However, the Tribe is getting help from its call-ups.
J.C. Mejia has shown more good than bad. In his last start June 24, Mejia went 6.0 innings while striking out six and allowed just four hits and one run.
Eli Morgan rebounded from a dreadful first start against the Blue Jays to earn his first win of the season against the Tigers Monday night.
Even with Plesac closing in on his return, the rotation will continue to lean on Mejia, Morgan, Cal Quantrill and hopefully, Logan Allen, to at least get the game to the fifth inning.
Fortunately, the Tribe’s been able to navigate through a soft spot in the schedule, but that changes when Detroit leaves town and the Tribe squares off against the first-place Astros.
The Indians’ Tuesday night game against Detroit was postponed, but the Tribe might as well have been in action down I-77. Besides Plesac pitching, the RubberDucks’ starting lineup featured Roberto Perez and Franmil Reyes, who were also in Akron on rehab assignments.
Cleveland Indians can turn to Franmil Reyes
Speaking of Reyes, the slugger will return to his role as DH upon his return, which frees up Harold Ramirez to be Josh Naylor’s main replacement. I know there’s some talk of him playing right, but I just don’t see it. He’s not here to field, especially with Ramirez doing a decent job at the dish.
Naylor was a lefty and Ramirez hits from the right side, but both are similar talents. Their at their best when slugging for the gap. Both are capable of hitting homers, but no one would consider either a home-run hitter.
Ramirez was to get the start in right Tuesday against right-hander Jose Urena.
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Reyes struck out in his first at bat with Akron, while Perez also fanned in his lone at-bat of the evening.