CLEVELAND — The Indians are finally getting some help in their starting rotation, and not a moment too soon.
The club on Thursday activated pitcher Zach Plesac after more than a month on the injured list. The 26-year-old right-hander will start Thursday night against the Kansas City Royals as the Tribe tries to snap a nine-game losing streak.
Plesac is 4-3 with a 4.13 ERA so far this season, but following a rough outing on May 23 he "aggressively" took his shirt off and ended up fracturing his thumb. Injuries to fellow starters Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale soon followed, leaving Cleveland's once-strong rotation in ruins.
The return of Plesac is certainly welcome news for a pitching staff hoping to find any shred of stability, but those hoping for immediate relief for an overworked bullpen will be disappointed, as Plesac is expected to be on a 60-pitch limit Thursday. He previously made two rehab starts at Double-A Akron, giving up three earned runs while striking out six in 4 2/3 innings.
To make room on the roster for Plesac, rookie J.C. Mejia was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. The 24-year-old is 1-4 with a 7.42 ERA in 10 big league appearances (seven starts), and allowed six runs in just 2 2/3 innings during a loss Wednesday against Tampa Bay.
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