The Cleveland Baseball Club will send Adam Plutko to the mound as they host the Chicago Cubs Tuesday night.
Originally Mike Clevinger was supposed to start Tuesday for Cleveland, but due to his actions in Chicago he is no longer starting. Now Adam Plutko is being thrust into action as the starting pitcher as Cleveland hosts the Cubs.
Adam Plutko was originally slotted as a bullpen arm this season. The Cleveland rotation is stacked and there are simply not enough spots to fit Plutko into the mix. Plutko did start one game earlier this season, Game 2 of a doubleheader against the White Sox. Plutko allowed 2 runs on 5 hits and struck out 4 in a 5-3 Cleveland win.
The 28-year old right hander has limited experience against Cubs hitters (only 19 at-bats total). Anthony Rizzo, Willson Contreras, and Josh Phegley are all 1-2 against Plutko, with Rizzo’s hit being a double and Phegley’s being a homer. The rest of the Cubs that Plutko has previously faced are a combined 0-13.
Chicago will start Jon Lester and he is off to a great start to the season. In 11 innings Lester has allowed one 1 run on 4 hits while walking 2 and striking out 5. Cleveland will have to get lucky in order to get hits and actually score against Lester.
There are few Cleveland batters who have a good track record against him. Franmil Reyes is 4-5 with a home run, Francisco Lindor is 3-9 with a home run, and Carlos Santana is 5-18 with 3 runs driven in. Cesar Hernandez is the only other hitter in the lineup with more than 10 at-bats and he is 2-12 against Lester. Delino DeShields, Jordan Luplow, Jose Ramirez, and Domingo Santana are a combined 1-19 with Ramirez having the only hit.
