Braxton Ashcraft strikes out four in win vs. Tigers

It was a shutout until the ninth, when Owen Caissie hit one out to cut the lead to 13-1. Ashcraft had allowed 21 runs in his last five starts entering today, along with seven homers, so this qualifies as a bit of a course correction. Ashcraft generated a 30 percent whiff rate on 33 swings, with both the curveball and slider drawing misses while he touched 99.2 mph on the gun with his fastball. Ashcraft draws the Tigers in his next start, hopefully he can keep this form going.

Ashcraft is now 15 innings over his previous career high from last year, and while it hasn’t taken a toll on his velocity at all, his results are suffering; he’s given up 22 earned runs over 24 innings in his last five starts, taking his ERA from 3.24 to 4.08. There was nothing illegitimate about his first-half numbers, but it could be a bumpy ride here in August and September. He’ll face the Marlins next week.

Ashcraft gave up two hits, walked one and struck out five. He improved to 11-4 with the win. Ashcraft didn’t allow a hit until the fourth inning and the only run he allowed came on a solo home run by Jose Trevino in the fifth inning. Ashcraft has a 3.98 ERA. He’s lined up to face the Brewers on the road on Thursday.

Ashcraft struck out five to earn his 10th win. He had allowed four runs through four innings but settled down over the final two frames to avoid a messier pitching line. The right-hander had recorded a 3.07 ERA before his five most recent starts, raising that mark to 4.05. Ashcraft has now allowed four or more runs in four of those starts. He’s scheduled to face the Reds in Cincinnati next time out.

Ashcraft had zero answers for Jazz Chisholm Jr., who took him deep for a three-run shot in the opening frame and a two-run blast in the third inning. He finished with two strikeouts and only issued one walk. It was a real dud for Ashcraft after a strong first half where he was selected to his first All-Star Game. He’ll attempt to rebound with a home outing against the Cubs on Sunday.

That means the team will push Mitch Keller to next week. It makes sense to use Jones, who is clearly on a pitch count, in the first start after the break because it means the bullpen will be fresh.

Ashcraft was a late addition to the roster on Tuesday, but now he’s not going to pitch after starting today. Griffin has been a great surprise this year in going 10-2 with a 2.77 ERA after signing for just $5.5 million in his return from Japan. Still, this feels like one of those where we’ll be asking in a few years, “how was that guy an All-Star?”

Ashcraft concluded a strong first-half performance with a bit of a dud against Milwaukee’s loaded lineup. He coughed up five hits, including home runs to Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick. The 26-year-old is headed to next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia after posting a respectable 3.49 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 128/27 K/BB ratio across 113 1/3 innings across 19 starts.

The game will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Saturday. Expect Friday’s probable starters — Braxton Ashcraft and Brandon Sproat — to pitch in one of Saturday’s contests.

It’s a colossal bummer for baseball fans hoping to see Misiorowski hurling triple-digit heaters during next week’s Midsummer Classic, but this was always the expected outcome here. Skenes, Misorowski and Meyer are all taking the ball for their respective club’s first-half finales on Sunday, which means there was zero chance they would be able to pitch in the All-Star Game just three days later. Luzardo, Ashcraft and O’Brien are headed to the game for the first time in their respective careers. It’s likely going to be Shohei Ohtani taking the ball to start for the National League based on how things are lining up from a schedule standpoint.