Alec

Asher

Asher pitched in independent ball in 2019 and had a 3.58 ERA in 37 2/3 innings between the Sugar Land Skeeters and Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League. He’ll be minor league relief depth for Minnesota.

Asher made just two appearances in the majors last year and posted a 5.96 ERA over 99 2/3 innings at Triple-A. He’ll be minor league depth for Colorado.

Asher spent nearly all of this season at the Triple-A level, posting an ugly 5.96 ERA. He’ll look for a minor league deal this offseason.

Yikes. Asher, 24, had registered a stellar 2.30 ERA and 0.84 WHIP in 54 2/3 innings this season between Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He made his major league debut with the Phillies last summer, but we probably won’t see him again until 2017.

Asher was suspended 80 games in June after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug and won’t be eligible to return until mid-September. He’s on the Phillies’ 40-man roster, so there’s an outside chance he could get a call-up for the final two weeks. The 24-year-old had a 2.30 ERA and 35/7 K/BB ratio in 54 2/3 innings in Double-A this year prior to the suspension.

Two errors that contributed to a four-run fifth inning -- with the Phillies ahead 10-0 at that point -- marred Asher’s final line, but he gave up just five hits without walking a batter in the victory. Asher has now allowed just four earned runs in four starts this year, posting a 1.66 ERA and 0.92 WHIP while going 2-0 in those starts. A rematch with the Mets on Friday looms in Asher’s final start of 2016.

The rookie right-hander walked three but gave up only four hits on the night, striking out four. Asher departed the outing with a 2-1 lead but that quickly went away when Michael Mariot walked a batter and let a run score on a wild pitch. While he’s struck out just four, Asher has also yielded only six hits and walked four over his first 12 1/3 big league innings. He’ll try to keep it going Sunday versus the Marlins.

Asher didn’t allow a baserunner over the first three innings, but the Mets plated two runs off him in the fourth before Jay Bruce slugged a solo homer to begin the seventh. He struck out four and walked none in the loss. The 24-year-old probably would have arrived to the majors sooner if it wasn’t for an 80-game PED suspension, but he finished strong with a 2.28 ERA and 13/4 K/BB ratio in 27 2/3 innings over five starts. He figures to be in the mix for a rotation spot next spring.

Asher was suspended 80 games for a testosterone-related PED back in June and just returned to action August 23 with a string of outings in the Gulf Coast League. He was putting up tremendous numbers in the minors before that PED suspension and he’s been good since his return, but it’s probably best to avoid the 24-year-old right-hander for fantasy purposes against a sometimes-dangerous Washington offense.

Asher is done serving an 80-game PED suspension and will make his first major league appearance of the season in a start Thursday night against the Nationals. The 24-year-old right-hander has put up some strong minor league numbers both this season and in seasons past, but he’s not a very good fantasy bet at Washington. His next start, if he gets one, would be at home versus the struggling Pirates.