Braxton

Ashcraft

Ashcraft gave up a season-high eight hits, but he struck out five and managed to limit the damage. He finishes up 4-4 with a 2.71 ERA in eight starts and 18 relief appearances. He should wind up playing a bigger role next year, even if he might be crowded out of the Pirates rotation initially.

Ashcraft allowed two runs in the third — one of them on a solo homer by Michael Busch — and another in the fourth before exiting. The 25-year-old looked solid in relief, but he’s been shaky — at best — as a starter for the majority of 2025. He shouldn’t be in a fantasy lineup Wednesday when he faces the Reds.

It looks like Ashcraft will finish out the season in a bit role because of concerns about his workload. He had a 1.15 ERA over 15 2/3 innings in three starts to end last month, but his two outings in September have both been three-inning affairs and not due to any lack of effectiveness. He has a 2.46 ERA in 58 1/3 innings in the majors. He also had a 5.03 ERA in 48 1/3 innings for Triple-A Indianapolis.

This was probably going to be a short one for Ashcraft regardless, but he threw 37 pitches in the second, when he loaded the bases with no outs and went to 3-2 counts on each of the first five hitters. He got out of it when Kiké Hernández flew out to end the inning. After three innings, he was replaced by Mike Burrows, who also threw three scoreless innings and was credited with the win. Ashcraft will probably next start against the Orioles on Tuesday.

Ashcraft has allowed just three runs and posted a 20/3 K/BB over 19 innings in four starts since moving from the bullpen into the rotation. As a five-inning pitcher on a bad team, he doesn’t make a lot of sense in mixed leagues at the moment, but he’s shaping up as someone who will be interesting next spring. He’ll face the Dodgers next.

While we should take all starts against the Rockies away from Coors Field with a grain of salt, Ashcraft mowed them down in this one. He retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced and only let two runners on base in total. They didn’t deserve much better either, with just three hard-hit balls as he forced 14 swings-and-misses. Ashcraft’s slider was totally lethal, forcing half of those whiffs as he commanded it beautifully low and breaking out of the zone. He’s been downright fantastic since moving from the Pirates’ bullpen to their rotation allowing just two runs over 15 innings with 15 strikeouts. He’ll look to stay hot next time out against the Cardinals.

Ashcraft struck out four batters on the day and did not allow a base on balls. The damage done against him came in the form of a game-tying RBI single by Pete Crow-Armstrong in the fourth inning. Aside from that though, he was brilliant. The 25-year-old hurler got nine swings and misses on 61 pitches on the afternoon, registering a CSW of 30 percent. He’ll carry a 3.02 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 37/13 K/BB ratio (41 2/3 innings) into Wednesday’s matchup against the Blue Jays.

Ashcraft joined the rotation to make Saturday’s start against the Reds. He worked three scoreless frames to start the game before leaving with one out and a runner on in the fourth with five strikeouts. The inherited runner would eventually come in to score. The 25-year-old right-hander has posted a 3.19 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and a 33/13 K/BB ratio across 36 2/3 innings. He’s in line for a start against the Cubs in Chicago on Friday.

Johan Oviedo started in that spot the last trip through the rotation but he was demoted to Triple-A Indianapolis after a miserable first start. That opens the door for Ashcraft to at least work a couple of innings to start Saturday’s game. He’s unlikely to go deep enough to warrant consideration for fantasy purposes.

Ashcraft threw 48 1/3 innings over 10 starts in Triple-A this year, but he’d been used exclusively in relief since being called up. He’ll likely return to the pen for now after the spot start, but he could get a longer look in the rotation after the Pirates ship off Andrew Heaney and maybe Bailey Falter next month.