Graham

Ashcraft

Pagán landed on the injured list on May 23 with triceps soreness. He’s been solid for the Reds this season with a 4.19 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 19 1/3 innings while striking out 25 and walking seven batters. The 33-year-old could work himself back into high-leverage opportunities if he pitches well. Graham Ashcraft was sent to Triple-A in a corresponding move.

Despite ranking high on Stuff+ leaderboards, it has simply never happened for Ashcraft. He has a 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 62 1/3 innings this season and a career 4.86 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in 313 innings. He has a great slider, but the rest of his pitch mix seems to lag behind and the efforts to correct some of his issues against right-handed hitters have fallen short. He’ll try to work things out in the minors but unless he changes his pitch mix, it’s hard to see it happening.

Ashcraft’s velocity was down for the second straight outing and he only lasted into the fourth inning at Coors Field before being chases. He gave up six hits, but somehow managed to keep the ball in the yard. He notched a pair of strikeouts and didn’t hand out a free pass. The 26-year-old righty simply isn’t a recommended option for fantasy managers when he bring an inflated 5.05 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 49/21 K/BB ratio across 62 1/3 innings (12 starts) into a home matchup on Tuesday against the Guardians.

Ashcraft’s velocity was down again today. He’s averaged 96 mph with his cutter in some of his starts this season, but he came in at 95.3 and 94.8 mph in his previous two starts and 94.1 mph today. His ERA has climbed from 3.63 to 4.76 over his last five outings, so the Reds could turn to Nick Martinez in his spot or give Carson Spiers a shot.

Facing the Dodgers in back-to-back starts, Ashcraft continued his run of being acceptable but not necessarily good so far this season. Still, it’s nice to see him mix his cutter, slider, and sinker for a true three-pitch mix despite never showing the requisite command to be a quality starter.

Ashcraft did his part in this one, managing to keep Los Angeles’ star-studded lineup in the yard, but didn’t get any run support at all from Cincinnati’s red-hot offense. He struck out five and also handed out three free passes. The 26-year-old righty will bring a serviceable 4.25 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 40/18 K/BB ratio across 48 2/3 innings (10 starts) into a rematch against the Dodgers on Friday at Great American Ball Park.

Ashcraft not only allowed seven hits, but he gave up three walks against three strikeouts. The 26-year-old gave up homers in the second and third inning, and he was charged for another run in the third. That makes back-to-back mediocre starts after he had pitched so well in his previous outings, and his ERA has jumped up to 4.12 in the process. Ashcraft shouldn’t be in lineups for Saturday against the Dodgers.

The 26-year-old right-hander also issued three free passes while punching out a pair on the evening. The Diamondbacks scratched out a pair of runs against him in the third inning on an RBI double by Pavin Smith and a bases-loaded walk by Christian Walker. Ashcraft then started the sixth inning and allowed a pair of singles before exiting — and one of those runs came around to score. He got just five whiffs on 86 pitches on the night, posting a miserable CSW of only 15 percent. He’ll carry a 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and a 32/12 K/BB ratio (39 2/3 innings) into a rematch against the Diamondbacks in Arizona on Monday.

Ashcraft allowed seven hits, but since he walked none, only the Evan Carter homer did damage. He has a 4.40 ERA after five starts, and he probably deserves better, what with his 26/7 K/BB and strong groundball rate. He’s a fringy mixed-league option, but he’s a big key as far as the Reds’ chances of contending this season.