Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Dazzles in combined shutout
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Ashcraft (4-2) picked up the win in Friday's 9-0 rout of the Rockies, allowing one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out six.
Making his third straight start, Ashcraft delivered the best performance of his young career as he combined with fellow rookie Bubba Chandler on the shutout. Ashcraft racked up 14 swinging strikes on only 65 pitches (47 total strikes) as he set a new personal best in Ks, and since moving into the rotation the 25-year-old righty has a 1.35 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over 13.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in St. Louis.
Ashcraft did not factor into the decision in Friday's 3-2 win over the Cubs, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with four strikeouts over five innings.
Ashcraft was highly efficient, needing just 61 pitches to get through five innings while generating nine swinging strikes. It was the 25-year-old's longest outing of the season, and he's now given up only two earned runs over 8.1 frames in back-to-back starts after spending most of the year in the bullpen. He owns a 3.02 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 37:13 K:BB across 41.2 innings and could get another turn in the Pirates' rotation, tentatively lining up for a home start against the Blue Jays next week.
Ashcraft is slated to start Friday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
After making his previous nine appearances out of the bullpen, Ashcraft picked up his second MLB start this past weekend against the Reds as a replacement in the rotation for Johan Oviedo, who was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Though he was limited to 56 pitches in his outing versus Cincinnnati, Ashcraft was effective during his time on the mound, striking out five while allowing five baserunners over 3.1 innings. He'll be rewarded with a second turn through the rotation this weekend, and Ashcraft could push his pitch count up to the 65-to-80 range now that he's on a starter's schedule. Whether Ashcraft will be stick around in the rotation for the rest of the season is still unclear; Friday marks the first day that prospects who are called up for the first time in 2025 won't be able to exceed 45 days of service time, which will keep them eligible for 2026 Rookie of the Year Award consideration. With that in mind, prized pitching prospect Bubba Chandler could soon get called up from Triple-A to make his MLB debut, and Ashcraft may move back to the bullpen to accommodate him.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Strikes out five in no-decision
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Ashcraft did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 2-1 loss to the Reds, allowing one run on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 3.1 innings.
Ashcraft opened with three scoreless frames before allowing a run and recording just one out in the fourth. The 25-year-old generated eight whiffs on 56 pitches in what was his longest outing of the season. He owns a 3.19 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 33:13 K:BB across 36.2 innings and tentatively lines up for a tough road matchup with the Cubs next weekend.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Starting Saturday
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Pirates manager Don Kelly said that Ashcraft will start Saturday's game against the Reds, Danny Demilio of PittsburghBaseballNow.com reports.
Ashcraft will be making his second start of the season after posting a 3.24 ERA and 1.38 WHIP across 33.1 innings with the Pirates while primarily serving as a middle reliever. The 25-year-old righty had been starting at Triple-A Indianapolis before being called up in late May, but since then, he's maxed out at three innings at the big-league level on three occasions. Additionally, Ashcraft will be taking the mound on three days' rest, so the Pirates are unlikely to let the right-hander work deep enough into Saturday's start to qualify for a win. With a strong showing against the Reds, Ashcraft could stick around in the rotation on a more permanent basis.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Earns win in relief
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Ashcraft (2-0) was the pitcher of record in Saturday's 9-2 win over the Mets after allowing one earned run on five hits and no walks while striking out two across 2.2 innings of relief.
After making a three-inning start in his first MLB start during Monday's win over the Brewers, Ashcraft shifted back to the bullpen this weekend. He entered Saturday's contest in the top of the second inning following a lengthy rain delay, relieving starter Bailey Falter. Ashcraft wasn't especially dominant Saturday and induced only five swinging strikes on his 52 pitches, but he largely worked his way out of trouble in both the third and fourth frames. The right-hander is likely to serve as a multi-inning reliever for Pittsburgh moving forward.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Goes three frames in first start
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Ashcraft did not factor into the decision in Monday's 5-4 win at Milwaukee, allowing one hit and no walks over three scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
The 25-year-old rookie made all seven of his previous appearances out of the bullpen, so he wasn't expected to go deep in this contest. Ashcraft managed to stymy the Brewers lineup across his 35 total pitches, 28 of which were strikes. Prior to being called up May 26, the right-hander had started 10 games for Triple-A Indianapolis, so it is possible that the Pirates are seeking to incorporate Ashcraft into the big league rotation. Through 14.2 total major-league innings, he has pitched to a 1.23 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 12:6 K:BB.
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Set for first career start Monday
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Achcraft will start Monday's series opener against the Brewers in Milwaukee, Colin Beazley of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
After making his first seven appearances out of the Pittsburgh bullpen following his May 26 call-up from Triple-A Indianapolis, Ashcraft will make his first career major-league start against a red-hot Brewers lineup that has averaged 10.8 runs per contest during its active four-game winning streak. The right-hander has fared well thus far while working in relief, producing a 1.54 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 10 strikeouts over 11.2 innings. He's maxed out at 40 pitches in those relief outings, but the Pirates could be comfortable with him covering somewhere around 60-to-80 pitches Monday after he had previously built up to six innings during his time in the minors. Even so, the fact that Ashcraft likely won't handle a traditional starter's workload in addition to the tough matchup limits his appeal as a streaming option.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Earns first win
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Ashcraft (1-0) allowed one hit and two walks with no strikeouts across 1.1 scoreless innings to earn the win Sunday against the Phillies.
This marked Ashcraft's fourth appearance in the majors and came in a high-leverage spot. He relieved Paul Skenes in the eighth inning of a 1-1 game, and he remained in for the ninth after the Pirates took the lead. One of the walks was intentional, but this still wasn't one of Ashcraft's more dominant appearances, as he failed to generate a swinging strike and also allowed some hard contact. Despite that, he managed to earn the first win of his big-league career.
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Three shutout innings in debut
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Ashcraft allowed two hits and one walk while striking out one across three scoreless relief innings Monday against the Diamondbacks.
Ashcraft was promoted to the majors Monday and immediately made his debut working out of the bullpen. He pitched with the Pirates down by five but managed a scoreless outing and preserved the team's bullpen. Ashcraft may remain in a long-relief role for the time being, but as one of the organization's best prospects, he should have a chance to enter the rotation at some point during the summer.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Could be called up Monday
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Ashcraft is expected to join the Pirates' taxi squad in Arizona and could be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Diamondbacks, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander has made 10 starts with Triple-A Indianapolis this season, posting a 4.84 ERA and 1.50 WHIP with 56 strikeouts over 48.1 innings. The Pirates don't appear to have a starting spot available for Ashcraft at the moment, though it's possible that the team transitions into a six-man rotation to make room for the 25-year-old. Ashcraft could also be an option to work in long relief.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Officially promoted to majors
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The Pirates recalled Ashcraft from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Ashcraft has started in all 10 outings in Triple-A this season, but the 25-year-old right-hander will serve in a bulk relief role out of the Pirates' bullpen, per Alex Stumpf of MLB.com. Ashcraft has a 4.84 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 56:19 K:BB across 48.1 innings in Triple-A this season, and his first appearance with the Pirates will be his major-league debut. Isaac Mattson was optioned to Triple-A in a corresponding move.
Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Removed from big-league camp
Rotowire
The Pirates optioned Ashcraft to Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday.
Ashcraft made two appearances for the Pirates this spring, giving up two earned runs on five hits while striking out four batters across 3.2 innings. He'll ultimately miss out on Pittsburgh's Opening Day rotation, but if the 25-year-old righty can put up a number anything close to the 0.44 ERA he logged over 20.1 frames in Indianapolis last year, he could be on track to debut sometime in 2025.
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Pirates' Braxton Ashcraft: Facing hitters in camp
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Ashcraft (forearm) threw a live batting practice session Monday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Ashcraft closed last season on Triple-A Indianapolis' 7-day injured list due to a forearm injury, but fortunately for the 25-year-old right-hander -- who previously had Tommy John surgery in 2021 -- he appears to have had a normal offseason and is restriction-free during camp. He'll likely be sent back to Indianapolis to begin the 2025 campaign, but health permitting, Ashcraft should make his MLB debut at some point this summer to join an impressive young Pittsburgh pitching corps that already includes Paul Skenes and Jared Jones and could also feature one of baseball's top pitching prospects in Bubba Chandler.
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