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19 articles
PIT • Pitcher • #67
3 days ago
Ashcraft cruised through the first four innings, while allowing just three singles and a walk, but sandwiched a hit by pitch and walk around a double to load the bases in the top of the fifth. Ashcraft struck out James Wood, but a grounder from Luis Garcia Jr. knocked in all three runs when Konnor Griffin tried to take it to the bag himself, was a step late, and then spiked the throw into right field. Ashcraft, not to be outdone, fired a pickoff throw into center field to allow a fourth run. Jorbit Vivas singled in the sixth, chasing Ashcraft, and Pittsburgh’s bullpen allowed the inherited run to come in. Tough one for Ashcraft, as he allowed just three hard-hit balls. He’ll look to bounce back against the Rangers next week.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
8 days ago
Ashcraft generated 16 whiffs on 39 swings, finishing with a 35-percent CSW. Wins are probably going to be an issue for Ashcraft, especially since his workload is going to be monitored, but there’s a lot to like about the way he’s throwing. He’ll be a nice option next week in a home start against the Nationals.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
14 days ago
Ashcraft scattered just four hits on the afternoon and didn’t allow a base on balls. The only blemish on the 26-year-old hurler’s day came on an RBI double by Pete Alonso in the fourth inning. Ashcraft generated nine swings and misses on 87 pitches on the day, registering a CSW of 29 percent. He’ll carry a strong 2.25 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and an 11/4 K/BB ratio (12 innings) into Saturday’s matchup against the Cubs in Chicago. At this point, he probably deserves consideration in all mixed leagues.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
19 days ago
It’s Ashcraft’s first career quality start, as the Pirates declined to let him go deep in his eight starts after moving from the pen to the rotation in the second half of last year. They won’t be so restrictive this season, at least not in the first half. He might not be allowed to make 30+ starts, but for now, he offers some value in deeper mixed leagues. He’ll make his next start at home against the Orioles.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
about 1 month ago
Ashcraft’s slider and curveball were phenomenal, and he maintained his sinker velocity into the middle innings, carving up a fully loaded Detroit lineup in one of the more impressive outings of the spring. The 26-year-old has posted a stellar 2.03 ERA and 16/1 K/BB ratio across 13 1/3 innings of work in Grapefruit League action. He appears locked into Pittsburgh’s season-opening rotation and is a savvy late-round sleeper candidate in all fantasy drafts this spring.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
about 1 month ago
Ashcraft retired nine of 10 batters to start the game before giving up back-to-back doubles in the fourth and getting pulled. That went on to be a nine-run inning for the Phillies. Ashcraft, though, was quite good, even though his sinker velocity was down about two mph from last year. He’s going to have a spot in Pittsburgh’s rotation unless disaster strikes over the rest of the month.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
about 2 months ago
The right-hander had just a 13 percent whiff rate on the day but threw 61 percent strikes and got ahead often. He also allowed three hard-hit baseballs in just three innings and saw his sinker velocity fall from 96.3 mph in the first inning to 92.5 mph by the third inning. It’s likely not a big deal this early in camp, but it’s something to keep an eye on, as is his overall lack of whiffs, because he’s going to need to produce strikeouts if he’s going to have fantasy value this season.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
about 2 months ago
Kyle Schwarber homered off him in the first, but none of the remaining three hits Ashcraft allowed did any damage. After finishing with a 2.78 ERA in eight starts and 18 relief appearances last season, Ashcraft is in strong position to claim a spot in the Pirates rotation this spring. He gets enough strikeouts and grounders to potentially be of some use in mixed leagues.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
7 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
7 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
7 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
8 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
8 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
8 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
8 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
8 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
8 months ago
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.
Source: Kevin Gorman
PIT • Pitcher • #67
10 months ago
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.
PIT • Pitcher • #67
11 months ago
Pirates interim manager Don Kelly told reporters Ashcraft will be utilized as a bulk reliever initially, but could transition to a starting role at some point in the future. The 25-year-old former second-round pick from the 2018 MLB Draft put together a breakthrough campaign last year in the upper minors, but has struggled this season to a pedestrian 5.03 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 56/19 K/BB ratio across 48 1/3 innings (10 starts) for Triple-A Indianapolis. His immediate fantasy appeal is strictly limited to NL-only formats.