Graham Ashcraft Picks Up Third Win Saturday
12 months agoCincinnati Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft picked up his third win of the season on Saturday in a 7-5 victory over the Angels. Ashcraft was able to do so despite allowing five earned runs on five hits and three walks over just five innings pitched. The 26-year-old also struck out four batters. That now makes two starts out of four total in which he's given up five earned runs and still logged the win. The righty is now 3-1 on the young season with a 5.24 ERA (3.35 xFIP), 1.34 WHIP, and a 16.3% K-BB%. His next start tentatively lines up with the Phillies next Thursday in Cincinnati. While the Phillies are middle of the pack so far in 2024 in runs scored per game, over the last three games they rank second-best (7.67).
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Graham Ashcraft Will Start Campaign In Relief Role
3 weeks agoCincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft will open the 2025 campaign in the bullpen. Ashcraft was being stretched out as a starter during camp but fell short of making the opening-day rotation. Last season, Ashcraft made all of his appearances in the rotation and logged 77 1/3 innings with a 5.24 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He tallied just 57 punchouts and held a modest 7.7 percent walk rate. In addition, Ashcraft generated a high 5.18 xERA with a .278 xBA, which placed him in the seventh and sixth percentile, respectively. However, he did generate an elite 49.2 percent ground-ball rate, which was well above the average mark. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to likely operate as a long-relief option, limiting his fantasy upside.
Source: Gordon Wittenmyer
Source: Gordon Wittenmyer
Graham Ashcraft Throws To Live Hitters
2 months agoCincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (elbow) was seen throwing a live batting practice session at spring training on Thursday. A right-elbow strain prevented Ashcraft from pitching in the second half of the 2024 season for the Reds, but he appears to be recovered from that injury and a full-go in camp. The 27-year-old is going to have to pitch much better than he has the last three seasons in Cincinnati if he wants to earn a rotation spot on Opening Day, especially after the Reds acquired Brady Singer from the Royals this offseason. Ashcraft started the year with a 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in his first 12 starts, so the Reds sent him to the minors. He's produced an unattractive 4.91 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with a well below-average 16.6% strikeout rate and 7.6% walk rate in his three seasons in Cincy with no evidence of a turnaround coming.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Gordon Wittenmyer
Graham Ashcraft Could Be Deployed Out Of The Bullpen
2 months agoAccording to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the Cincinnati Reds may opt to deploy right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft out of the bullpen. Rosecrans noted that the team has always viewed Ashcraft as a reliever since he was drafted in the 2019 MLB Draft. However, throughout his three-year MLB career, the right-hander has only seen opportunities in the starting rotation. If Ashcraft struggles during spring training and is viewed as the No. 6 option in the rotation, the team could then transition him to a relief role. The 26-year-old had the worst season of his career last summer, posting a 5.24 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. In 2023, the Alabama - Birmingham product posted a 4.76 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP across 145 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Cincinnati rotation during spring training as if they are all healthy, Ashcraft would likely shift to the bullpen.
Source: C. Trent Rosecrans
Source: C. Trent Rosecrans
Graham Ashcraft To Throw Off A Mound Soon
7 months agoCincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that right-hander Graham Ashcraft (elbow) will throw off the mound on Sept. 17 and also has a live batting practice session scheduled for early October. Ashcraft resumed throwing in late August but is not going to return from the 60-day injured list before the end of the 2024 regular season after missing more than two months with a strained right elbow. The 26-year-old will have plenty of time to recover during the offseason, though, and should be fully ready for the start of spring training next February. The hard-throwing right-hander wasn't really impressing anyone this year before his elbow injury, going 5-5 with a 5.24 ERA (4.84 FIP), a 1.50 WHIP and a 57:27 K:BB in 77 1/3 innings over his 15 starts. For how hard Ashcraft throws, it remains disappointing that he has a 16.6% strikeout rate in his three major-league seasons.
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
Source: The Cincinnati Enquirer - Charlie Goldsmith
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