GRAHAM ASHCRAFT NEWS

Ashcraft to undergo surgery, miss rest of 2023 and postseason CINCINNATI -- If the Reds can get into the postseason, they still won't have key starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft at their disposal. Ashcraf...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 • MLB.COM

Shifts to 60-day IL The Reds transferred Ashcraft (toe) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.

Impact The move to the 60-day IL officially ends Ashcraft's season, which comes as little surprise after reports emerged over the weekend that the right-hander would soon undergo surgery to address a stress reaction in his right big toe. Ashcraft is expected to be in store for a relatively normal offseason and should be fully cleared in advance of spring training. He finished the 2023 campaign with a 7-9 record, 4.76 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 111:52 K:BB over 145.2 innings across 26 starts with Cincinnati.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will undergo season-ending surgery Ashcraft will undergo season-ending surgery on his right big toe Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Ashcraft landed on the injured list earlier this month and hoped to pitch again but surgery obviates a return in 2023. The Reds move forward with just one pitcher from the Opening Day rotation -- Hunter Greene -- and three rookies. Ben Lively, who battled through a pectoral injury and recently returned from the COVID-19-related injured list, is also projected to start games.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Officially on injured list The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a stress reaction in his right big toe.

Impact Ashcraft pitched five innings Friday against the Cubs before leaving the game to get an MRI on his toe. He'll now officially miss multiple turns through the rotation and be replaced on the roster by Chasen Shreve, who was selected from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

IL stint likely Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that Ashcraft (toe) will likely be placed on the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Ashcraft was taken out of his start Friday against the Cubs due to a sore toe, and it appears he will be forced to miss multiple turns through the rotation. His absence will be a big blow to a Reds rotation that is already without three pitchers due to COVID-19.

SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Battling sore toe Ashcraft was dealing with a sore toe during his start Friday against the Cubs, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Impact Ashcraft gave up three runs during Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader and left the game after five innings to get an MRI. More information regarding the severity of his injury will be available once the results come back, but Ashcraft should be considered day-to-day for the time being.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Yields two runs in no-decision Ashcraft allowed two runs on seven hits and a walk over 6.2 frames in Sunday's loss to Arizona. He struck out five and did not factor in the decision.

Impact Ashcraft gave up one run through six innings before coughing up a solo shot to Lourdes Gurriel in the seventh. Ashcraft has allowed three or fewer runs in 11 consecutive starts, posting a 2.39 ERA during that span. His season ERA still sits at 4.73 alongside a 105:51 K:BB through 140.2 frames. Ashcraft's next start is projected to be at home against the Cubs.

AUGUST 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Graham Ashcraft fans 10 as Reds rally past Angels Graham Ashcraft recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts over seven innings and Matt McLain homered in his return to Southern California as the...

AUGUST 23, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Fans 10 in win Ashcraft (7-8) earned the win Tuesday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings against the Angels. He struck out 10.

Impact Ashcraft struggled mightily with the long ball Tuesday, surrendering a trio of solo homers to Brandon Drury, Mike Moustakas and Logan O'Hoppe, respectively. However, he was dominant outside of the home runs, giving up no runs on two hits across seven innings of work. The outing was Ashcraft's first career start with double-digit strikeouts and marked his 10th straight appearance allowing three or fewer runs. Over that stretch, Ashcraft owns a 2.35 ERA and a 48:20 K:BB across 65 innings. He's lined up to finish out his two-start week with a road game against the Diamondbacks on Sunday.

AUGUST 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Reds-Angels postponed Ashcraft and the Reds won't play the Angels on Monday after the game was postponed due to inclement weather in Anaheim, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Impact With Hurricane Hilary bringing heavy rainfall to Southern California, the Reds and Angels will wait until Tuesday to begin their three-game series. Monday's postponement will be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday. Expect the Reds to move Ashcraft back one day in the pitching schedule to take the hill Tuesday.

AUGUST 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

MLB Betting Guide for Monday 8/21/23: Trusting Volatile Pitchers in Anaheim Graham Ashcraft's pitching profile isn't perfect, but can he be the latest to stymie the Angels' struggling bats on Monday?

AUGUST 21, 2023 • FANDUEL.COM

Reds' bats quiet behind Ashcraft's 4th straight quality start CINCINNATI -- Bad outings have been few and far between for Graham Ashcraft, who has recorded a quality start in eight of his past nine appe...

AUGUST 16, 2023 • MLB.COM

Goes seven innings in loss Ashcraft (6-8) took the loss Tuesday, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks over seven innings against the Guardians. He struck out two.

Impact After allowing a pair of runs in the opening inning, Ashcraft blanked the Guardians over his subsequent six frames before allowing a third run in the seventh. However, the Reds failed to generate any run support in a 3-0 loss. Ashcraft hasn't allowed more than three runs in a start since June 24 -- he's pitched to a 2.17 ERA over his last nine outings. Overall, the 25-year-old right-hander has a 4.89 ERA with a 1.40 WHIP and 90:48 K:BB across 23 starts (127 innings) this season. Ashcraft's currently lined up for a road matchup with the Angels in his next outing.

AUGUST 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Allows one run over seven frames Ashcraft did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings in a 5-4 loss against the Marlins. He struck out seven.

Impact Ashcraft surrendered a leadoff home run to Josh Bell in top of the fourth but was otherwise dominant, allowing only two other hits in the game, which came in the first inning. The right-hander threw 17 first-pitch strikes while it was his third start this season in which he allowed just three hits. Ashcraft has now allowed two earned runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts and has allowed one run or fewer in five of those eight starts. With Thursday's performance he lowered his season ERA to 4.95 and has a 12:3 K:BB through two August starts.

AUGUST 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ashcraft's strong start a breath of fresh air despite HRs CINCINNATI -- The Reds needed right-hander Graham Ashcraft to be good Friday night. Ashcraft answered the bell. But the Reds couldn't make h...

AUGUST 5, 2023 • MLB.COM

Loses lead in eighth inning Ashcraft did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks over eight innings in a 6-3 loss against Washington. He struck out five.

Impact Ashcraft allowed just one run through seven and was a pitch away from escaping the eighth inning with a 3-1 lead, but Joey Meneses smashed a two-run homer to tie the game on Ashcraft's 100th pitch of the night. With that, Ashcraft's night ended on a bit of a sour note, but it was still another positive outing overall for the right-hander. Ashcraft has now turned in six quality starts in his last seven turns, bringing his ERA down to 5.18 for the season.

AUGUST 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Quiets Dodgers Ashcraft (6-7) allowed five hits and struck out two without walking a batter over six shutouts innings to earn the win Sunday over the Dodgers.

Impact Ashcraft continued a solid stretch that has seen him allow no more than two runs in any of his last six starts. This was his fifth quality start in that span, and it's also the second time he's tossed a scoreless appearance. The 25-year-old right-hander is at a 5.31 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 76:43 K:BB through 105 innings across 20 starts, but his recent pitching certainly makes him worth a look in most fantasy formats. Ashcraft is projected to make his next start at home versus the Nationals.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Solid again Monday Ashcraft allowed two runs on five hits and four walks while striking out eight batters over 5.1 innings in a no-decision against Milwaukee on Monday.

Impact Ashcraft tied a season high with four walks in the outing, but he avoided issuing multiple free passes in any one frame. The right-hander balanced the mild wildness with a campaign-best eight strikeouts, and he fell just two outs shy of a fifth straight quality start. Though Ashcraft has had some major blow-ups this season -- a big factor in his poor overall 5.64 ERA -- he's been pitching well since the end of June, posting a 2.10 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 30 innings covering his past five starts.

JULY 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Continues strong pitching Wednesday Ashcraft (5-7) earned the win over San Francisco on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over six-plus innings.

Impact Ashcraft breezed through four scoreless frames before the Giants tagged him for a run in the fifth. The right-hander tossed a 1-2-3 sixth but surrendered a solo homer to Blake Sabol leading off the seventh, which led to his removal. Though his outing ended on that sour note, it was another strong performance overall by Ashcraft, as he notched his fourth straight quality start. Over that span, he's recorded a standout 1.82 ERA over 24.2 frames, though his mediocre 14:9 K:BB across the quality-start streak is fair reason to question whether it is sustainable.

JULY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Quality start in loss Ashcraft (4-7) took the loss Friday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Brewers. He struck out two.

Impact The two strikeouts do little to excite, but Ashcraft was efficient and kept the ball on the ground, resulting in his third straight quality start. He was outdueled by Corbin Burnes and company on the other side. Ashcraft has allowed a total of three earned runs over his last three starts spanning 18.2 innings after straying from his groundball ways and battling severe gopheritis in May and June. He should still be considered a volatile option given the lack of whiffs. Up next is a home start against the Giants.

JULY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Solid again in win Ashcraft (4-6) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on seven hits and three walks over six innings against the Nationals. He struck out two.

Impact After allowing a run in the first inning, Ashcraft rebounded to blank the Nats over his final five frames en route to his first win since May 28. The 25-year-old Ashcraft has now delivered consecutive quality starts after pitching to a 12.82 ERA in his previous eight outings. He'll head into the All-Star break with an unsightly 6.28 ERA with a 1.59 WHIP and 61:35 K:BB across 16 starts (81.2 innings)

JULY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

McCoy: De La Cruz, Votto go deep as Reds pound Nationals Graham Ashcraft put nine runners on base in the first four innings, Jake Fraley made the third out of an inning trying to go from first to t...

JULY 6, 2023 • DAYTONDAILYNEWS.COM

How a rebound by Ashcraft could affect the Reds This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularl...

JULY 2, 2023 • MLB.COM

Rebounds in no-decision Ashcraft was not involved in the decision Friday, when he allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out seven over 6.2 innings in a 7-5 extra-innings win over San...

Impact Ashcraft picked up an impotent offense and kept the team in the game until Cincinnati's bats got going over the final innings. It was a promising outing for the right-hander, who was knocked around in his last start and had an ugly 12.82 ERA in the previous eight outings. Ashcraft looked like the confident hurler seen earlier in the season, when he posted 2.00 ERA and averaged six innings over his first six starts.

JULY 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Knocked around in return Ashcraft (3-6) took the loss against Atlanta on Saturday, allowing six runs on 10 hits and striking out two batters over four-plus innings.

Impact Ashcraft faced a tough test in his return from a stint on the injured list due to a calf injury, and he was unable to contain Atlanta's potent offense. The right-hander served up a season-high three homers and yielded 10 total hits for the third time this season. Ashcraft hasn't pitched more than four innings in any of his three starts in June, giving up 19 earned runs 10.2 frames during the month. His ERA now sits at an ugly 7.17 on the campaign.

JUNE 25, 2023 • ROTOWIRE