GRAHAM ASHCRAFT NEWS

Goes on bereavement leave Ashcraft was placed on the bereavement list Thursday.

Impact Ashcraft pitched Wednesday versus the Rangers and will presumably be back in time for his next turn in the Reds' rotation. The 25-year-old boasts a 2.10 ERA with 24 strikeouts through 30 innings (five starts) this season.

APRIL 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

'That last inning was all her': Ashcraft honors grandma with gem CINCINNATI -- Reds starting pitcher Graham Ashcraft kept his emotions and grief in check just long enough against the Rangers on Wednesday....

APRIL 26, 2023 • MLB.COM

Solid again Wednesday Ashcraft allowed two runs on three hits and four walks over six innings Wednesday in a no-decision against the Rangers. He struck out three.

Impact Through five starts this year, Ashcraft has yet to allow more than two runs while pitching at least five innings. The 25-year-old right-hander is 2-0 with an impressive 2.10 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 24:15 K:BB. While an 11.3% walk rate and .235 BABIP against would indicate that Ashcraft is due for some regression, he's been able to limit hard contact thus far. He's tentatively lined up to face the Padres on the road in his next outing.

APRIL 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Settles for no-decision Friday Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates, giving up two runs on three hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out four.

Impact The right-hander tossed 51 of 89 pitches for strikes in his shortest outing so far this season, but he left the game with the score tied 2-2. Walks are beginning to pile up for Ashcraft -- he's issued multiple free passes in three straight starts, and he sports a 21:10 K:BB through 24 innings, but he'll still take a sharp 1.88 ERA into his next appearance, likely to come next week at home against the Rangers.

APRIL 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Marcus Stroman, Jarred Kelenic among 10 most fascinating starts in MLB

From Jorge Mateo to Pablo López to Aroldis Chapman, here are 10 of the most fascinating starts to the 2023 MLB season.

APRIL 21, 2023

Tosses six shutout innings in win Ashcraft (2-0) earned the win Saturday, allowing zero runs on four hits and four walks over six innings against Philadelphia. He struck out four.

Impact Ashcraft is on a roll to start off the season. The 25-year-old righty has given up just three runs in 19 innings pitched, good for a 1.42 ERA. Additionally, the Alabama native has a 1.16 WHIP, and has given up just one home run thus far. While it's still early, this is as good of a start as fantasy managers could've hoped for.

APRIL 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Wil Myers' two homers, dominant Ashcraft get Reds win over the Phillies Graham Ashcraft pitched six shutout innings, and Wil Myers added two homers for the Reds.

APRIL 15, 2023 • CINCINNATI.COM

Emerging Ashcraft continues to rise to occasion ATLANTA -- The new-look Graham Ashcraft continues to watch the difficulty level tick up and up. And he continues to thrive. First it was Spr...

APRIL 11, 2023 • MLB.COM

Punches out seven Ashcraft allowed two runs on six hits and three walks over six innings during Monday's loss to Atlanta. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision.

Impact The 25-year-old righty rolled through five shutout frames before Sean Murphy broke the scoreless tie with a sixth-inning double. Ashcraft was then charged with a second run in the seventh and was in line for a loss before the Reds forced extra innings in the ninth. He's sporting a 2.08 ERA with a 13:4 K:BB through two starts to begin the season. Ashcraft is projected to face the Phillies at home this weekend.

APRIL 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Start pushed to Monday Ashcraft won't start Sunday at Philadelphia as previously scheduled and will instead pitch Monday in Atlanta, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact There doesn't appear to be an injury situation, Ashcraft will still receive an extra day of rest between starts. Connor Overton, who was originally slated to pitch Monday, will move up a day to start Sunday's series finale with the Phillies.

APRIL 8, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Fires seven strong frames Ashcraft (1-0) earned the win Sunday, allowing one run on four hits and one walk over seven innings against the Pirates. He struck out six.

Impact The right-hander consistently worked from ahead in the count during his season debut, throwing first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 26 batters he faced. A solo home run off the bat of Bryan Reynolds accounted for the lone tally against him. Ashcraft will have a tougher test for his next turn through rotation next weekend in Philadelphia.

APRIL 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Vosler, Friedl homer to support Ashcraft in Reds' victory

Graham Ashcraft pitched seven solid innings, Jason Vosler and TJ Friedl hit solo home runs and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 on Saturday

APRIL 2, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Graham Ashcraft overpowers Pirates to earn Cincinnati Reds' first series win of season Graham Ashcraft permitted one run across seven innings to lead the Reds to a 3-1 win over the Pirates.

APRIL 2, 2023 • CINCINNATI.COM

New grip on slider Ashcraft struck out 10 "B-Team" Padres in Wednesday night's spring training start over six innings. After the start he exuded about the progress he has made with his slider, a pitc...

Impact Between the reports of Ashcraft hitting 100 mph and now his new-and-improved slider, he's graduated to the level of last-round dart-throw intrigue. He obviously needs to face tougher competition, but he now has 25 strikeouts in 17.1 spring training innings.

MARCH 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Set to start Friday Ashcraft (calf) is listed as Cincinnati's probable starter for Friday's spring game against the Guardians.

Impact The 25-year-old was removed from his most recent start Sunday with calf cramps, but it appears the issue won't affect his next turn through the rotation. Ashcraft got his fastball up over 100 mph prior to his exit from that outing, though he'll need more than just velocity to take a step forward in 2023 after he posted a 4.89 ERA and 71:30 K:BB across 105 innings as a rookie last year.

MARCH 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Increased velocity Before he left Sunday's spring training start with calf cramps, Ashcraft was reaching 100 mph on his fastball and getting more swings-and-misses, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnat...

Impact Despite a fastball that averaged 97.2 mph last year, Ashcraft managed only a 15.3 percent strikeout rate and 8.8 percent swinging strike percentage. Ashcraft already threw hard, so added velocity alone won't be sufficient to guarantee better results this season. However, the reports of added swings-and-misses before his calf cramp were promising.

MARCH 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Should make next start Manager David Bell said Monday that he expects Ashcraft (calf) to be available to start the next time his turn comes up in the Reds' Cactus League rotation, Charlie Goldsmith of Th...

Impact Ashcraft exited his most recent start Sunday against the Dodgers with what the team labeled as calf cramps, and after further evaluation, his injury doesn't appear to be any more serious than that. Assuming Ashcraft is able to complete a bullpen session Tuesday or Wednesday without incident, he should be ready to pitch in a game as soon as Friday.

MARCH 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Exits with calf cramps Ashcraft was removed from Sunday's spring start against the Dodgers due to calf cramps, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact It's encouraging news for the 25-year-old, who exited Sunday's start during the third inning with an athletic trainer. Ashcraft should be able to make a quick return to the mound and will likely remain on track to begin the season as Cincinnati's No. 3 starter.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Pulled with apparent injury Ashcraft was removed from Sunday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers with an apparent leg injury, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact The 25-year-old started off with two scoreless frames but faltered during the third inning before spiking a pitch in the dirt and grabbing at his leg. The specifics of the situation remain unclear, but any absence at this point would likely affect Ashcraft's availability for the Opening Day rotation, for which he's already been named the No. 3 starter.

MARCH 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Will open as No. 3 starter Reds manager David Bell announced Thursday that Ashcraft will begin the season as the team's No. 3 starter, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Hunter Greene was named the Opening Day starter for the Reds on Thursday afternoon, and now Bell adds that Nick Lodolo will pitch the second game of the regular season with Ashcraft following in the third. Ashcraft, 25, worked to a 4.89 ERA and 71:30 K:BB over his first 105 major-league innings (19 starts) in 2022. He's trying to add more swing-and-miss this spring.

MARCH 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Focus on slider Ashcraft allowed two runs over two innings on three hits, a walk, a wild pitch and a hit batter in his spring training debut against the A's on Wednesday, striking out two. A prima...

Impact Ashcraft threw his slider just over 27% of the time last season in his rookie year, with better results than with is cutter or sinker. "It's come a long way. I threw 10 out of 15 [sliders] over the plate for strikes. It's hard to complain," Ashcraft said. "We've still got a little bit to go with it. We're going to see what happens with it."

MARCH 1, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Starting Wednesday Ashcraft will start Wednesday's Cactus League contest against the Athletics, Bobby Nightengale of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Ashcraft dealt with an ankle injury early in spring camp, but the right-hander was able to throw a bullpen without issue on Friday, and the 25-year-old will be on the bump against the A's on Wednesday. In his rookie season, Ashcraft posted a 4.89 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 71:31 K:BB over 105 innings of work. He's expected to pitch in the middle of the Cincinnati rotation to open the 2023 campaign.

FEBRUARY 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Throws live BP without issue Ashcraft (ankle) threw a successful round of live batting practice Friday, Bobby Nightengale of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Ashcraft made an early exit from his last round of live BP after taking a comebacker off his right ankle, but the 25-year-old hasn't skipped a beat with his spring training throwing progression. He'll soon begin appearing in Cactus League games as he readies himself for a prominent spot in Cincinnati's starting rotation.

FEBRUARY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

No limitations with ankle Reds manager David Bell said Tuesday that Ashcraft (ankle) won't have any setbacks to his spring throwing progression, Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Impact Ashcraft took a line drive off his right ankle while throwing live batting practice Monday in Reds camp, but he was walking normally soon after and should be ready to hop back on a mound later this week. The 25-year-old right-hander figures to open the 2023 campaign as the No. 3 starter in Cincinnati.

FEBRUARY 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Early exit deemed precautionary Ashcraft said that he was removed early from his live batting practice session Monday for precautionary reasons after he was struck in the right ankle by a comebacker, Charlie Gold...

Impact The right-hander noted that he's OK and is walking completely normal after getting hit by a line drive, which apparently didn't result in him experiencing anything more than minor bruising or soreness to his ankle. Ashcraft looks on track to remain on his usual throwing progression this spring as he looks to stake his claim to a spot in Cincinnati's Opening Day rotation.

FEBRUARY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE