Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Undergoes successful surgery
Rotowire
Ashcraft (toe) had successful surgery Tuesday.
Ashcraft underwent surgery to relieve a stress reaction in his big right toe. He is expected to be fully recovered by spring training. Prior to suffering the injury, the starter was having a solid second half with a 2.81 ERA over 10 starts.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Shifts to 60-day IL
Rotowire
The Reds transferred Ashcraft (toe) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday.
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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Will undergo season-ending surgery
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Ashcraft will undergo season-ending surgery on his right big toe Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Officially on injured list
Rotowire
The Reds placed Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a stress reaction in his right big toe.
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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: IL stint likely
Rotowire
Reds manager David Bell said Saturday that Ashcraft (toe) will likely be placed on the injured list, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Battling sore toe
Rotowire
Ashcraft was dealing with a sore toe during his start Friday against the Cubs, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
Ashcraft gave up three runs during the first game of Friday's doubleheader and left after five innings to get an MRI. He should be considered day-to-day until the results of that testing is made available.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Yields two runs in no-decision
Rotowire
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.
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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Allows one run over seven frames
Rotowire
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.
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, both of which came in the first inning. The right-hander threw 17 first-pitch strikes, and it was his third start this season in which he allowed just three hits. Ashcraft has now given up 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 WHIP and 1.41.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Solid again in win
Rotowire
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.
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)
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
The Reds reinstated Ashcraft (calf) from the 15-day injured list ahead of his start Saturday against Atlanta.
After being placed on the injured list June 9 due to a comebacker that hit his left calf, Ashcraft will rejoin the Reds' rotation just in time to face one of the top offenses in baseball. Ashcraft made a start against Atlanta earlier this season, allowing two earned runs on six hits and three walks while striking out seven batters through six frames. Alan Busenitz was optioned to Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Almost fully healed
Rotowire
Ashcraft is nearly fully healed from the left calf contusion which sent him to the injured list, MLB.com reports.
Ashcraft will test out the calf with some running soon and, assuming he gets through that with no issues, will be cleared to throw off a mound. The right-hander could need three bullpen sessions before making a return sometime around when he's first eligible June 24, though he could also require a minor-league rehab assignment.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Collapses against Cards
Rotowire
Ashcraft (2-3) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits over five innings as the Reds fell 8-5 to the Cardinals. He struck out five.
The second-year right-hander was taken deep twice by Paul Goldschmidt as part of the St. Louis barrage. Ashcraft has been tagged for at least seven runs in three of his last four starts, serving up five homers in 17.1 innings over that stretch and sending his ERA soaring from 2.00 to 5.57 during his disastrous May. He'll try to regain his footing in his next outing, likely to come on the road this weekend against the Cubs.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Hit hard in loss
Rotowire
Ashcraft (2-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and a walk over five innings against the Rockies. He struck out three.
Ashcraft held the Rockies scoreless through four innings before imploding in the fifth, an inning in which he allowed five runs, followed by another two in the sixth. The 25-year-old Ashcraft has allowed 19 runs (18 earned) in his last three starts (12.1 innings) after he pitched to a 2.00 ERA over his first six outings. His ERA is now up to 4.84 with a 1.43 WHIP and 36:21 K:BB this season.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Ready to make start Friday
Rotowire
Ashcraft (leg) is scheduled to start Friday's game against the Marlins in Miami, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
Ashcraft's most recent start Sunday against the White Sox came to an end in the second inning when he was struck in the leg by a comebacker, but he didn't suffer any sort of injury that will cause him to miss a turn through the rotation. The second-year righty had maintained a tidy 2.00 ERA and 1.17 WHIP through his first six starts of the season before he recorded just five outs against the White Sox while allowing eight earned runs on six hits and two walks.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Exits after being hit by comebacker
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Ashcraft was removed during the second inning of Sunday's game against the White Sox after being struck in the leg by a comebacker, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.
The right-hander was headed for an early exit regardless of the injury, as he ended up being charged with eight runs while he recorded just five outs. It was Ashcraft's worst start of the year by a wide margin, as he had given up just eight runs combined in his first six outings. The 25-year-old's status will likely be updated following Sunday's contest, but for now he should be considered day-to-day.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Sharp in no-decision
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Ashcraft allowed a run on six hits and a walk while striking out three over six innings in a no-decision versus the Padres on Tuesday.
In his first start after a stint on the bereavement list, Ashcraft turned in a positive outing. It was his fifth quality start through six appearances this season. The 25-year-old was also able to limit an opponent to one walk for just the second time this year. He's pitched to a 2.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 27:16 K:BB through 36 innings. Ashcraft still needs to display stronger control, but he's been effective so far. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Mets next week.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Settles for no-decision Friday
Rotowire
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.
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 21:11 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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Tosses six shutout innings in win
Rotowire
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.
Ashcraft is on a roll to start 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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Punches out seven
Rotowire
Ashcraft allowed two runs on six hits and three walks over six innings during Monday's extra-inning loss to Atlanta. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision.
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 an extra inning with their rally 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.
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Reds' Graham Ashcraft: Possible waiver wire pickups
Rotowire
Graham Ashcraft gained steam with his 25 strikeouts in 17 1/3 innings this spring, his new slider grip serving as a more effective counter to his 100 mph cutter. Initial returns during the regular season were also promising, though I will point out that he had just 10 swinging strikes against a bad Pirates lineup. He still seemed enthusiastic about the slider, though, which he threw 41 percent of the time, up from 27 percent last year. "It's come a long way," Ashcraft said after the game. "It's going to help my arsenal." Among pitchers who might actually be available, there isn't one I'd want more right now.
