Asher was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk on Thursday, Eduardo Encina of The Baltimore Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Asher was shipped to the Orioles earlier in the week after failing to make the Phillies Opening Day squad. The 25-year-old struggled this spring, though he posted a 2.28 ERA across 27.2 innings (five starts) last year with the big league club. He'll start out in the minors, but Asher could earn himself a shot with the Orioles at some point in 2017.

Asher was traded to the Orioles for a player to be named later.

EDGE Analysis

With the Phillies rotation set heading into the season, Asher was destined to start the year with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He pitched well in his short stint with the big league club last season, posting a 2.28 ERA across 27.2 innings (five starts), though he only struck out 13 batters. The 25-year-old will likely head to Triple-A Norfolk where he'll work for a call-up.

Asher made his spring debut Friday against the Yankees, allowing two hits, one a solo homer, over two innings while striking out two.

EDGE Analysis

Asher found success last season after adding a two-seam fastball and featuring it heavily while going 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA in five starts late in the year with the Phillies. He has added a cutter this spring to compliment his two-seamer, according to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Unless a starter is injured in camp, Asher is expected to open the year in the rotation at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Asher allowed three runs on five hits over six innings Friday in a 5-1 loss to the Mets. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

EDGE Analysis

Asher retired the first 11 hitters he faced before running into some trouble in the fourth inning. He was pulled in the seventh after allowing a Jay Bruce home run to lead off the inning. He finishes 2016 with a 2.28 ERA and a 13:4 K:BB in 27.2 innings. He will likely get a chance to compete for a rotation spot next spring.

Manager Pete Mackanin said he may push Asher's next start back to Saturday and go with a bullpen game Friday against the Mets, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Phillies are skipping Jake Thompson's final start and don't have a starter to plug into that spot. Saturday's game is nationally televised, and Mackanin said he would rather have Asher pitch in that game.

Asher (2-0) allowed four runs (none earned) on five hits over five innings in a victory over the Mets on Saturday. He also had one strikeout and no walks.

EDGE Analysis

Philadelphia took a 10-0 lead, but nearly gave it away, as the Phillies just barely held to win 10-8. Asher was cruising along through three and worked out of trouble in the fourth, but then two errors in the fifth led to five unearned runs. Asher has allowed just four earned runs in three MLB starts. He has a 1.66 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and nine strikeouts in 21.2 innings this season.

Asher allowed two runs on six hits over 4.1 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Marlins on Sunday. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

EDGE Analysis

Asher held the Marlins scoreless for the first four innings, but got into trouble in the fifth which earned him the early hook from the game. He has a 2.16 ERA in his three starts since returning from a suspension earlier this month. He is scheduled to face the Mets in New York in his next start.

Asher gave up two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out four over 6.1 innings in a no decision Tuesday against the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Asher's second start of 2016 was unsurprisingly worse than his first, as the 24-year-old came back down to earth after throwing six scoreless innings against the Nationals. This was by no means a poor effort, though, indicating that he has improved significantly from a rookie season in which he posted a 9.31 ERA over 29 innings for the Phillies. He'll look to keep the good times rolling Sunday against Miami.

Asher (1-0) was brilliant in his 2016 debut, beating the Nationals with six scoreless innings in which he allowed just two hits and a walk without a strikeout Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Asher served an 80-game suspension for a positive drug test with Triple-A Lehigh, but rebounded from that low with the high of his first career win. This is a major step forward after he went 0-6 with a 9.31 ERA as a rookie last season. He'll look to keep the good times rolling Tuesday against the Pirates, though a minuscule strikeout rate limits his upside.

Asher was recalled from Double-A Reading and will start Thursday against the Nationals.

EDGE Analysis

The Phillies had announced that Asher would join the big club, so Thursday's move comes as no surprise. He's started four games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season, where he put up a 1.53 ERA and a 0.61 WHIP. However, he hasn't had much luck during his career in the majors. Across seven starts, he's given up 30 runs over 29 innings, giving him an ERA of 9.31.