Ashcraft (0-1) took the loss Monday against the Reds, allowing two runs on four hits and four walks in six innings. He struck out three.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander was saddled with a tough-luck loss, logging a quality start in his season debut. The four walks allowed matched a career high for Ashcraft, but it was still a fine showing overall at hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park. Ashcraft's next start is scheduled to come over the weekend at home versus the Orioles, and he'll be trying to reach the 90-pitch mark after tossing 87 pitches Monday.

Ashcraft threw 3.0 scoreless innings while walking one, allowing one hit and striking out two in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Ashcraft entered the spring with a presumed spot in Pittsburgh's rotation, and his work through two exhibition starts seems to have confirmed that. He ramped up to three innings and 38 pitches Saturday, and he's now allowed one earned run with a 3:1 K:BB across five total frames.

Ashcraft is expected to start the 2026 season in the rotation, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Pirates' rotation was crowded to begin the offseason, but they've since traded away both Mike Burrows and Johan Oviedo to bolster their lineup. That should lock Ashcraft into a starting role, particularly so long as Jared Jones (elbow) is sidelined. While there hasn't been any official word from the team, Stumpf also suggests that Ashcraft is likely to set a new career-high in innings after completing 118 frames between Triple-A and the big leagues in 2025.

Ashcraft (4-4) took the loss Thursday against Cincinnati, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk over 4.1 innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Ashcraft was sharp early, holding the Reds scoreless through his first four innings, but he'd stumble in the fifth, allowing a pair of runs after giving up four straight hits to open the frame. While it didn't end on a high note, Ashcraft had a strong rookie campaign as a swingman in Pittsburgh, posting a 2.71 ERA with a 1.25 WHIP and 71:24 K:BB across 69.2 innings. He'll likely be in the mix to claim a rotation spot in 2026.

Ashcraft (4-3) took the loss Monday against the Cubs, conceding three runs on six hits and two walks over four innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

The rookie right-hander stumbled in this 70-pitch outing, as he coughed up a career-worst six hits. Ashcraft strolled through two scoreless frames before faltering in the third, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk. In 62.1 big-league innings, the 25-year-old has produced a 2.74 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 60:23 while bouncing between various roles as a starter and reliever. Given that Ashcraft has already tossed a career-high 110.2 frames across all levels this season, the Pirates will likely limit his usage down the stretch.

The Pirates list Ashcraft as their probable starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Cubs at PNC Park.

EDGE Analysis

In his most recent appearance during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Orioles, Ashcraft covered three innings out of the bullpen while piggybacking starter Mike Burrows, who was lifted after covering the first four frames. The Pirates look set to break up the tandem and move to a six-man rotation during the upcoming week, as Burrows will start Sunday's series finale in Washington while Ashcraft gets the ball for the first contest of a six-game homestand. Though he's returning to a starting role, Ashcraft could still have his workload monitored carefully Monday since he's already tossed 32.2 more innings in 2025 than he did during the 2024 season.

Ashcraft allowed one earned run on two hits and two walks while striking out four across three innings Wednesday against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Mike Burrows drew the traditional start, but Ashcraft followed him into the game to work in bulk relief. He struggled to consistently hit the zone, with only 36 of his 63 pitches finding the strike zone. While he was inefficient, Ashcraft also racked up seven swinging strikes and recorded all three of his outs in the fifth inning via the strikeout. Ashcraft has a 2.72 ERA and 1.16 WHIP across 36.1 innings since the All-Star break, though most of those appearances have come either in bulk relief or shortened starts.

Ashcraft took a no-decision in his start during Wednesday's 3-0 win over the Dodgers, striking out four batters while allowing two hits and four walks over three scoreless frames.

EDGE Analysis

After working at least five innings in each of his last three starts, Ashcraft tossed just 71 pitches before being lifted from Wednesday's contest. Ashcraft's early exit looks to have been a pre-planned arrangement; the right-hander has now totaled 103.2 innings between the majors and Triple-A Indianapolis this season, an increase of nearly 30 innings from what he covered during his time in the minors in 2024. The Pirates are also looking to manage the workload of one of their other young starters in Mike Burrows, who was moved to the bullpen last week and ended up tossing three innings in relief of Ashcraft on Wednesday. Though Ashcraft should continue to make starts for the Pirates, it wouldn't be surprising if he was deployed in tandem with Burrows in his future turns through the rotation.

Ashcraft didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits and one walk in 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Ashcraft turned in his third consecutive start of at least five innings while yielding one run or zero. With Andrew Heaney having been designated for assignment by the Pirates, Ashcraft has a fairly clear path to a starting role in the rotation to wrap up the season. The rookie right-hander has a promising 2.58 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB across his first 52.1 innings, though a scheduled matchup against the Dodgers next week might curb his streaming appeal a bit for his next turn.

Ashcraft (4-2) picked up the win in Friday's 9-0 rout of the Rockies, allowing one hit and one walk over five scoreless innings. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Making his third straight start, Ashcraft delivered the best performance of his young career as he combined with fellow rookie Bubba Chandler on the shutout. Ashcraft racked up 14 swinging strikes on only 65 pitches (47 total strikes) as he set a new personal best in Ks, and since moving into the rotation the 25-year-old righty has a 1.35 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB over 13.1 innings. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in St. Louis.