Graham Ashcraft Fantasy Stats

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Graham Ashcraft couldn't close out the Cubs on Wednesday night, picking up his second blown save of the season. After the Reds rallied to take the lead in the top of the ninth, Ashcraft came in to secure the win, but he gave up a single to Carson Kelly and a game-tying home run to Pete Crow-Armstrong. He was able to finish the inning but was charged with two runs on two hits, causing his ERA to rise to 1.93 on the season. In his 17 previous appearances, Ashcraft had allowed two earned runs across 17 2/3 innings with 19 strikeouts. With Emilio Pagan (hamstring) on the injured list, Ashcraft and Tony Santillan will likely share closer duties. However, Santillan blew the save on Tuesday and Ashcraft on Wednesday, leaving the job still wide open while Pagan is out for an extended period of time.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft may be a worthy stash after go-to closer Emilio Pagan suffered a hamstring injury during Wednesday's game. Late-inning opportunities should increase across the Reds bullpen, and the elite 1.02 ERA of Ashcraft poises him to be the next man up in leverage situations. After making a major jump across 62 games last year with an ERA under 4.00, Ashcraft appears to have taken a step forward as he continues to dominate late in games. He already has one save in two opportunities this season. This usage suggests the Reds may turn to him frequently while their primary closer remains sidelined.

Cincinnati Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft delivered a clean inning in Tuesday's 2-1 victory vs. the Giants, striking out two batters. Graham Ashcraft has been a reliable presence in the bullpen, posting a 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and 13 strikeouts across nine innings. The 28-year-old has spent his entire career in Cincinnati and is showing signs of taking a meaningful step forward. His ability to miss bats has stood out early in the season, with a 38.2 K%. Injuries within the Reds bullpen have created additional opportunities. If Ashcraft continues to perform at this level, he could solidify a consistent high-leverage role moving forward.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft won his salary arbitration case against the team on Friday, sources told Jeff Passan of ESPN. Ashcraft will make $1.75 million in 2026. After dealing with injuries and posting an ERA just under 5.00 in his first three seasons with the Reds as a starter, Cincy converted the 27-year-old into a full-time reliever in 2025, and the results were solid. Ashcraft had a career-best 3.99 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with 64 strikeouts and 25 walks in 65 1/3 innings out of the bullpen. He will enter the 2026 campaign in a middle-relief role again, which limits his fantasy appeal, but Ashcraft did tally 23 holds last year, which was tied for 19th in the league. Injuries were still an issue -- he made two trips to the injured list. Ashcraft also had a career-high 22.5% strikeout rate in 2025, although it's still a bit underwhelming for how hard he throws.

The Cincinnati Reds announced on Thursday that they reinstated right-hander Graham Ashcraft (forearm) from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-handers Lyon Richardson and Yosver Zulueta in corresponding moves. Ashcraft will return to the Reds after missing the last two weeks with a forearm strain in his right arm and will be available out of their bullpen for the weekend series in Sacramento against the Athletics. The former starter is now a full-time reliever in Cincinnati, which has sapped him of what little fantasy value he had left. Ashcraft has made 53 appearances out of the bullpen for the Reds this year and has a career-best 3.72 ERA (2.90 FIP) and 1.45 WHIP with 56 strikeouts and 24 walks in 58 innings. His strikeout rate is a career-best 22%, but his walk rate is a career-high 9.4%.

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft (groin) threw a bullpen session on June 27 and is expected to throw another later on Sunday. Ashcraft could then proceed to throw a simulated game on June 2 if he continues to progress well. Ashcraft has been on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain since June 17. After operating primarily out of the rotation through his first three MLB campaigns, the Reds shifted Ashcraft to the bullpen to open the 2025 season. Through 34 1/3 innings of relief this season, Ashcraft has held a modest 4.19 ERA with a high 1.51 WHIP. He has struck out 38 batters but allowed walks at a high 9.8% rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could return to action before the All-Star break.

With his recent move to the bullpen, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Graham Ashcraft notes he's eyeing the team's closer role. "At the end of the day, if I'm in the bullpen, that's where I want to be," said Ashcraft. The 27-year-old had been considered one of the Reds' Big Three pitching prospects over recent years, though it hasn't really panned out for him in the rotation. A recent move to the bullpen could be a boon for the former sixth-round pick, and he pitched well last Thursday in that role, allowing no hits, a walk, and striking out two. Ashcraft may not begin the season pitching late in games, particularly with teammates Taylor Rogers, Emilio Pagan, and Scott Barlow offering potential ninth-inning options for manager Terry Francona. Still, if he can continue to pitch well when called upon, he may find his way there later.

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft will open the 2025 campaign in the bullpen. Ashcraft was being stretched out as a starter during camp but fell short of making the opening-day rotation. Last season, Ashcraft made all of his appearances in the rotation and logged 77 1/3 innings with a 5.24 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He tallied just 57 punchouts and held a modest 7.7 percent walk rate. In addition, Ashcraft generated a high 5.18 xERA with a .278 xBA, which placed him in the seventh and sixth percentile, respectively. However, he did generate an elite 49.2 percent ground-ball rate, which was well above the average mark. Fantasy managers should expect the 27-year-old to likely operate as a long-relief option, limiting his fantasy upside.

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft (elbow) was seen throwing a live batting practice session at spring training on Thursday. A right-elbow strain prevented Ashcraft from pitching in the second half of the 2024 season for the Reds, but he appears to be recovered from that injury and a full-go in camp. The 27-year-old is going to have to pitch much better than he has the last three seasons in Cincinnati if he wants to earn a rotation spot on Opening Day, especially after the Reds acquired Brady Singer from the Royals this offseason. Ashcraft started the year with a 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in his first 12 starts, so the Reds sent him to the minors. He's produced an unattractive 4.91 ERA and 1.42 WHIP with a well below-average 16.6% strikeout rate and 7.6% walk rate in his three seasons in Cincy with no evidence of a turnaround coming.

According to C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, the Cincinnati Reds may opt to deploy right-handed pitcher Graham Ashcraft out of the bullpen. Rosecrans noted that the team has always viewed Ashcraft as a reliever since he was drafted in the 2019 MLB Draft. However, throughout his three-year MLB career, the right-hander has only seen opportunities in the starting rotation. If Ashcraft struggles during spring training and is viewed as the No. 6 option in the rotation, the team could then transition him to a relief role. The 26-year-old had the worst season of his career last summer, posting a 5.24 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. In 2023, the Alabama - Birmingham product posted a 4.76 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP across 145 2/3 innings of work. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor the Cincinnati rotation during spring training as if they are all healthy, Ashcraft would likely shift to the bullpen.