July 12: Manager David Bell told reporters on Friday that Ashcraft won’t be back until September at the earliest (X link via Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer). The Reds could move him to the 60-day injured list at some point given that timetable.
July 11: The Reds optioned righty Graham Ashcraft to Triple-A Louisville earlier in the week, but they’ve now rescinded that transaction and instead placed Ashcraft on the major league 15-day injured list due to elbow discomfort. As Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer explains, Ashcraft reported elbow discomfort after being sent down. The team’s medical staff examined the right-hander, discovered the strain, and recommended a platelet-rich plasma injection. He’s been shut down from throwing entirely for the next two weeks as the team waits to see how his elbow responds to the treatment.
It’s been a tough couple months for the 26-year-old Ashcraft, who entered the season locked into a rotation spot but was sent to Triple-A for a reset in early June on the heels of some notable struggles. He returned after three weeks when the Reds placed Nick Lodolo on the IL due to a blister issue on his pitching hand.
Ashcraft started the season well, tossing seven starts (39 1/3 innings) of 3.86 ERA ball with a below-average 18.6% strikeout rate but a sharp 7% walk rate and strong 51.2% grounder rate. He struggled greatly over his next six trips to the mound, however, posting a 7.71 ERA in 28 frames with a diminished 14.9% strikeout rate.
It’s not clear to what extent the elbow was bothering Ashcraft earlier in the season, but it’s worth pointing out that the big righty averaged 95.2 mph on his sinker over his first seven starts but has checked in at an average of 94.1 mph since. He’s also lost about a half mile per hour off his cutter and 1.4 mph off his slider, on average.
The Reds aren’t providing a timetable right now, as Ashcraft’s return (and any further treatment) hinges on the outcome from the PRP injection. For now, the club hasn’t indicated that a major absence is a consideration or concern, but elbow strains in general are an ominous development for any pitcher. Ashcraft has crossed over the two-year threshold in MLB service this season, meaning he’s under club control for at least four more years — through the 2028 campaign. However, he’ll still have multiple option years remaining beyond the current campaign, so it’s possible that future optional assignments to Triple-A could push that free-agent window back even further.
With Ashcraft squarely out of the rotation picture for the time being, righty Carson Spiers will get an extended look as he aims to secure a starting job alongside Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Frankie Montas and Andrew Abbott. The 26-year-old Spiers carries a 3.64 ERA, 17.9% strikeout rate and 5% walk rate through 42 innings — five relief appearances and four starts.
Hopefully this gets Graham straightened out. I said all year something had to be off with him.
Hopefully the PRP injection does the trick. Anything with the elbow is worrisome…
Anything with the arm is worrisome in general. Better an elbow than a shoulder. I’ve given up on him as a starter in Cin. There comes a time, when you become competitive, that you can’t throw guys like this out there every 5th day. Try him in the pen. I know he is impressive at times but he’s getting chances like he were some guy striking out 10 per 9. Rarely does a pitcher that doesn’t even strike guys out much get this long of a rotation look. Not that I always agree with that but it’s true. Only teams that project to be awful can afford to do this.
It’s not all about strikeouts, regardless of the love of the radar gun.
I have long said they need to sign every sinker ball pitcher with good control they can for that ballpark.
But I do agree you can’t keep rolling a guy out there of he is ineffective. We saw that with Weaver last year.
It’s not about the strikeouts to me either. But it is to most clubs seemingly because those are the guys that get a longer look and more chances generally. Many of them get chances well into their 30s despite little success. Meanwhile guys put up great numbers and aren’t given much of a chance. When they have a bad game it’s a demotion. Their good games are considered possible products of luck. It’s a self fulfilling feedback system of biases.
People were freaking out because Elly was out of the lineup. Just an off day, folks. Calm down.
(Though with the Reds crack medical staff, I get it)
Who was freaking out? Cruz hasn’t had a day off all season.
Reds need to try him in a relief role.
Anybody remember when Nick Senzel was an “untouchable” in the Reds farm system?
Prospect is another word for “ain’t done nothing yet.”
Some never do.
Ashcraft just got unlucky 🙂 Cocky dude
The question now is if the Reds will do what they have to do to compete with that big hole in the rotation or do the keep dumpster diving like last year.
Big hole in the rotation? Ashcraft was arguably pitching like a #5 starter.
Not many ball clubs have as strong a front end of a rotation as Greene, Abbott, and Lodolo. Montas is a capable #4 starter and Carson Spiers has been fine as Ashcraft’s replacement.
The only thing this prevents is trading off Montas at the deadline.
Graham, meet Tommy John.
Karma for his weirdo staring competition.
How does that work? Doc my elbow hurts when I pitch. Elbow strain. Stop doing what you’re doing. OK.,
Love the guy, and love that (obvious to me) mean streak. I’d take a look at him as my next Closer. As an aside, Ben Lively would look awfully good to me right about now…….