How a rebound by Ashcraft could affect the Reds

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- The Reds may have found a boost to their rotation which would make their need to add a starting pitcher a little less urgent this summer. You may know the guy.

His name is Graham Ashcraft, and he delivered a long-awaited return to form on Friday vs. the Padres. In a 7-5 Cincinnati win in 11 innings, Ashcraft allowed one earned run on three hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

"There are just times when you can feel the game going your way, and I felt like today the game itself was going my way," Ashcraft said. "My ground balls skyrocketed. I'd say it's the most ground balls I've had all year. The swing-and-miss, too, the strikeouts, not walking much until I got a little fatigued there at the end.

"It's just high energy. When you feel it, you know.”

Ashcraft got 18 whiffs on 49 swings, including 13 against 22 swings on the slider.

"Right from the beginning, he looked like Graham does when he pitches well," Reds manager David Bell said. "Each inning, he gained momentum and confidence. You could just see it on the field, especially at the end of innings."

It was Cincinnati’s first quality start by someone not named Andrew Abbott since Hunter Greene at Houston on June 17. It was also the first time Ashcraft pitched into the seventh inning since May 2 at San Diego.

“Graham has been fighting. He’s been trying to work some things out," said infielder Spencer Steer, who won the game with a walk-off two-run homer. "He looked like the Graham I know. He’s going to keep getting better, I think."

Ashcraft opened the season 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA over his first six starts while opponents batted .202 against him. The floor went out beneath him over the next eight starts, as he went 1-6 with a 12.82 ERA while opponents batted .386.

After missing a couple of starts on the injured list with a left calf contusion, Ashcraft returned last Saturday against the Braves. He allowed six earned runs and 10 hits in four-plus innings, but said he was encouraged by his stuff.

Abbott is 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA, but the Reds' rotation is 28th in MLB with a 5.78 ERA as Ashcraft, Luke Weaver and Brandon Williamson have battled with consistency. To his credit, Williamson looked solid during his five innings on Saturday vs. San Diego.

Greene and Nick Lodolo are both on the injured list, targeted for returns in August. Ben Lively could be back just before the All-Star break. Prospect Connor Phillips was just promoted to Triple-A Louisville, so the organization would probably like to see how he adjusts before rushing him to the big leagues.

As I've written earlier this week, general manager Nick Krall is looking to add starting pitchers to boost the rotation ahead of the Aug. 1 Trade Deadline. But it's expected to be a steep price, especially when it comes to prospects.

That's not Ashcraft's problem, of course, but finding his form would help to solidify the rotation.

"I don't really try to put much thought into that, just because that's not my job. My job is to go out there and take the ball every five days," Ashcraft said. "I look at it more as I try to go out there and get the bullpen as many innings as I can so they can come in and shut the door behind me.”