As we come to the midway point of the MLB season, the Pirates are hovering around .500, with many things to be happy about, but also to be upset about.
One of the positive marks of the season has been Braxton Ashcraft’s pitching. The second-year pitcher has become a full-time starter for Don Kelly’s Pirates and has been arguably the best pitcher this season.
Ashcraft was called up to the majors in May 2025 and began pitching out of the bullpen. His debut netted three scoreless innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He would start just eight games for the Pirates during his rookie season, but he has started 18 games already this season.
Braxton Ashcraft Shines in Last Start
Throughout these 18 games, Ashcraft has posted a 9-3 record. His most recent winning decision came against the Washington Nationals on the fourth of July. In the American-themed uniforms, Ashcraft pitched a gem. He allowed just one run — a home run on the first pitch of the game — and six hits throughout 5.2 innings.
Ashcraft struck out seven National batters, and three straight in the first inning after James Wood’s home run. This earned Ashcraft his ninth win on the season and lowered his ERA to 3.24. He ranks seventh in the MLB with 122 strikeouts.
“Just being able to buckle down and shut the game down after that is a big, big deal,” Ashcraft said about Wood’s home run.
Ability to Bounce Back
In his previous start, Ashcraft gave up two solo home runs in the first inning. The 26-year-old righty stayed with it and finished the game, surrendering just five hits, striking out eight Phillies batters, while only walking one. He did allow five earned runs through the six innings he pitched, but once the Pirates gained the lead, he shut down the Phillies’ offense.
Ashcraft’s last three starts all have things in common; he has given up runs in the first inning, but shuts down opposing offenses the rest of the game. Against the Seattle Mariners on June 24, he allowed a run in the first inning, and then turned around and struck out 10 batters throughout six innings of work.
The 6-foot-5 righty throws five main pitches: four-seam fastball, curveball, slider, sinker and, rarely, the split-finger. According to BaseballSavant, Ashcraft mainly utilizes his 97.2 mph fastball and his 85.0 mph curveball a combined 57% of the time.
Not an All-Star?
As Paul Skenes’ pitching has decreased tremendously in 2026, Ashcraft’s pitching has tremendously helped the Pirates. He has won his last four starts and has struck out five or more batters in 16 of his 18 starts.
On July 4, the MLB announced the All-Stars for the 2026 season, and one name left off this list was Braxton Ashcraft. Paul Skenes is the only Pirate who will be representing the club in Philadelphia, which drew confusion from both fans and Skenes himself.
“I was shocked that I was the only one…I mean Braxton too, you saw today,” Skenes said.
Ashcraft’s injury history may have held him back from showing his true potential, but in 2026, he is fully healthy and playing at an elite level. In 2021, Ashcraft had Tommy John surgery, a torn meniscus in 2020, and had his left shoulder repaired in 2019. He also had right forearm tightness and elbow inflammation during the 2024 season.
Pittsburgh Has a New Ace?
In a pitching room featuring big names like Skenes, Mitch Keller, Jared Jones, and even Bubba Chandler, who has loads of potential, Ashcraft was not expected to really be Pittsburgh’s ace at the midway point of the season and be pitching at such a high level.
He truly has been Pittsburgh’s best pitcher, and people are starting to realize.
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