The Reds are anticipating the return of one of their high-leverage relief arms, likely on Sunday.
After a lengthy stint on the injured list, the Cincinnati Reds are anticipating a return from one of their high-leverage relief arms that had been missed in their bullpen.
Cincinnati is expected to activate right-handed reliever Graham Ashcraft to bolster their bullpen on Sunday, according to Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie’s Chalkboard.
Ashcraft has spent over three months on the injured list with a right forearm UCL sprain, as his last appearance came in late-May. He has consistently been one of the team’s most dependable relief arms, having been effective this season prior to his injury.
In 26 appearances to the point of his injury, Ashcraft had posted a 3.33 ERA and upped his strikeout numbers significantly. He posted a 29.4% strikeout rate, a big jump from his totals last season, though his control took a dip in posting a 14.7% walk rate.
Upon making his debut in 2022, Ashcraft had consistently been in the starting rotation for Cincinnati, where he was productive but did experience some struggles as a starter. Ashcraft had posted a 4.91 ERA across three seasons as a starter from 2022-2024, while also owning a below-average strikeout percentage.
Heading into 2025, the Reds made the decision to convert Ashcraft to a full-time reliever, where he found more of a footing and a lot more success. He posted a 3.99 ERA in 62 appearances in 2025, finding a lot of success in inducing ground balls at a high rate. He had even been one of the quieter top relievers in the game, as he posted a 1.6 fWAR.
As a hard-throwing righty with the ability to reach triple-digits, Ashcraft quickly became one of the more reliable arms in the Reds’ bullpen.
Ashcraft was assigned to Triple-A Louisville on a rehab assignment on August 25. Since then, he has made five appearances in and has been solid in a small sample, allowing two runs over 4 ⅔ innings of work and striking out six batters, though walking three.
As of Saturday morning, the Reds continue to sit at a distance away from tightening the gap in the National League Wild Card race, sitting seven games back of a spot. Though chances at making a run for the postseason are very slim, Ashcraft’s return will bolster a struggling bullpen.
The Reds’ bullpen ranks in the bottom-10 worst ERAs as a collective. Since the start of August, their combined 5.12 ERA is currently the third-worst in the major leagues.
