- The Pittsburgh Pirates have demoted relief pitcher Hunter Stratton to Triple-A Indianapolis after he struggled in Braxton Ashcraft’s first MLB start. Stratton was roughed up for three runs on four hits over an inning of work, nearly spoiling Ashcraft’s promising debut. Ashcraft, on the other hand, impressed with a scoreless three-inning start, allowing just one hit and striking out two batters.
*Key Stats:*
– *Braxton Ashcraft’s Performance:*
– 3 scoreless innings
– 1 hit allowed
– 2 strikeouts
– 35 total pitches, 28 for strikes
– *Hunter Stratton’s Performance:*
– 3 runs allowed on 4 hits
– 1 inning pitched
– 23.63 ERA over 2 2/3 innings this season
Ashcraft’s debut suggests he could be a valuable addition to the Pirates’ rotation or bullpen, while Stratton’s struggles led to his demotion. The Pirates will likely call up another fresh bullpen arm to replace Stratton.¹
