Pirates Place Braxton Ashcraft On 15-Day Injured List

Key Points:

• The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed right-hander Braxton Ashcraft on the 15-day injured list retroactive to September 7 due to discomfort in his throwing arm, with Antwone Kelly called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to replace him on the active roster.
• Tests on Ashcraft's arm are ongoing, and while no structural damage has been found, Pirates manager Don Kelly confirmed Ashcraft will not pitch again in the 2026 season, though the team remains hopeful he can return before the season ends.
• Ashcraft has pitched 165 1/3 innings this season, significantly more than his previous high, suggesting his injury may be related to workload rather than a serious issue; he has been a key contributor with a 3.65 ERA and excellent strikeout and walk rates.
• Losing Ashcraft is a setback for the Pirates, who are currently 73-73 and five games out of a wild card spot, but his strong performance has been vital to the team’s competitiveness this season.
• With Ashcraft sidelined, the Pirates are expected to use a bullpen game for his next scheduled start against the Cubs, with Antwone Kelly likely to pitch multiple innings and potentially fill Ashcraft’s rotation spot going forward.