Ashcraft's Dominance: Pirates' Playoff Push?

0:00It's April 17th. This is MLB News today, AI-powered stories shaping the season. Pirates fans, get ready for the series finale against the Washington Nationals tomorrow, April 16th at PNC Park. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft takes the mound at 12.35 pm, locking in the young gun for this match-up. In the second game, they mixed it up with lefty Mason Montgomery opening and Carmen Mazinski handling bulk innings. At combos shut down the gnats for a clean two-nothing win, proving the pirates can get creative when needed. Ashcraft stepping up big in his first full big league season as a starter after bullpen work last year. He's one in one with a sharp 2.12 ERA over 17 innings, 20 strikeouts against just five walks and holding hitters to a two. Hundred average, break down his starts, six innings and two runs in the opener loss to Cincinnati on March 30th. In six strong with one run and nine Ks against, Baltimore on April 5th for the win.

1:02Latest was five innings, one run, career high nine strikeouts at Chicago on April 11th in a 4-3 extra inning victory. His curve balls been nasty, hitters batting just 0.059 on it while leaning on that 96 mile per hour fastball. If Ashcraft keeps dominating like this, the pirates could push hard for the playoffs this year.