Breakout Pirates pitcher is quietly turning into a major problem for opponents

Virtually all of the buzz around the Pittsburgh Pirates' young, talented pitching staff has to do with Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler, and rightfully so. But don't you dare forget about Braxton Ashcraft; he might sneak up on you as one of the best starting pitchers in the American League.

The 26-year-old former second-round pick Ashcraft has finally been blessed with an extended period of good health, and the results have followed.

Ashcraft built on an intriguing 2025 (2.71 ERA, 1.25 WHIP in 69 2/3 innings) with a sharp 2026 spring training (16 strikeouts and just one walk in 13 1/3 innings), and now he's put together two quality starts to begin the 2026 regular season for the Pirates.

Following Ashcraft's most recent start, a win over the Baltimore Orioles, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Colin Beazley called it Ashcraft's best MLB start ever and labeled the right-hander "one of the best young arms in the majors."

Ashcraft tallied eight strikeouts against the Orioles, allowing just four hits and one earned run across six innings of excellent work. He's now 1-1 on the young season but could easily be 2-0. The Pirates failed to provide Ashcraft any run support in his debut start of 2026, in which Ashcraft allowed just four hits and two earned runs in six innings against the Cincinnati Reds.

This version of Braxton Ashcraft makes the Pirates' rotation officially terrifying

Through 12 innings this year, Ashcraft has 11 strikeouts, a 2.25 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP. It's a small sample size, of course, but Beazley's description of Ashcraft would still be difficult to criticize for hyperbole. Opponents are batting just .195 against Ashcraft so far this year, and his curveball looks disgusting. Even opposing fanbases can't help but marvel at Ashcraft's current form.

Ashcraft's ongoing development also reiterates a notion that is scary for the rest of the National League outside of Pittsburgh: The Pirates' young pitchers are constantly learning from each other and improving their collective dominance as a result of this shared communication.

Starting with Skenes as the head of the snake, there's something special brewing with the entire staff, and it's becoming clear that guys like Chandler and Ashcraft are benefiting from the pitching culture in Pittsburgh.

We're less than 15 games into the regular season, but the Pirates look like a very feasible playoff team, and that's not even taking into account Ashcraft's rise. With a much-improved lineup, a much-improved manager situation, and quality all over their rotation, the Pirates' 2026 ceiling is suddenly feeling unknown in the best way possible.

Another unknown? Ashcraft's ceiling. If he can stay healthy (and this is the biggest question mark), his stuff holds up with the best starting pitchers in the sport.