Braxton Ashcraft is more than a deserving All-Star — he is one.
Ashcraft will replace Paul Skenes for the MLB All-Star Game next Tuesday at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, the league announced on Tuesday.
The move comes after Skenes said Saturday that he would pitch on Tuesday and Sunday of this week, thus making him ineligible to pitch in the Midsummer Classic.
Skenes also lobbied for Ashcraft to take his place, and that’s now what will happen, the 26-year-old right-hander making it for the first time.
"I’m focused on the start on Tuesday, but I’m throwing on Sunday. too," Skenes said this weekend at Nationals Park. "So I would hope that that would open up a spot, and hopefully Braxton takes it. I think that’s what should happen.”
It’s certainly deserved. Among National League qualifiers, Ashcraft ranks 11th in ERA at 3.24, while only seven NL pitchers have more quality starts (10).
If Ashcraft wins his next start, he can reach 10 wins before the All-Star break, which would be tied for the second-most in the National League.
Ashcraft has 122 strikeouts on the season, which ranks fourth in the National League. But the best stat might be this: Only Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski and Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez have been worth more wins above replacement, per FanGraphs, than Ashcraft (2.9).
The Pirates drafted Ashcraft in the second round of the 2018 MLB draft, and he made his debut as a reliever last season.
Overall in 2025, Ashcraft pitched to a 2.71 in 26 games (eight starts), walking 24 and striking out 71 in 69 2/3 innings.
Ashcraft’s calling card this season has been working fast and throwing a lot of strikes. In those 18 starts, Ashcraft has thrown 1,603 pitches, 1,109 for strikes — or 69.1%.
Nobody in Major League Baseball has thrown strikes more frequently this season than Ashcraft, who has a 1.10 WHIP and .234 batting average against.
Opponents chase 37.3% of the pitches Ashcraft throws, which ranks in the 97th percentile in MLB. Furthermore, per Baseball Savant, his curveball has been the second-best bender in baseball with a run value of 7.
Opponents are hitting just .150 against the pitch and swinging and missing 40.3% of the time.
Ashcraft’s story involves more than just his strong 2026 season. He battled injuries throughout his Minor League career, including Tommy John surgery in 2021, and he’s come out better for it.
Exceptionally mature, Ashcraft perfected his curveball and slider around the time of COVID and when he was rehabbing from major elbow surgery, putting it all together last season, especially once he debuted.
The Pirates have two other worthy candidates in Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds. They could theoretically still be added as replacements, but it’ll be Ashcraft taking Skenes’ spot.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.