The Cubs took two of three from the Rays to move to 7-5 on the month and 21 games over on the season, holding serve for the top Wild Card seed and distancing themselves from the also-rans. It hasn’t been pretty, as they have just a plus-5 run differential this month, but picking up four one-run wins is a good sign with the playoffs fast approaching. Yes, even if those wins have come against teams with losing records. Even though steamrolling everyone is more fun, finding ways to win makes for better practice.
They’ve managed to do just that in each of Jameson Taillon‘s three starts coming off his latest IL stint, two of which came by just one run. He’s only given up four total runs over 15.1 innings, though he’s struck out only nine batters with 14 hits allowed. Facing a Pirates team that isn’t known for power or general run production should help, though the Cubs haven’t exactly been on fire offensively.
Michael Busch has been coming around in the leadoff spot, which is certainly a good development for the first baseman, and Nico Hoerner has been the team’s MVP this season at second. Ian Happ is having his typical late-season renaissance, making him an ideal three hitter, and Moises Ballesteros now seems to be just as hitterish as he’s been in the minors. Carson Kelly bats fifth behind the dish, Pete Crow-Armstrong is in center, Dansby Swanson is at short, and Willi Castro takes right with Seiya Suzuki still under the weather. Matt Shaw rounds out the order at third base.
They’re opposed for the third time this season by rookie righty Braxton Ashcraft, who is apparently not related to Reds reliever Graham Ashcraft. Only two players in MLB history have that surname, and they’re both pitching at the same time for NL Central teams, but there have been five Braxtons in MLB history, with seven more in the minors.
I actually saw Ashcraft pitch in person earlier in the year when he faced the Iowa Cubs in Cade Horton‘s season debut. A big dude at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, Ashcraft was a standout athlete for Robinson High School near Waco, Texas. Ashcraft once caught seven touchdown passes in a game, tallying 325 yards on 12 total receptions, and his numbers as a junior were freakish. The wideout had 104 receptions for 2,090 yards and 37 touchdowns in his lone season on varsity, then apparently opted not to play as a senior.
He was good enough on the bump that the Pirates saw fit to pay him enough as a second-rounder to pull him away from his commitment to Baylor. He then spent over seven years in the minors before breaking through in late May of this season as a reliever. This will be Ashcraft’s seventh MLB start, only three of which have gone more than four innings, so he’s more of a glorified opener at this point.
Ashcraft’s strikeout and walk numbers are pedestrian, but he keeps the ball on the ground and in the park by avoiding barrels and hard contact. Though he’s got a 97 mph fastball, Ashcraft throws his 92 mph slider more than any other pitch. That slide-piece gets less depth and sweep than most, making it kind of like a death ball curve, and it’s been very good once he found a groove with it.
The fastball isn’t very notable, just a standard offering that actually plays down a little due to Ashcraft’s lower-than-average extension. His 96 mph sinker has been very good against right-handed hitters, however, and both his curve and changeup help to neutralize lefties. Working those short outings allows him to empty the tank more than a normal starter, keeping his velocity up while avoiding penalties from seeing batters multiple times.
He limited the Cubs to one run on three hits, striking out four with no walks in his start against them exactly one month ago. Doing more of the same could mean a tough series opener for the visitors, though there should be plenty of time to get right against the bullpen even if Ashcraft shoves.
First pitch is at 6:40pm CT on Marquee and 670 The Score.
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First of three in the Steel City.
Watch tonight’s game live on the Marquee Sports Network App. pic.twitter.com/gadRXl6liT
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 15, 2025
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