I remember having talks with people within the ball club about the expected starting rotation for 2026.

One subject that would always get kind of glossed over was Braxton Ashcraft. There was never really

like even a discussion or a debate or anything. He was just going to be a part of this.

Good morning to you. Good Thursday morning. I'm Dan Kovach of each of D.K. Pittsburgh Sports.

This is Daily Shot of Pir pirates. It comes your way bright

and early every weekday, and it's brought to you by our friends back home at the North Shore

Tavern. If you're into football and or hockey, which is why I said back home since I'm in

Raleigh, North Carolina, where the Peng was just completed a long road trip.

I also offer daily shots on the other two teams in town, and I hope you'll check those out as well.

Pirates three, Tigers won last night in Bradenton, Florida.

Still not much from the bats, as has been the case most of the week, but Tyler Callahan recently acquired from the Reds, went two for three with a home run and of far more

significant note. Ashcraft, you ready for this? This is a spring game. Five and a third

innings, one run, and it was unearned. On five

hits, he struck out

eight, walked none.

All right then.

Now that I have your attention,

this has not

been an outlier

for Ashcraft

by any stretch. In this spring he's made four starts, spanning 13 and

a third innings. Opponents have batted 245 against him. His whip was 1.05. The main reason

...