The Cincinnati Reds got another arm back on Sunday, and this one is a familiar name for a bullpen that has been stretched thin.
Before the series finale against the Brewers, the club announced that Graham Ashcraft has been activated from the 60-day injured list and Sam Moll has been designated for assignment.
Ashcraft has not pitched for Cincinnati since May 25 after dealing with an elbow injury that cost him most of the 2026 season. Before he went down, he looked like he was settling in. Over his last three outings before the injury, Ashcraft threw 3.2 scoreless innings and struck out seven.
Moll’s exit comes after a rough finish. In Friday’s game against Milwaukee, he gave up two runs in an inning of work.
If that was his last appearance in a Reds uniform, he leaves the season with a 2-7 record and a 4.79 ERA. He also picked up his second career save in a year that has been defined by injuries across the roster.
Ashcraft should be in line to see action Sunday. The Reds have already leaned heavily on their bullpen in the series, and Saturday’s long rain delay only added to the workload by pushing them into relief arms by the fifth inning.
Cincinnati has been hit hard all season. Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo were injured before the year even started, and both were sidelined again during the season.
Greene has even been put on the shelf for next year. With so many setbacks, the Reds have spent much of 2026 trying to patch things together and finish the year.
Ashcraft’s return gives them one more fresh arm at the end of the series. It also serves as another reminder of how much this team has had to absorb.
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