Aaron

Ashby

Ashby was summoned to join Milwaukee’s bullpen mix on Sunday with Nick Mears (forearm) landing on the injured list. The 26-year-old southpaw was a notable starting pitching prospect a couple years ago, but he’s really excelled as a reliever in recent weeks at the Triple-A level.

Ashby struggled mightily as a starter for Nashville and had two poor outings initially after being moved to the pen at the beginning of this month, but he’s been great his last four times out, pitching 7 2/3 scoreless innings with a 12/1 K/BB ratio. If he keeps it up, the Brewers will have to see if it carries over to the majors next month.

Ashby had a 6.23 ERA in two starts with the Brewers this year and didn’t appear in the majors last season. The 26-year-old left-hander also had a 6.80 ERA at Triple-A this year. He’s off the fantasy radar.

Ashby struggled with his control in his second start of the season for Milwaukee, handing out five free passes, but was able to limit a formidable Phillies lineup to just a fifth-inning homer by Nick Castellanos. Unfortunately, it was enough to saddle him with a loss as Aaron Nola and a pair of relievers combined on a three-hit shutout. The 26-year-old lefty figures to take the ball at least a couple additional times before the Brewers get some of their starting pitching depth back from injury. He’s in line to start on Tuesday against the Blue Jays back in Milwaukee.

Ashby is coming off easily his best outing of the year, in which he pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out five against Memphis. That left him with a 6.80 ERA and a 43/38 K/BB in 42 2/3 innings for Nashville. He’ll make his second major league start of the year today against the Phillies. The first, in early April, saw him give up eight runs — four earned — in 3 2/3 innings against the Reds.

Ashby has already joined the Brewers in Philadelphia and appears to be an option to take the ball for Wednesday’s series finale at Citizens Bank Park. The 26-year-old lefty hasn’t been lights-out this season at Triple-A Nashville, but Milwaukee doesn’t have a ton of options with Robert Gasser (elbow), Joe Ross (back), Jakob Junis (shoulder, head) and DL Hall (knee) all sidelined due to injury.

Ashby will be brought back to rejoin Milwaukee’s starting rotation in a few days once he’s eligible to return, but the Brewers need his roster spot to bring in some additional relief help. The 25-year-old lefty was torched for eight runs (four earned) over 3 2/3 innings on Monday in his season debut against the Reds.

The Brewers committed three errors behind Ashby — it was originally ruled four but one was taken away — but it wasn’t just defense that hurt the left-hander. He gave up six hits with two walks, and he was only able to strikeout two in a well below-average effort from the 25-year-old. Ashby has shown the stuff to succeed at the highest level, but not often on a consistent basis. He’s obviously not a recommended streamer against Baltimore on Sunday.

The former top prospect is expected to take the rotation spot vacated by the injured Jakob Junis (shoulder). Ashby, 25, has made one start at Triple-A Nashville this season, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five over his five innings of work. He lines up for two starts next week, but it’s hard to get a much tougher draw than at the Reds and at the Orioles.

The good news is that his MRI came back clean for any major structural damage, but he’ll still be sidelined for at least a couple of weeks with the injury. Aaron Ashby was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to take his place on the active roster on Saturday and could wind up starting in Junis’ spot in the rotation on Monday if he’s not needed out of the bullpen over the weekend.