PITTSBURGH—If Braxton Ashcraft has any unease about beginning his big-league career as a reliever, compared to coming up through the minor leagues as a starter, he isn’t showing it.

In fact, through three relief outings, Ashcraft has looked like he belongs. kAm%@ 36 DFC6[ E96C6 2C6 5:776C6?46D :? AC6A2C2E:@? 2D 2 DE2CE6C G6CDFD 2 C6=:6G6C[ 3FE 7@C pD94C27E[ E96 @?=J A2CE @7 9:D ;@3 E:E=6 E92E 96 6>A92D:K6D :D “A:E496C]”k^Am kAm“%9:D :D @FC ;@3[ 2?5 @FC ;@3 :D E@ F=E:>2E6=J 86E @FED[ H96E96C :E’D :? E96 7:CDE :??:?8 @C E96 D:IE9 @C E96 6:89E9 — H92E6G6C :E :D[” 96 D2:5] “pE E96 6?5 @7 E96 52J[ :E 5@6D?’E >2EE6C H92E :??:?8 x 8@ :? E96 82>6 2?5 :E 5@6D?’E >2EE6C H92E C@=6 x 92G6] (96? x DE6A @? E96 >@F?5[ :E’D E:>6 E@ 86E @FED] %96 82>6 5@6D?’E 492?86] %96 @?=J E9:?8 E92E 492?86D :D 9@H

See Full Page