Reds’ Ashcraft after final start of spring: ‘Everything’s clicking’

“Everything’s clicking,” Ashcraft told reporters. “I feel I’m in a great spot going into the season. I just feel I can throw everything where I want it. Everything was going for strikes. We only had one three-ball count.”

Lodolo delivered his best and longest start of the spring two days earlier, throwing six scoreless innings in a 10-0 victory against the Los Angeles Angels. He struck out eight and walked three while allowing three hits.

Lodolo is 4-0 with a 1.93 ERA in four starts this spring. Ashcraft has been nearly as good. He’s 4-1 with a 2.60 ERA in five starts.

“I’m just in a great spot,” Ashcraft said. “Everything’s working how we want it. The slider’s the best it’s ever been for me.”

Ashcraft, 25, made his big-league debut last season. He was 5-6 with a 4.89 ERA in 19 starts. His ERA rose late in the season when he allowed 16 earned runs in 12 innings in his last three starts.

Including Thursday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, the Reds have five more Cactus League games. This was Ashcraft’s final start of the spring.

Brandon Williamson started Thursday. Hunter Green, who will get the ball on Opening Day on March 30 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, will start Friday. Connor Overton will pitch Saturday.

The Reds have not announced the starters for Sunday’s split-squad doubleheader, though Lodolo likely will be one of the starters because he’s expected to make one more spring appearance.

The Reds return to Ohio after their final spring game and will work out at Great American Ball Park on Monday and Wednesday.

Ashcraft likes how his fellow starters are pitching in the final days of spring training.

“One of the big things is we’re attacking guys,” he said. “We’re trying to get in and out. The pitch clock, I feel like it helps because you’ve just got to get right back on the rubber so that way you get to keep that rhythm and it doesn’t allow the hitter to disrupt that rhythm, which I feel like is a big thing for us. Everybody’s just attacking the zone, getting early outs, throwing a lot of strikes, not walking a lot of people.”

FRIDAY’S GAME

Reds vs. Diamondbacks, 4:10 p.m., 1360