Reds power rankings: Who is the No. 1 starting pitcher heading into the offseason?
Just like there's a lot to like about Lyon Richardson, there's equally as much to like about Carson Spieres. An undrafted player in 2020, Spiers made his big league debut in a spot start following several pitchers landing on the COVID-19-related IL. He was later added to the 40-man roster.
Spiers is a great story, and has overcome the odds to make it on the grandest stage of them all. However, in all likelihood, Reds fans should expect the right-hander to head back to Triple-A to begin next season.
Many fans forget that Spiers hadn't even stepped onto a Triple-A field before making his major league debut for the Cincinnati Reds in September. In all, Spiers appeared in four games with two starts and posted 6.92 ERA and 4.03 FIP.
Spiers was very good at Double-A this past season, striking out 11.49 batters per nine innings pitcher according to FanGraphs. But there's no need, at this point, for Spiers to begin th 2024 season on the major league roster.
If the Cincinnati Reds are fully healthy next March, Carson Spiers should start the season at Triple-A. In fact, the trio of Spiers, Lyon Richardson, and Levi Stoudt would be a solid top of the rotation for the Louisvllle Bats in 2024. The Reds could then pull from that mix of righties in the event of an early-season injury.
