Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona didn't need to see Carson Spiers' outing Tuesday against the Texas Rangers to feel secure about the Reds' No. 5 spot in the rotation.
Spiers got the start against Texas at Great American Ball Park in the first place because he felt good about Spiers after spring training, and then Spiers rewarded that confidence with a solid first outing in 2025.
Spiers was the hard-luck losing pitcher on Tuesday, out-dueled by Nathan Eolvaldi, who tossed a complete-game, four-hit shutout as the Rangers blanked the Reds, 1-0, before a crowd of 14,852.
Spiers was more than good enough for the win, though. His biggest lapse of the night came early − a solo home run allowed to Wyatt Langford that proved decisive.
"He did a really good job. I think the one pitch, the home run, he was trying to go up-and-in and went down-and-in," Francona said afterward. "Even though it was probably a little off the plate, just wasn't the location he was looking for. But, I mean, shoot. He gives us six (innings) and one run, we'll take it."
After the Langford home run, Spiers scattered his next five baserunners the rest of the night. Seldom did it feel like Spiers was in trouble, and he exited having thrown an efficient 86 pitches for the contest.
The only problem was that Eovaldi's 99 pitches and four scattered singles with eight strikeouts and no walks proved marginally better than Spiers' start, plus the contributions of relievers Scott Barlow, Taylor Rogers, and Ian Gibaut (who went 1.1 innings and only allowed a base runner due to an Elly De La Cruz error).
"It was a fun little battle between us," Spiers said. "Me and (catcher Austin) Wynns were on the same page from the start, so when the pitcher and catcher are on the same page and flowing through the game, makes it pretty fun."
Wynns, who notched one of the four singles off Eovaldi, said Spiers did great overall and bounced back well from the Langford home run.
Wynns attributed Spiers recent success − both in spring training and on Tuesday − to a heightened sense of maturity and professionalism around the pitcher. As part of that, Spiers is also leaching knowledge off members of the Reds' formidable group of veteran pitchers.
"He knows what he wants to do before his start, and then building up to that start day," Wynns said. "I'm proud of the kid, and he's showing it."
One turn through the Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation
Yeah, there's still 157 games to play in the regular season. Snap reactions to early-season MLB can look foolish within weeks, and sometimes days.
The early returns on Cincinnati's starting rotation have been encouraging, though.
The second turn through the rotation begins Wednesday when Hunter Greene looks to steer the Reds to a series win over the Rangers at Great American Ball Park in his second start of 2025.
None of the Reds' starters went fewer than five innings. Collectively, the five pitchers have 27 strikeouts.
Greene was an All-Star in 2024, Nick Lodolo said in spring training he was in the best shape of his career, and Nick Martinez had a strong spring.
Tuesday made Spiers, who had a 5-7 record in 2024 (22 games, 10 starts), look attractive as the No. 5 starter.
Of course, Andrew Abbott will have something to say about the No. 5 spot eventually. Abbott started for Triple-A Louisville in Omaha Tuesday as part of his rehab assignment, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing ...
