Carson Spiers DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona said that right-hander Carson Spiers (shoulder) is ahead of schedule and started throwing on Saturday at the team's spring training complex in Arizona. Spiers will need to continue building up his arm in Arizona before eventually going on a minor-league rehab assignment, so his return to the Reds is at least a couple weeks off, if not more. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent from Clemson appeared in three games (two starts) for the Reds this year before injuring his shoulder, allowing nine earned runs on 13 hits (three homers) while walking seven and striking out 11 in 13 1/3 innings pitched. Spiers is recovering from a right-shoulder impingement and will probably be relegated to a long-relief role out of the Reds' bullpen when he's ready to return from his injury.

The Cincinnati Reds have recalled right-handed pitcher Carson Spiers from Triple-A Louisville. In a corresponding move, the Reds placed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo on the paternity list. Lodolo was slated to start Sunday's contest against the Baltimore Orioles. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Spiers to get the nod instead. Spiers has logged nine 1/3 innings of work in the majors this season and posted a 4.82 ERA with a 1.18 WHIP. Last summer, the 27-year-old logged 90 2/3 innings in the major leagues and posted a high 5.46 ERA with a 1.53 WHIP. He struck out just 80 batters. Given his lack of proven success in the major leagues, fantasy managers should not view Spiers as a viable streamer. He should also not be targeted in DFS on Sunday, facing a potent Baltimore lineup.

The Cincinnati Reds have told left-hander Andrew Abbott (shoulder) that he will begin the regular season on the injured list. As a result, right-hander Carson Spiers will serve as the team's fifth starter early on. Abbott's 2024 season came to an early end due to a left-shoulder injury, and he was still dealing with shoulder issues early in spring training, which put him behind the eight ball. The 25-year-old southpaw made his Cactus League debut earlier this week, but he simply ran out of time to get stretched out before Opening Day. If Abbott eventually can put his shoulder issues in the past for good, he should eventually return to their starting rotation in 2025. In the meantime, Spiers will be an option for NL-only fantasy managers after he posted a 5.46 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 80 K's and 27 walks in 90 2/3 innings over 22 outings (10 starts) for Cincy in 2024.