Another Strong Start for MLB Tiger Who ‘Just Keeps Getting Better’
By: Gavin Oliver June 30, 2024

A former Clemson Tiger twirled another strong start in the big leagues this weekend.

Cincinnati Reds righthander Carson Spiers pitched six impressive innings Saturday en route to his second straight win and second consecutive quality start.

Spiers (2-1) allowed just two runs (one earned) and three hits while striking out four and walking only one batter, helping the Reds beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri.

“Utilizing both sides of the plate, that’s kind of what I did today,” Spiers said, via ESPN. “Very efficient, very effective early, especially setting the tone. I think that’s when I kind of get into a groove and things kind of start rolling. Changeups were working really good early and then spotted some cutters up and fastballs up so it worked out.”

Following the game, Reds manager David Bell praised Spiers, saying the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder “just keeps getting better.”

“He has four different pitches that he can throw at any time,” Bell said, via Bally Sports Cincinnati. “He locates all the pitches. He’s even making great pitches with his fourth-best pitch, and that makes it tough. We know he can have a lot of success that way.”

Spiers’ latest outing Saturday comes on the heels of his first MLB win this past Monday, when he allowed three runs and seven hits with five strikeouts and one walk in the Reds’ 11-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

In eight games for the Reds so far this season (three starts), Spiers has posted a 3.13 ERA and 1.15 WHIP with 29 strikeouts and only seven walks over 37.1 innings pitched.

Spiers made his Major League debut last season, when he appeared in four games (two starts) for the Reds and logged 13 innings pitched. He threw three scoreless innings and allowed just one hit en route to recording his first big-league save on Sept. 29, 2023, against the St. Louis Cardinals in St. Louis.

The 26-year-old signed a free agent contract with the Reds back in June 2020 following his Clemson career (2017-20), when he had a 7-7 record, 19 saves and a 2.47 ERA while allowing 70 hits (.180 opponents’ batting average) and 38 walks with 103 strikeouts in 109.1 innings pitched over 71 relief appearances.

–Photo courtesy of Jeff Le-USA TODAY Sports