Reds News: Young Cincy stars could have season-ending surgeries, Carson Spiers' role

The Cincinnati Reds have lost two straight games after failing to take Game 1 of their two-game series against the Cleveland Guardians. The Reds entered Tuesday's contest with only relievers slated to pitch.

Unfortunately, that same magic that Nick Martinez has shown over the past few weeks was not there against the feisty Guardians' lineup. Numerous foul balls, competitive at-bats, and timely hits helped Cleveland get ahead early and stay ahead late. The Guardians knocked off the Reds by the final of 5-3 with the second game of the Ohio Cup on tap for Wednesday evening.

But losing the game wasn't the biggest news to come out of the Queen City on Tuesday. Reds manager David Bell spoke with the media before his team's clash with the Guardians and gave some startling updates on two of Cincinnati's up-and-coming stars.

Reds News: Christian Encarnacion--Strand and Brandon Williamson could undergo season-ending surgery

Both Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Brandon Williamson may not take the field for the rest of the 2024 season. Bell revealed that both players may need surgery, which could put both players out until 2025.

Encarnacion-Strand, who was hit-by-pitch during a series against the Texas Rangers back in April, and has been on the IL with what has been referred to a fracture. But on Tuesday, Bell said that there was "some ligament damage all along" and season-ending surgery may be on the table.

As for Williamson — who'd been on a rehab assignment at Triple-A since last month — the left-hander has a Bennett lesion that has been causing soreness in his shoulder. The initial diagnosis was a shoulder strain, but this latest discovery could warrant season-ending surgery for Williamson as well.

Reds News: Carson Spiers to start Monday's game vs. Pirates

While those two injuries updates are certainly a bummer, on the plus side, rookie right-hander Carson Spiers will receive a chance to start. Bell named Spiers the starting pitcher for Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Spiers made two starts last season, but it was his 5.2 innings of relief work against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday that undoubtedly caught Bell's eye. With Williamson potentially out for the year and Graham Ashcraft now pitching at Triple-A, Bell didn't have too many options to turn to.

Spiers may receive a longer look that originally anticipated. The University of Clemson product has appeared in five games this season and owns a 2.33 ERA with 15 punch outs in less than 20 innings of work.

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