TEMPE, Ariz. -- Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft know their places in the Reds’ rotation are secure, but other pitchers who are candidates to start are continuing to compete this spring for the final two spots.

• Who will make the Reds' Opening Day roster?

Let's take a look at how the candidates have performed:

Luis Cessa
Cessa made a midseason conversion last year from the bullpen to the rotation and had a 3.77 ERA over his final nine starts. In two outings this spring, he has given up one earned run and two hits over three innings. In the Reds' 8-5 loss Sunday afternoon against the Angels, he had a two-inning start and struck out his first two batters, including Mike Trout. A scoreless first inning included a two-out infield hit and a walk. Then Cessa retired the side in order in the second.

On Monday, Cessa will depart camp to pitch for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, but it won't affect his bid to start for the Reds.

“I think that’s good," Cessa said. "Sometimes when you’re thinking too much about something, you put too much pressure on yourself. I will pay attention to the WBC and pay attention to winning the job in the rotation."

Connor Overton 
Through two spring games, Overton hasn't looked as crisp as he did in four 2022 starts (1.82 ERA) before he missed four months with a back injury. The right-hander gave up six earned runs and six hits, including a home run, over 1 1/3 innings in his first outing, which was in relief vs. Texas on Feb. 27.

As a starter vs. the Royals on Saturday, Overton pitched three innings and gave up four runs (three earned) and six hits with one walk, one strikeout and one homer. He was often giving up hard contact, including a leadoff homer by MJ Melendez on a 92 mph fastball.

“Obviously, you don’t want to go out there and get smacked around. Nobody does," Overton said. "But I think they’re looking more towards the process and how we’re attacking guys. We don’t have pitcher meetings for these games, so we’re just out there playing the game and pitching."

Luke Weaver 
Signed to a one-year, $2 million contract on Jan. 13, Weaver's first start was smooth. The right-hander needed 13 pitches to retire the side in order with one strikeout vs. the Giants on Feb. 26. On Friday vs. the White Sox, he gave up five runs and six hits over 1 2/3 innings with no walks and three strikeouts.

Brandon Williamson
The only lefty of the group, Williamson has impressed the team with his stuff. The No. 10 prospect in the organization, per MLB Pipeline, Williamson has given up two earned runs and four hits over three innings in two games. Walks were a problem for him in the Minors last year, but Williamson has no walks and four strikeouts in the Cactus League.

Levi Stoudt 
In three innings over two games, Stoudt has allowed one run and two hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Facing Kansas City on Saturday, he pitched two innings of relief. The Reds’ No. 15 prospect retired the side in order with two strikeouts in the fourth inning. In the fifth, he gave up two hits. After a two-out single, a wild pitch scored a run, which had Stoudt briefly dejected before he rebounded well to finish the inning.

"That shouldn't even factor into his thinking at the end of that day because what he did [Saturday] is always going to be good enough," manager David Bell said. "His stuff is really, really good. He is pitching with a lot of confidence, especially with that slider."

Bell feels good about the overall competition.

"We're in a good situation because we have a few core veteran pitchers who we feel like they're going to play a key role on this team, whether they're in the rotation or not, with Luke Weaver and Cessa and Connor Overton," Bell said. "Brandon and Levi have been really impressive so far in camp. Those will be conversations also.

“It's almost a no-lose situation. I think if Brandon and Levi don't make the team out of camp, there are benefits in getting a little more time [in the Minors]." 

Even with three young starters at the top going into their second big league seasons, Bell didn't feel it was mandatory to have veterans in the back of the rotation. That could bode well for Williamson and Stoudt.

"If that was our five best guys, I'd be comfortable with that -- if that's what's best for those two," Bell said.