Pipeline Preview: Perez seeks next strong start

June 24th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Andrew Stevenson (Nationals' No. 5), Syracuse vs. Buffalo (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Stevenson went 2-for-4 on Friday for Triple-A Syracuse, giving him hits in five straight games. After batting just .178 over 25 games in May, Stevenson's first month with Syracuse, the 23-year-old outfielder has rebounded to hit .333 over 24 contests in June to raise his Triple-A average to .243.

Pitcher to watch: Franklin Perez (Astros' No. 6), Buies Creek at Winston-Salem (6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Perez took the loss in his last turn for Class A Advanced Buies Creek despite completing a career-high seven innings en route to his first career complete game. He allowed just one earned run on two hits with five strikeouts in the performance. The No. 95 overall prospect has been excellent in his last two starts, logging 12 innings of one-run ball while compiling 11 strikeouts against two walks.

Duel of the day: Brent Honeywell (Rays' No. 2) vs. (White Sox No. 5), Durham vs. Charlotte (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
After giving just one earned run over 12 innings across two starts for Triple-A Durham, Honeywell, MLBPipeline.com's No. 24 overall prospect, struggled his last time out, allowing six earned runs on eight hits while completing a season-low 2 2/3 innings. Overall, the 22-year-old righty has posted a 4.42 ERA and a 94-to-18 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 75 1/3 innings between the Double- and Triple-A levels.

Lopez, No. 38 on the Top 100, enters the day having allowed three or fewer earned runs in nine of his last 10 starts for Charlotte. In his most recent turn, the 23-year-old righty allowed three earned runs on six hits, with three strikeouts and two walks, in 5 1/3 frames. For the season, Lopez has pitched to a 3.91 ERA while posting 64 strikeouts and a .232 batting average against in 71 1/3 innings totaling 13 starts.

Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 40 Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 2), West Virginia at Batavia (7:05 p.m. ET)
No. 43 Riley Pint (Rockies' No. 2) vs. Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 13), Asheville vs. Rome (6:05 p.m. ET)
No. 49 Triston McKenzie (Indians' No. 3) vs. Brian Gonzalez (Orioles' No. 19), Lynchburg vs. Frederick (6 p.m. ET)
No. 59 A.J. Puk (A's No. 2), Midland at San Antonio (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 66 Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 4), Mississippi at Biloxi (7:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 68 (Yankees' No. 6), Trenton at Reading (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(D-backs' No. 1), Reno vs. Tacoma (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 8) vs. (Reds' No. 9), Indianapolis at Louisville (Triple-A)
Marco Gonzalez (Cardinals' No. 19), Memphis at Omaha (Triple-A)
(Phillies' No. 19), Lehigh Valley at Rochester (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 22), Columbus vs. Toledo (Triple-A)
Tyler Eppler (Pirates' No. 24), Indianapolis vs. Louisville, Game 2 (Triple-A)
Tyler Alexander (Tigers' No. 4) vs. (Orioles' No. 14), Erie vs. Bowie Trevor Clifton (Cubs' No. 7) vs. Osmer Morales (Angels' No. 20), Tennessee at Mobile (Double-A)
(Twins' No. 8), Chattanooga vs. Pensacola (Double-A)
Jon Harris (Blue Jays' No. 9), New Hampshire vs. Binghamton, Game 2 (Double-A)
Austin Gomber (Cardinals' No. 14), Springfield vs. Arkansas (Double-A)
(Giants' No. 19), Richmond vs. Akron (Double-A)
Teddy Stankiewicz (Red Sox's No. 24), Portland vs. Harrisburg (Double-A)
Corey Ray (Royals' No. 24), NW Arkansas at Tulsa (Double-A)
Matt Cooper (White Sox No. 28), Birmingham at Montgomery (Double-A)
Eric Lauer (Padres' No. 8) vs. Jesus Castillo (Angels' No. 26), Lake Elsinore at Inland Empire (Class A Advanced)
Vladimir Gutierrez (Reds' No. 10), Daytona at Clearwater (Class A Advanced)
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 11), Florida vs. Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Cody Ponce (Brewers' No. 15), Carolina at Potomac (Class A Advanced)
Jeff Brigham (Marlins' No. 15) vs. Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 17), Jupiter at Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)
Casey Meisner (A's No. 25), Stockton vs. Modesto (Class A Advanced)
Thomas Szapucki (Mets' No. 4), Columbia vs. Kannapolis (Class A)
Jordan Sheffield (Dodgers' No. 8), Great Lakes vs. South Bend (Class A)
Adonis Medina (Phillies' No. 15), Lakewood at Delmarva (Class A)
Michael Matuella (Rangers' No. 20), Hickory vs. Augusta (Class A)
Osman Gutierrez (Blue Jays' No. 26), Lansing at West Michigan (Class A)
Kyle Muller (Braves' No. 16), Danville at Elizabethon (Rookie)
Braeden Ogle (Pirates' No. 18), Bristol at Johnson City (Rookie)