Pipeline Preview: Flaherty seeking another strong start

Pipeline Preview: Flaherty seeking another strong start

April 13th, 2018

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Nick Senzel (Reds' No. 1), Louisville at Lehigh Valley (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Senzel, MLB Pipeline's No. 7 overall prospect, doubled in his first at-bat for Triple-A Louisville on Thursday to snap an 0-for-16 skid at the plate. He would later add a single to finish the game 2-for-4 -- his third multi-hit performance in seven games. The 2016 No. 2 overall Draft pick is batting .207 this year after slashing .321/.391/.514 with 14 homers, 40 doubles and 14 steals in 119 games between Class A Advanced Daytona and Double-A Pensacola in his first full season.

Pitcher to watch: (Cardinals' No. 2), Memphis vs. Iowa (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Flaherty, No. 38 on the Top 100, dominated on April 8 in his season debut for Triple-A Memphis. Working seven innings, the 22-year-old righty allowed one earned run on five hits while striking out 11 batters. The performance came on the heels of an impressive spot start for the Cardinals on April 3 in which Flaherty posted five innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts in a no-decision against the Brewers.

Duel of the day: Keegan Akin (Orioles' No. 9) vs. (Nationals' No. 17), Bowie at Harrisburg (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Akin, a 23-year-old left-hander, is set to make his second start for Bowie after taking the loss on April 7 in his Double-A debut. The 2016 second-rounder completed just four innings in the outing, as he allowed four earned runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Akin spent all of 2017 with Class A Advanced Frederick and showed improvement after the All-Star break, posting a 3.63 ERA in nine starts after logging a 4.55 ERA in 12 first-half starts.

Rodriguez will also be making his second Double-A turn this season after allowing three earned runs in 5 1/3 innings, albeit with seven strikeouts, in his Harrisburg debut. Despite missing much of last season while serving an 80-game suspension for a performance-enhancing substance, the 24-year-old right-hander still features some of the best velocity and pure stuff in Washington's system.
Friday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 48 (Yankees' No. 3), Trenton at Akron (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 69 (Brewers' No. 2), Colorado Springs vs. Round Rock (8:40 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Nationals' No. 4) vs. Yefry Ramirez (Orioles' No. 19), Syracuse vs. Norfolk (Triple-A)
(Red Sox's No. 15), Pawtucket at Toledo (Triple-A)
(Rockies' No. 17), Albuquerque vs. Salt Lake (Triple-A)
(Giants' No. 15) vs. (Mariners' No. 20), Sacramento vs. Tacoma (Triple-A)
(Reds' No. 26), Louisville at Lehigh Valley (Triple-A)
Thomas Hatch (Cubs' No. 7), Tennessee vs. Jackson (Double-A)
Logan Allen (Padres' No. 8), San Antonio vs. Arkansas (Double-A)
JoJo Romero (Phillies' No. 8) vs. Jordan Johnson (Giants' No. 29), Reading at Richmond (Double-A)
Scott Blewett (Royals' No. 9), NW Arkansas at Corpus Christi (Double-A)
Vladimir Gutierrez (Reds' No. 10), Pensacola vs. Chattanooga (Double-A)
(Brewers' No. 13), Biloxi vs. Mississippi (Double-A)
(Rockies' No. 14), Hartford at New Hampshire (Double-A)
(Cardinals' No. 21), Springfield vs. Midland (Double-A)
(Pirates' No. 30), Altoona at Erie (Double-A)
Darwinzon Hernandez (Red Sox's No. 7), Salem at Buies Creek (Class A Advanced)
Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 10), Florida at Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)
Cody Sedlock (Orioles' No. 12), Frederick vs. Potomac (Class A Advanced)
(Pirates' No. 12) vs. McKenzie Mills (Phillies' No. 23), Bradenton at Clearwater (Class A Advanced)
(Yankees' No. 14), Tampa at Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Michael Matuella (Rangers' No. 22) vs. Bryan Hudson (Cubs' No. 24), Down East vs. Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Gerson Garabito (Royals' No. 29), Wilmington vs. Lynchburg (Class A Advanced)
Spencer Howard (Phillies' No. 22) vs. Matthias Dietz (Orioles' No. 30), Lakewood vs. Delmarva (Class A)
Javier Assad (Cubs' No. 23), South Bend at Lake County (Class A)
Brian Shaffer (D-backs' No. 24) vs. Wyatt Marks (A's No. 26), Kane County vs. Beloit (Class A)
Tobias Myers (Rays' No. 18) vs. Mason Thompson (Padres' No. 25), Bowling Green vs. Fort Wayne (Class A)
Tomas Alastre (Nationals' No. 26), Hagerstown vs. Greensboro (Class A)