Pipeline preview: SF, LA pitching prospects set for duel
A pair of pitching matchups between Top 100 Prospects highlight Sunday's action in the Minor Leagues, including one showdown that could feature future division rivals.
Left-hander Edwin Escobar, the Giants' No. 2 prospect, will square off with right-hander Zach Lee, the Dodgers' No. 4 prospect, as Triple-A Fresno hosts Albuquerque at 5:05 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Escobar, No. 83 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, has struggled at times this season. He's shown flashes of brilliance, like his seven-inning, two-hit gem on April 20, amid a 1-4 season with a 5.18 ERA and .308 opponents' average.
Lee will oppose Escobar, with the No. 55 overall prospect also coming off a couple of rough outings. Lee has allowed at least five runs (not all earned, however), in each of his last five starts.
That's not the only top-tier pitching matchup on tap for Sunday, however.
Right-hander Mike Foltynewicz, the Astros' No. 6 prospect, will start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, as the RedHawks face right-hander Jimmy Nelson and the Nashville Sounds. Nelson, the Brewers' top prospect and No. 71 on the top 100 list, has been outstanding this season, going 4-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 51 innings over eight starts.
Foltynewicz, meanwhile, is coming off a pair of strong six-inning starts after a few rocky outings earlier this season. Foltynewicz, the No. 47 overall prospect, is 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA and 36 strikeouts in as many innings.
Both matchups will be featured on MiLB.TV, with Oklahoma City and Nashville set to face off at 3:05 p.m. ET.
There are a few questions facing other players around the Minors entering play Sunday. Can Red Sox prospect Mookie Betts start a new on-base streak as lengthy as the one ended Saturday? What's next for slugging Rangers prospect Joey Gallo after four homers and seven RBIs in the past two days? Was Saturday's homer a sign of good things to come for Cubs shortstop Javier Baez after a sluggish start?
Top prospect probables:
Cody Anderson (Indians No. 4), Akron at Erie
Zachary Bird (Dodgers No. 13), Great Lakes vs. Bowling Green
Andrew Chafin (D-backs No. 12), Mobile vs. Chattanooga
Michael Clevinger (Angels No. 12), Inland Empire at High Desert
Tim Cooney (Cardinals No. 9), Memphis vs. Omaha
Tyler Danish (White Sox No. 4), Winston-Salem vs. Frederick
Zach Eflin (Padres No. 11), Lake Elsinore vs. Modesto
Escobar (Giants No. 2), Fresno vs. Albuquerque
Foltynewicz (Astros No. 6), Oklahoma City at Nashville
J.R. Graham (Braves No. 6), Mississippi vs. Tennessee
Hunter Harvey (Orioles No. 3), Delmarva at West Virginia
Branden Kline (Orioles No. 14), Frederick at Winston-Salem
Simon Mercedes (Red Sox No. 20), Salem at Carolina
Lee (Dodgers No. 4), Albuquerque at Fresno
Michael Lorenzen (Reds No. 4), Pensacola vs. Jacksonville
Mike Montgomery (Rays No. 18), Durham vs. Louisville
Nelson (Brewers No. 1), Nashville vs. Oklahoma City
Tyler Pike (Mariners No. 9), High Desert vs. Inland Empire
Matt Purke (Nationals No. 6), Harrisburg vs. New Britain
Sal Romano (Reds No. 14) Dayton at Lansing
Keyvius Sampson (Padres No. 14), El Paso vs. Las Vegas
Luis Severino (Yankees No. 10) Charleston at Savannah
Scott Snodgress (White Sox No. 19) Birmingham at Huntsville
Logan Verrett (Mets No. 20), Las Vegas at El Paso
Austin Voth (Nationals No. 16), Hagerstown at Lexington
Bobby Wahl (A's No. 7), Beloit at Clinton
Taylor Williams (Brewers No. 15), Wisconsin at Peoria
Gabriel Ynoa (Mets No. 15), St. Lucie at Lakeland