Pipeline Preview: Smith looks to extend hitting streak

July 20th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Dominic Smith (Mets' No. 2), Las Vegas vs. Fresno (10:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Smith, MLB Pipeline's No. 52 overall prospect, accounted for all Triple-A Las Vegas' offense on Wednesday as he went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs to lead the 51s past Fresno, 4-2. Smith's homer, a first-inning solo shot, was his 13th this season, and it also extended his hitting streak to 11 games, during which he's hitting .426 with nine extra-base hits and 14 RBIs. With his .334/.388/.512 slash line and 41 extra-base hits through 95 games, the 22-year-old first baseman has made a strong case for an audition with the Mets later this season.

Pitcher to watch: Domingo Acevedo (Yankees' No. 8), Trenton vs. New Hampshire (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Acevedo, 23, struggled in his previous start for Double-A Trenton as he permitted a season-high six earned runs on nine hits while completing just four frames. Yet, the one bad outing doesn't detract from Acevedo's impressive body of work since being promoted to the Eastern League, where he's recorded a 2.37 ERA and a 50-to-8 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 49 1/3 innings (eight starts).

Duel of the day: (Cardinals' No. 3) vs. Walker Buehler (Dodgers' No. 4), Memphis at Oklahoma City (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Weaver has been nothing short of dominant this season during his time with Triple-A Memphis, posting an 8-1 record and a 1.93 ERA in 61 innings across 12 starts. The No. 56 overall prospect has compiled 66 strikeouts against 13 walks in that span, all while limiting opposing hitters to a .200 average and just three home runs in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Buehler, No. 78 on the Top 100, will be making his Triple-A debut when he takes the mound for Oklahoma City on Thursday. The promotion marks the third this season for the 22-year-old righty, who's set to take on hitters at the Minors' highest level after he registered a 3.49 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 49 innings (11 starts) with Double-A Tulsa. Overall, he owns a 2.89 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP and a 91-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 65 1/3 innings (16 starts) on the year.

Thursday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 11 (White Sox No. 3) vs. Brad Keller (D-backs' No. 6), Birmingham vs. Jackson (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 28 (White Sox No. 5), Charlotte at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 99 Sixto Sanchez (Phillies' No. 4) vs. Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 13), Lakewood at Rome Game 2
More top prospect probables
Matt Koch (D-backs' No. 16), Reno vs. Salt Lake (Triple-A)
Julian Merryweather (Indians' No. 22), Columbus vs. Syracuse (Triple-A)
Jalen Beeks (Red Sox's No. 27), Pawtucket vs. Norfolk (Triple-A)
Trevor Clifton (Cubs' No. 4), Tennessee at Jacksonville (Double-A)
Kohl Stewart (Twins' No. 6) vs. Jake Jewell (Angels' No. 25), Chattanooga at Mobile (Double-A)
Eric Lauer (Padres' No. 8) vs. Pedro Payano (Rangers' No. 27), San Antonio at Frisco (Double-A)
Austin Gomber (Cardinals' No. 13), Springfield at Arkansas (Double-A)
(Orioles' No. 14), Bowie vs. Altoona (Double-A)
Francisco Rios (Blue Jays' No. 18), New Hampshire at Trenton (Double-A)
Parker French (Rockies' No. 19), Hartford at Portland (Double-A)
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 11), Florida vs. Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
Matt Krook (Giants' No. 12), San Jose vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced)
(Yankees' No. 12), Tampa at Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Jeff Brigham (Marlins' No. 15), Jupiter at St. Lucie (Class A Advanced)
Kodi Medeiros (Brewers' No. 18), Carolina vs. Buies Creek (Class A Advanced)
(Braves' No. 19), Florida vs. Lakeland Game 2 (Class A Advanced)
Melvin Adon (Giants' No. 24) vs. Zach Muckenhirn (Orioles' No. 27), Augusta vs. Delmarva (Class A Advanced)
Edgar Garcia (Phillies' No. 25), Clearwater vs. Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Juan Hillman (Indians' No. 10), Lake County vs. Kane County (Class A)
Tyler Watson (Nationals' No. 15) vs. Freicer Perez (Yankees' No. 24), Hagerstown at Charleston Game 2 (Class A)
Josh Pennington (Brewers' No. 21) vs. Bryan Hudson (Cubs' No. 24), Wisconsin vs. South Bend (Class A)
Joe Gatto (Angels' No. 24), Burlington at Bowling Green (Class A)
Yennsy Diaz (Blue Jays' No. 25), Lansing at Quad Cities (Class A)
Bryan Mata (Giants' No. 26), Greenville at Greensboro (Class A)
Kyle Muller (Braves' No. 16), Danville vs. Greeneville (Rookie)