Pipeline Preview: Kopech seeking another dominant outing

August 12th, 2017

Here's a look at the top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Lucas Erceg (Brewers' No. 10), Carolina at Myrtle Beach (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Erceg connected on a solo homer and went 2-for-4 on Friday, snapping a stretch that had seen him go 2-for-21 at the plate over his past six games for Class A Advanced Carolina. While he hasn't hit for much average, nor reached base consistently in his first full season, the 22-year-old third baseman has shown plenty of power, tallying 13 homers and 25 doubles in 109 games.

Pitcher to watch: (White Sox No. 3), Birmingham vs. Chattanooga (7:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Kopech recorded double-digit strikeouts for the second time in three starts last time out, as the No. 12 overall prospect fanned 11 over seven innings in a win for Double-A Birmingham. The 21-year-old righty has been nothing short of dominant since his appearance in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, posting a 0.79 ERA with 44 strikeouts and five walks in 34 innings spanning five starts. Overall, Kopech has pitched to a 3.04 ERA with a Southern League-leading .186 batting average against and 145 strikeouts in 112 1/3 innings (21 starts).

Duel of the day: Jay Groome (Red Sox's No. 2) vs. Ian Anderson (Braves' No. 7), Greenville vs. Rome (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Groome, MLBPipeline.com's No. 48 prospect, enters Saturday's start having thrown back-to-back scoreless starts for Class A Greenville. In his most recent outing, the 18-year-old lefty permitted three hits and two walks while striking out six in five innings. Groome has allowed just four hits while striking out 14 over 11 innings between the two performances, giving him 55 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings (11.4 strikeouts-per-nine) this season.

Anderson tossed 2 2/3 scoreless frames in his last outing, marking his fifth scoreless performance in his past eight starts for Class A Rome. The No. 57 overall prospect owns a 0.93 ERA over 29 innings in that span, during which he's reduced his overall ERA from 4.65 to 3.29. He's logged 79 1/3 innings (19 starts) this season, striking out 99 and walking 42 while holding opposing hitters to a .234 average and zero home runs.

Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 22 Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 2) vs. (Yankees' No. 15), Altoona vs. Trenton (4:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 51 Yadier Alvarez (Dodgers' No. 3) vs. (Padres' No. 13), Tulsa at San Antonio (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 96 Beau Burrows (Tigers' No. 4) vs. Sean Reid-Foley (Blue Jays' No. 7), Erie vs. New Hampshire (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
(Pirates' No. 7), Indianapolis vs. Syracuse (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 22), Columbus at Pawtucket (Triple-A)
Nick Neidert (Mariners' No. 2) vs. Casey Meisner (A's No. 28), Arkansas vs. Midland (Double-A)
Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 6), NW Arkansas vs. Frisco (Double-A)
Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals' No. 9), Springfield at Corpus Christi (Double-A)
Brad Keller (D-backs' No. 12), Jackson at Montgomery (Double-A)
Trevor Richards (Marlins' No. 19), Jacksonville vs. Mississippi (Double-A)
Jake Jewell (Angels' No. 23), Mobile at Pensacola (Double-A)
(Phillies' No. 25), Reading at Richmond, Game 2 (Double-A)
John Means (Orioles' No. 30), Bowie vs. Portland (Double-A)
Jon Duplantier (D-backs' No. 2), Visalia at Stockton (Class A Advanced)
(White Sox No. 11), Winston-Salem vs. Lynchburg (Class A Advanced)
Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 13), Palm Beach at Daytona (Class A Advanced)
(Tigers' No. 15) vs. Ranger Suarez (Phillies' No. 16), Lakeland at Clearwater (Class A Advanced)
Trey Supak (Brewers' No. 16), Carolina at Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Caleb Ferguson (Dodgers' No. 21), Rancho Cucamonga at Inland Empire (Class A Advanced)
(Marlins' No. 23), Jupiter vs. Florida (Class A Advanced)
Chris Rodriguez (Angels' No. 7), Burlington at Peoria (Class A)
Tony Santillan (Reds' No. 14), Dayton at South Bend (Class A)
Patrick Murphy (Blue Jays' No. 24), Lansing vs. Lake County (Class A)
Nolan Watson (Royals' No. 27), Lexington vs. Charleston (Class A)
Tanner Houck (Red Sox's No. 5) vs. Nick Raquet (Nationals' No. 16), Lowell vs. Auburn (Class A Short Season)
Cole Ragans (Rangers' No. 6), Spokane at Eugene (Class A Short Season)
Oliver Jaskie (Mariners' No. 20), Everett at Boise (Class A Short Season)
Jhoan Duran (D-backs' No. 23), Hillsboro at Tri-City (Class A Short Season)