Pipeline preview: Verdugo on a roll

Pipeline preview: Verdugo on a roll

July 17th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Alex Verdugo (Dodgers' No. 6), Tulsa vs. Northwest Arkansas (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Verdugo, No. 91 on the Top 100, connected on his 10th and 11th home runs on Saturday as he went deep in both games of Double-A Tulsa's doubleheader against Arkansas. Despite celebrating his 20th birthday in mid-May, the outfielder has been anything but overmatched this season in the Texas League. Through 81 games for the Drillers, Verdugo is hitting an even .300, with 27 extra-base hits and 49 RBIs.

Pitcher to watch: (Reds' No. 2), Louisville vs. Indianapolis (6:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Stephenson has been missing more bats of late for Triple-A Louisville, as he enters the day having fanned 23 hitters in 18 1/3 innings across his last three starts. And while his control and command still leave something to be desired, the No. 30 overall prospect has consistently worked deeper into games since the beginning of June, completing at least six innings in five of his last seven turns for the Bats.

Duel of the day: Andrew Moore (Mariners' No. 10) vs. Lucas Sims (Braves' No. 10), Jackson at Mississippi (6 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Moore picked up his first Double-A loss in his most recent turn for Jackson, despite allowing just two earned runs in six innings. The 22-year-old right-hander has pitched to a 3.64 ERA over 47 innings (nine starts) since being promoted from Class A Advanced Bakersfield, where he had posted a 1.65 ERA and a 0.90 WHIP over 54 2/3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .188 average.

Sims, meanwhile, is set to make his fifth start for Mississippi since being demoted from Triple-A Gwinnett. The 22-year-old righty has fared much better in his return to the Southern League, registering a 3.68 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 22 frames, and he owns a 2.95 ERA through seven starts for the M-Braves for the season.

Sunday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 15 (Twins' No. 1) vs. (Orioles' No. 18), Rochester vs. Norfolk (1:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 49 (Brewers' No. 3), Colorado Springs at Tacoma (4:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 62 Luis Ortiz (Rangers' No. 4), Frisco vs. San Antonio (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 78 Kolby Allard (Braves' No. 4), Danville at Bristol (6 p.m. ET)
More top prospect probables

Nate Smith (Angels' No. 3), Salt Lake at Omaha (Triple-A)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 8), Richmond at Bowie (Double-A)
Jacob Nix (Padres' No. 8), Fort Wayne vs. Cedar Rapids (Class A)
Devin Williams (Brewers' No. 9), Wisconsin at Dayton (Class A)
(Dodgers' No. 9) vs. (D-backs' No. 14), Oklahoma City at Reno (Triple-A)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 10) vs. Felix Jorge (Twins' No. 23), Mobile at Chattanooga (Double-A)
Ricardo Pinto (Phillies' No. 10), Reading at Trenton (Double-A)
(White Sox No. 11), Charlotte at Pawtucket (Triple-A)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 12), High Desert vs. San Jose (Class A Advanced)
(Rockies' No. 12), Hartford at Binghamton (Double-A)
(Mets' No. 13), Las Vegas at Iowa (Triple-A)
(Reds' No. 14), Pensacola at Jacksonville (Double-A)
Fernando Romero (Twins' No. 15), Fort Myers vs. Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
Trey Ball (Red Sox's No. 16) vs. Austen Williams (Nationals' No. 20), Salem vs. Potomac (Class A Advanced)
(Braves' No. 17), Rome at Columbia (Class A)
Thomas Szapucki (Mets' No. 17), Kingsport at Burlington (Rookie)
Jaime Schultz (Rays' No. 18), Durham at Syracuse (Triple-A)
(Giants' No. 19), Sacramento at Round Rock (Triple-A)
(Pirates' No. 19), Bradenton vs. Clearwater (Class A Advanced)
Ronnie Williams (Cardinals' No. 20), State College at Lowell (Class A Short Season)
(Phillies' No. 20), Lakewood at Charleston (Class A)
Justin Anderson (Angels' No. 21), Inland Empire vs. Lake Elsinore (Class A Advanced)
Bubba Derby (Brewers' No. 21), Brevard County at Palm Beach (Class A Advanced)
Carson Sands (Cubs' No. 23), South Bend at Kane County (Class A)
Harrison Musgrave (Rockies' No. 25), Albuquerque vs. Memphis (Triple-A)
(Braves' No. 26), Gwinnett vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Triple-A)
Ian Kahaloa (Reds' No. 26), Billings vs. Orem (Rookie)
Brett Graves (A's No. 29), Stockton vs. Modesto (Class A Advanced)
Yunior Marte (Royals' No. 29), Lexington vs. Asheville (Class A)
(Reds' No. 30), Lehigh Valley vs. Buffalo (Triple-A)