Pipeline Preview: Ranaudo raring to go for Pawtucket

The Braves and Red Sox will play four times this week, beginning with a Monday matinee in Atlanta. More than 1,000 miles up the Atlantic coast, their Triple-A affiliates will also start a four-game series Monday as Pawtucket hosts Gwinnett at 6:15 p.m. ET in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV.

Like the big league club, Pawtucket enters the series on a long losing streak. The PawSox have lost seven in a row and will turn to right-hander Anthony Ranaudo, the Red Sox's No. 8 prospect, to try to snap the skid.

Ranaudo, ranked No. 97 on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list, is 4-3 with a 3.27 ERA this season. He has struck out 49 batters and walked 28 in 52 1/3 innings.

Pawtucket's offense is highlighted by third baseman Garin Cecchini, the Red Sox's No. 4 prospect and No. 49 overall. He enters the week hitting .290 with a .721 OPS.

Gwinnett's roster features catcher Christian Bethancourt, the Braves' No. 2 prospect and No. 70 overall. After a tough first month of the season, he is hitting .318 with two home runs and an .847 OPS in May. Overall, he is hitting .262 with two home runs and a .677 OPS in 35 games this season.

While the Braves have reportedly considered calling up second baseman Tommy La Stella, the club's No. 7 prospect, he remains with Gwinnett, at least for now. He is hitting .295 with a .386 on-base percentage in 45 games this season.

In addition to Ranaudo, several other pitchers ranked in the Top 100 are scheduled to start Monday, including Kyle Crick (No. 28), Kohl Stewart (No. 33), Julio Urias (No. 54), Braden Shipley (No. 66) and Matthew Wisler (No. 67). Fans can watch Wisler and Triple-A El Paso take on Tacoma at 4:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Another notable pitcher scheduled to start Monday is left-hander Sammy Solis, the Nationals' No. 5 prospect. He is slated to make his Double-A debut when Harrisburg hosts Bowie at 2 p.m. ET in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV. After missing the first six weeks of the season due to a back injury, he has worked his way up to Harrisburg after making one start at both Class A Hagerstown and Class A Advanced Potomac. Before his injury, he was expected to start the season with Harrisburg.

Top prospect probables
Ian Clarkin (Yankees' No. 8), Charleston vs. Greenville
Kyle Crick (Giants' No. 1), Richmond vs. Trenton
Chase De Jong (Blue Jays' No. 13), Lansing at South Bend
Edwin Diaz (Mariners' No. 4), Clinton vs. Wisconsin
Cody Kukuk (Red Sox's No. 16), Salem vs. Potomac
Sean Manaea (Royals' No. 4), Wilmington vs. Frederick
Trevor May (Twins' No. 12), Rochester vs. Syracuse
Anthony Ranaudo (Red Sox's No. 8), Pawtucket vs. Gwinnett
Cody Reed (Royals' No. 14), Lexington at Asheville
Carlos Salazar (Braves' No. 11), Rome vs. West Virginia
Braden Shipley (D-backs' No. 2), South Bend vs. Lansing
Sammy Solis (Nationals' No. 5), Harrisburg vs. Bowie
Ryne Stanek (Rays' No. 11), Bowling Green vs. West Michigan
Teddy Stankiewicz (Red Sox's No. 17), Greenville at Charleston
Kohl Stewart (Twins' No. 4), Cedar Rapids at Beloit
Nick Travieso (Reds' No. 7), Dayton at Fort Wayne
Jose Urena (Marlins' No. 8), Jacksonville vs. Montgomery
Julio Urias (Dodgers' No. 3), Rancho Cucamonga vs. Lake Elsinore
Matthew Wisler (Padres' No. 3), El Paso at Tacoma