Pipeline preview: Martinez ready to rake with hot bat

July 10th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Eddy Martinez (Cubs' No. 15), South Bend vs. Bowling Green (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Martinez recorded multiple hits for a fifth straight game on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs in South Bend's win against Bowling Green. After a slow start to his first U.S. campaign, the 21-year-old outfielder, whom the Cubs signed for $3 million last October, is hitting an even .500 (19-for-38) with seven extra-base hits and 10 RBIs during his current 10-game hitting streak.

Pitcher to watch: Dylan Cease (Cubs' No. 8), Eugene vs. Hillsboro (10:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Cease is set to make his fifth start for Class A Short Season Eugene. In his most recent turn, the 20-year-old right-hander, who features a triple-digit heater, worked a career-high five innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out four to record his first win of 2016. Overall, Cease has pitched to a 3.18 ERA with 16 strikeouts in 17 innings for the Emeralds.

Duel of the day: Stephen Tarpley (Pirates' No. 19) vs. Bubba Derby (Brewers' No. 21), Bradenton vs. Brevard County (6:30 p.m. ET)
Tarpley, 23, tossed seven scoreless innings in his latest start for Class A Advanced Bradenton in what was his longest outing of the season. The left-hander fanned six in the performance, giving him 52 strikeouts in 55 1/3 innings to go along with a 3.42 ERA for the year.

Derby, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back after he allowed a combined 11 earned runs on 17 hits over eight innings in his past two starts for Brevard County. Acquired from the A's in the offseason Khris Davis trade, Derby, 22, pitched well during the first two months of the season but has struggled since the beginning of June, going 1-4 with a 6.44 ERA and a .922 opponents' OPS over his last six turns.
Monday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 79 Kolby Allard (Braves' No. 4), Danville vs. Kingsport (7 p.m. ET)
More top prospect probables

Victor Alcantara (Angels' No. 4), Arkansas at Midland (Double-A)
Jon Harris (Blue Jays' No. 4), Lansing vs. Lake County (Class A)
Dylan Cease (Cubs' No. 8), Eugene vs. Hillsboro (10:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Jacob Nix (Padres' No. 8), Fort Wayne at West Michigan (Class A)
Andrew Moore (Mariners' No. 10), Jackson vs. Montgomery (Double-A)
Cody Reed (D-backs' No. 13), Visalia vs. Bakersfield (Class A Advanced)
Junior Fernandez (Cardinals' No. 15), Palm Beach at Lakeland (Class A Advanced)
Matt Koch (D-backs' No. 17) vs. Rob Whalen (Braves' No. 26), Mobile vs. Mississippi (Double-A)
Josh Staumont (Royals' No. 17), Wilmington vs. Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Trey Ball (Red Sox's No. 18) vs. Mitch Brown (Indians' No. 29), Salem vs. Lynchburg (Class A Advanced)
Austen Williams (Nationals' No. 20), Potomac vs. Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Ronnie Williams (Cardinals' No. 20), State College at Connecticut (Class A Short Season)
Justin Anderson (Angels' No. 21), Inland Empire vs. Lancaster (Class A Advanced)
Jen-Ho Tseng (Cubs' No. 24), Tennessee vs. Chattanooga (Double-A)
Brett Graves (A's No. 29), Stockton at San Jose (Class A Advanced)