Pipeline preview: Alfaro continues to swing hot bat

July 2nd, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in Saturday's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch:Jorge Alfaro (Phillies' No. 6), Reading vs. Harrisburg (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Alfaro, No. 87 on the Top 100, went deep for the third time in five games for Double-A Reading on Friday night, finishing 1-for-4 at the plate. The 23-year-old backstop is hitting an even .300 on the season, with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs through 52 games. Alfaro has been particularly hot of late as well, hitting .319 with six extra-base hits and seven RBIs during his current eight-game hitting streak.

Pitcher to watch:Ty Blach (Giants' No. 23), Sacramento vs. Albuquerque (10:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Blach recorded the third shutout of his career in his most recent start for Triple-A Sacramento, tossing nine innings of six-hit ball with six strikeouts against Las Vegas. Overall, the 25-year-old lefty owns a 4.23 ERA in 95 2/3 innings (16 starts) this season in his second tour of the Pacific Coast League, where he posted a 4.46 ERA over a career-high 165 1/3 frames (27 starts) in 2015.

Duel of the day: Roniel Raudes (Red Sox's No. 13) vs. Peter Lambert (Rockies' No. 13), Greenville vs. Asheville (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Raudes has posted a combined 11 scoreless innings between his two starts against Class A Asheville this season, with seven hits allowed, one walk and 13 strikeouts in that span. In his latest matchup against the Tourists, the 18-year-old right-hander established season highs in innings pitched (six) and strikeouts (eight).

Lambert, the Rockies' second-round Draft pick in 2015, has an 0-2 record in three starts against Greenville this season, despite posting a 1.84 ERA with a 17-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 14 2/3 innings in that span. The 19-year-old righty has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a start, as he enters the day with the fifth-best ERA (2.38) among qualified hurlers in the South Atlantic League.

Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 8 Tyler Glasnow (Pirates' No. 1), Indianapolis at Toledo (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 96 Justus Sheffield (Indians' No. 5) vs. Max Povse (Braves' No. 25), Lynchburg at Carolina (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables

Luke Weaver (Cardinals' No. 3), Springfield at Corpus Christi (Double-A)
Domingo Acevedo (Yankees' No. 7), Tampa at Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Manny Banuelos (Braves' No. 8), Gwinnett at Louisville (Triple-A)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 9) vs. Jordan Montgomery (Yankees' No. 18), Richmond at Trenton (Double-A)
Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 9) vs. Thad Lowry (White Sox No. 21), Wilmington at Winston-Salem (Class A Advanced)
Lucas Sims (Braves' No. 10) vs. Ryan Yarbrough (Mariners' No. 12), Mississippi at Jackson (Double-A)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 10), Mobile at Montgomery (Double-A)
Dinelson Lamet (Padres' No. 10), San Antonio vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 11), Rome at Lexington (Class A)
Pierce Johnson (Cubs' No. 11), Iowa at Round Rock (Triple-A)
Brad Keller (D-backs' No. 11) vs. Jordan Johnson (Giants' No. 15), Visalia vs. San Jose (Class A Advanced)
Mike Nikorak (Rockies' No. 11), Grand Junction at Idaho Falls (Rookie)
Ryan Borucki (Blue Jays' No. 12), Lansing at South Bend (Class A)
Tyler Alexander (Tigers' No. 13), Lakeland vs. Daytona (Class A Advanced)
Ofelky Peralta (Orioles' No. 14), Delmarva at Hagerstown (Class A)
Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 14), West Virginia vs. Columbia (Class A)
Clay Holmes (Pirates' No. 15), Altoona vs. Bowie (Double-A)
Sal Romano (Reds' No. 15), Pensacola vs. Chattanooga (Double-A)
Franklin Perez (Astros' No. 16), Quad Cities at Kane County (Class A)
Antonio Santillan (Reds' No. 18), Billings vs. Great Falls (Rookie)
Josh Sborz (Dodgers' No. 18) vs. Heath Fillmyer (A's No. 18), Rancho Cucamonga vs. Stockton (Class A Advanced)
Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals' No. 19), Clinton at Peoria (Class A)
Jake Stinnett (Cubs' No. 22), Myrtle Beach vs. Potomac (Class A Advanced)
Michael Mader (Marlins' No. 22), Jupiter at Fort Myers (Class A Advanced)
Jake Brentz (Mariners' No. 24), Everett at Tri-City (Short Season)
Eric Skoglund (Royals' No. 27), Northwest Arkansas vs. Midland (Double-A)
Jean Cosme (Padres' No. 28), Fort Wayne at Lake County (A)
Lachlan Wells (Twins' No. 28), Cedar Rapids at Beloit (A)
Brad Markey (Cubs' No. 29), Tennessee at Jacksonville (Double-A)
Ben Lively (Phillies' No. 30), Lehigh Valley vs. Charlotte (Triple-A)
Victor Payano (Rangers' No. 30), Frisco at Arkansas (Double-A)
Genesis Cabrera (Rays' No. 30), Bowling Green at Great Lakes (A)
Micah Miniard (Twins' No. 30), Mahoning Valley at State College (Short Season)