Pipeline preview: Mets slugger Smith, Giants RHP Bickford in action

May 4th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Dominic Smith (Mets' No. 1)
Smith, MLBPipeline.com's No. 47 overall prospect, went 3-for-6 with his third home run and four RBIs to lead Double-A Binghamton past Portland on Tuesday night. The 20-year-old first baseman hit just .196 through his first 12 Double-A games but has since made up for the slow start, with a .375 average (15-for-40), two homers and 13 RBIs in his last 10 contests for Binghamton. Smith will look to build on his current .275/.320/.451 batting line and 20 RBIs Wednesday when Binghamton takes on Portland in Game 3 of a four-game set at 6 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Pitcher to watch: Phil Bickford (Giants' No. 3)
Selected by San Francisco in the first round of the 2015 Draft, Bickford hasn't had any trouble missing bats in his first full professional season, piling up 33 strikeouts in 20 2/3 innings (14.4 K/9) across four starts for Class A Augusta. The 20-year-old right-hander was at his best in his latest turn for the GreenJackets on April 27, when he fired seven scoreless innings of four-hit ball against Kannapolis. Overall, Bickford owns a 3.48 ERA and has held opposing hitters to a paltry .184 average this season. He'll take the mound Wednesday on the road against Greenville in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Duel of the day: Conner Greene (Blue Jays' No. 2) vs. Kodi Medeiros (Brewers' No. 7), Dunedin at Brevard County (A Adv)
Wednesday's top pitching matchup is highlighted by a pair of young hurlers who, despite ranking among the top arms in their respective organizations, have struggled at times in 2016. Greene, 21, will attempt to bounce back in his sixth start of the season for Class A Advanced Dunedin after he allowed four earned runs on 10 hits his last time out. The right-hander has pitched to a respectable 3.51 ERA but has struggled with his command, posting a 12/10 K/BB ratio in 25 2/3 innings. Medeiros, meanwhile, is hoping to finally get on track after the 19-year-old lefty scuffled through the first month of the season with an 8.71 ERA, 2.18 WHIP and 18/14 K/BB ratio in 20 2/3 frames (five starts) for Brevard County.

Tuesday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 1 Lucas Giolito (Nationals' No. 1), Harrisburg vs. Hartford (10:30 a.m. ET MiLB.TV)
No. 2 Julio Urias (Dodgers' No. 1), Oklahoma City vs. New Orleans (12:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 12 Blake Snell (Rays' No. 1), Durham vs. Indianapolis (11:05 a.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 31 Robert Stephenson (Reds' No. 2), Louisville vs. Norfolk (11:05 a.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 37 Francis Martes (Astros' No. 3), Corpus Christi at Midland (7:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 53 Jorge Lopez (Brewers' No. 3), Colorado Springs vs. Round Rock (1:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 56 Tyler Jay (Twins' No. 3), Fort Myers at Palm Beach (A Adv)
No. 58 Grant Holmes (Dodgers' No. 3), Rancho Cucamonga vs. Bakersfield (A Adv)
No. 74 Erick Fedde (Nationals' No. 4), Potomac at Lynchburg (A Adv)
More top prospect probables

Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 6), Rome vs. Hickory (A)
Scott Blewett (Royals' No. 6), Lexington vs. Delmarva (A)
Brian Johnson (Red Sox's No. 6) vs. Zach Eflin (Phillies' No. 13), Pawtucket at Lehigh Valley (AAA)
A.J. Cole (Nationals' No. 7), Syracuse vs. Rochester (AAA)
Austin Smith (Padres' No. 7), Fort Wayne at Clinton (A)
Jake Esch (Marlins' No. 9), Jacksonville at Jackson (AA)
Andrew Suarez (Giants' No. 9), San Jose at Stockton (A Adv)
Adalberto Mejia (Giants' No. 10) vs. Parker Bridwell (Orioles' No. 18), Richmond vs. Bowie (AA)
Tyler Danish (White Sox's No. 11) vs. Chih-Wei Hu (Rays' No. 13), Birmingham at Montgomery (AA)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 11), Kane County vs. Lake County (A)
Dinelson Lamet (Padres' No. 12), Lake Elsinore at Modesto (A Adv)
Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 14), West Virginia at Charleston (A)
Sal Romano (Reds' No. 15) vs. Adrian Houser (Brewers' No. 17), Pensacola vs. Biloxi (AA)
Tyler Alexander (Tigers' No. 15), Lakeland vs. Daytona (A Adv)
Kyle McGowin (Angels' No. 16), Arkansas vs. Tulsa (AA)
Shawn Morimando (Indians' No. 16), Akron vs. Trenton (AA)
Justin Steele (Cubs' No. 17) vs. Freddy Peralta (Brewers' No. 27), South Bend vs. Wisconsin (A)
Josh Staumont (Royals' No. 18), Wilmington vs. Frederick (A Adv)
Sandy Alcantara (Cardinals' No. 19), Peoria vs. Bowling Green (A)
Andrew Thurman (Braves' No. 18), Mississippi at Tennessee (AA)
Ricardo Sanchez (Braves' No. 19), Rome vs. Hickory (A)
Marc Brakeman (Red Sox's No. 24), Greenville vs. Augusta (A)
Ty Buttrey (Red Sox's No. 26), Portland vs. Binghamton (AA)
Eric Skoglund (Royals' No. 28), Northwest Arkansas vs. Springfield (AA)
Harrison Musgrave (Rockies' No. 28), Hartford at Harrisburg (AA)