Pipeline preview: Top arms Giolito, Snell, Stephenson on tap

April 29th, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Andrew Benintendi (Red Sox's No. 3)
On Thursday, Benintendi, No. 22 on the Top 100, hit a go-ahead, bases-clearing double with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to lead Class A Advanced Salem past Frederick, 7-4. He drove in four runs in the game, giving him 18 RBIs through his first 20 games, and he also extended his hitting streak to 17 games with his 2-for-4 showing at the plate. Overall, the 2015 No. 7 overall Draft pick is batting .346/.407/.642 with 17 runs scored, 16 extra-base hits and four steals. Benintendi will look to extend his hitting streak on Friday when Salem takes on Myrtle Beach in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Pitcher to watch: Lucas Giolito (Nationals' No. 1)
Giolito, MLBPipeline.com's No. 1 overall prospect, had his scheduled start for Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday wiped out by poor weather. Now tabbed to throw on Friday instead, Giolito will attempt to bounce back from a shaky weekend start for Harrisburg against Bowie that saw him give up two earned runs and allow nine hitters (5 H, 4 BB) to reach base in four innings. The 21-year-old righty has yet to complete more than four innings in any of his three starts for the Senators, though he still owns a solid 2.31 ERA on the season. Watch Giolito take on Bowie once again at 6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Duel of the day: Robert Stephenson (Reds' No. 2) vs. Blake Snell (Rays' No. 1); Louisville at Durham
A pair of Top 100 prospects are set to square off Friday in Snell (No. 12 overall) and Stephenson (No. 32), both of whom have already made their big league debuts this season. Stephenson, 23, has been sharp in his two starts for Triple-A Louisville, posting a 0.75 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP in 12 innings, while Snell, who fired five innings of one-run ball against the Yankees last Saturday, will make his fourth start for Durham. In his first three turns for the Bulls, the 23-year-old lefty has pitched to a 2.51 ERA and a 21/7 K/BB ratio in 14 1/3 innings. Fans can watch the two future rotational stalwarts deal tonight when Durham hosts Louisville at 7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Friday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 1 Lucas Giolito (Nationals' No. 1), Harrisburg vs. Bowie (7:00 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 12 Snell (Rays' No. 1), Durham vs. Louisville (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 32 Stephenson (Reds' No. 2), Louisville at Durham (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 35 Carson Fulmer (White Sox's No. 1), Birmingham vs. Pensacola (8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 59 Grant Holmes (Dodgers' No. 3), Rancho Cucamonga vs. High Desert (A Adv)
No. 67 Mark Appel (Phillies' No. 4), Lehigh Valley vs. Buffalo (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables

Edwin Diaz (Mariners' No. 2) vs. Anthony Banda (D-backs' No. 16), Jackson vs. Mobile (AA)
Jarlin Garcia (Marlins' No. 3) vs. Chris Ellis (Braves' No. 14), Jacksonville vs. Mississippi (AA)
Brian Johnson (Red Sox's No. 6), Pawtucket at Syracuse (AAA)
Joe Gatto (Angels' No. 6) vs. Austin Smith (Padres' No. 7), Burling at Fort Wayne (A)
Sam Coonrod (Giants' No. 6), San Jose at Visalia (A Adv)
Kyle Freeland (Rockies' No. 8) vs. Joan Gregorio (Giants' No. 21), Hartford at Richmond (AA)
Jacob Faria (Rays' No. 9), Montgomery at Chattanooga (AA)
Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 9), Lexington at Hickory (A)
Tyler Wagner (D-backs' No. 10), Reno vs. Albuquerque (AAA)
Tyler Mahle (Reds' No. 11), Daytona vs. Dunedin (A Adv)
Dinelson Lamet (Padres' No. 12), Lake Elsinore vs. Lancaster (A Adv)
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 12), Kane County at Bowling Green (A)
Taylor Rogers (Twins' No. 13), Rochester vs. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA)
Mike Soroka (Braves' No. 13), Rome at Hagerstown (A)
Alec Mills (Royals' No. 14) vs. Chase De Jong (Dodgers' No. 18), Northwest Arkansas at Tulsa (AA)
Tyler Alexander (Tigers' No. 15), Lakeland at Clearwater (A Adv)
Kyle McGowin (Angels' No. 16), Arkansas at Springfield (AA)
Shawn Morimando (Indians' No. 16), Akron vs. Altoona (AA)
Parker Bridwell (Orioles' No. 19), Bowie at Harrisburg (AA)
Cody Poteet (Marlins' No. 19), Greensboro at Augusta (A)
Jordan Montgomery (Yankees' No. 20), Trenton at Erie (AA)
Marcos Diplan (Brewers' No. 20), Wisconsin vs. Lansing (A)
Trevor Clifton (Cubs' No. 21), Myrtle Beach vs. Salem (A Adv)
Marc Brakeman (Red Sox's No. 24), Greenville at Lakewood (A)
Alec Asher (Phillies' No. 27), Reading at Portland (AA)
Ivan Pineyro (Marlins' No. 27), New Orleans vs. Memphis (AAA)
Casey Shane (Indians' No. 29), Lake County vs. Peoria (A)
Mitch Brown (Indians' No. 30), Lynchburg at Carolina (A Adv)