Pipeline preview: Royals' Dozier, Braves' Sims highlight Minors' slate

May 3rd, 2016

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Hunter Dozier (Royals' No. 15)
Dozier's resurgence in the Texas League has seen him hit .316/.419/.684 with seven home runs in 22 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. This, of course, comes after he hit just .213/.281/.329 with 12 homers in 128 games at the level in 2015. The 24-year-old third baseman is riding a five-game hitting streak entering Tuesday, and, after going 2-for-4 with a dinger on Monday, has now homered in three of his past four contests for the Naturals. Dozier will look to stay hot as Northwest Arkansas hosts Springfield at 8:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Pitcher to watch: Lucas Sims (Braves' No. 12)
Sims recorded season highs in both strikeouts (11) and innings pitched (seven) in his last start for Gwinnett, which was just his second at the Triple-A level. The 21-year-old righty has yet to win a game in 2016, going 0-3 in five starts, but he's still posted a solid 2.03 ERA in 26 2/3 frames between Double-A Mississippi and Gwinnett. More significant, Sims is leading the Minors with 42 strikeouts and ranks fourth with a 14.2 K/9, while opposing hitters are batting a paltry .163 against him. On Tuesday, Sims and Gwinnett will host Toledo in a game that can be seen on MiLB.TV at 7:05 p.m.

Duel of the day: Reynaldo Lopez (Nationals' No. 5) vs. German Marquez (Rockies' No. 13), Harrisburg vs. Hartford (AA 6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Lopez made strides during the second half last year at Class A Advanced Potomac, but, so far, that progress hasn't translated at the Double-A level for the 22-year-old righty, who is 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings (four starts) for the Harrisburg. Marquez, on the other hand, has been outstanding for Hartford in his first Double-A exposure, going 2-1 with a 1.71 ERA in 21 innings. Acquired from Tampa Bay as part of the Corey Dickerson-Jake McGree trade during the offseason, Marquez, who will pitch the entire season at age 21, has yet to allow more than two earns runs in his four starts for the Yard Goats. The two hurlers will square off when Harrisburg hosts Hartford at 6:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Tuesday's Top 100 prospect probables

No. 74 Erick Fedde (Nationals' No. 4), Potomac at Lynchburg (A Adv)
No. 50 Jameson Taillon (Pirates' No. 4), Indianapolis vs. Durham (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 51 Jake Thompson (Phillies' No. 2), Lehigh Valley vs. Pawtucket (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 68 Archie Bradley (D-backs' No. 2), Reno at Fresno (9:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables

Spencer Adams (White Sox's No. 3), Winston-Salem vs. Myrtle Beach (A Adv)
Nate Smith (Angels' No. 3), Salt Lake at Tacoma (AAA)
Miguel Almonte (Royals' No. 4), Omaha at Memphis (AAA)
Kohl Stewart (Twins' No. 7), Fort Myers at Palm Beach (A Adv)
David Paulino (Astros' No. 7) vs. Dylan Covey (A's No. 15), Corpus Christi at Midland (AA)
Jake Jewell (Angels' No. 8), Inland Empire vs. Lancaster (A Adv)
Clayton Blackburn (Giants' No. 11), Sacramento at Albuquerque (AAA)
Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 12), Peoria vs. Bowling Green (A)
Tom Eshelman (Phillies' No. 15), Clearwater vs. Tampa (A Adv)
Kyle Crick (Giants' No. 17), Richmond vs. Bowie (AA)
Ryan Castellani (Rockies' No. 17), Modesto vs. Lake Elsinore (A Adv)
Ryan Williams (Cubs' No. 19), Iowa at Nashville (AAA)
Zack Erwin (A's No. 23), Stockton vs. San Jose (A Adv)
Max Povse (Braves' No. 26), Carolina at Salem (A Adv)
Ryan Merritt (Indians' No. 27), Columbus at Charlotte (AAA)
Josh Taylor (D-backs' No. 28), Visalia at High Desert (A Adv)
Chris Flexen (Mets' No. 28), St. Lucie at Bradenton (A Adv)
Andrew Morales (Cardinals' No. 30), Springfield at Northwest Arkansas (AA)