Pipeline Preview: Chirinos starts Game 2 for Durham

September 7th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Jo Adell (Angels' No. 1), Orem vs. Idaho Falls (8:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Adell, 18, powered Rookie-level Orem to a win on Wednesday as he connected on his first Pioneer League home run before finishing 2-for-5. Adell's home run was a solo shot to lead off the bottom of the first, and he's now batting .358 through 17 games for the Owlz after his third straight multi-hit game. Overall, the 2017 first-rounder (No. 10 overall) has produced a .317 average with 24 extra-base hits over 48 games in his professional debut.

Pitcher to watch: Yonny Chirinos (Rays' No. 19), Durham vs. Indianapolis (6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Chirinos gets the call for Game 2 of the International League semifinals after Triple-A Durham defeated Indianapolis, 10-3, on Wednesday in the series' opener. The 23-year-old right-hander is coming off of a breakout regular season in which he went 12-5 in 22 starts (23 games) and ranked among the International League leaders with a 2.74 ERA (fourth), a 0.98 WHIP (second) and 120 strikeouts (ninth) in 141 innings.

Duel of the day: Mitch Keller (Pirates' No. 2) vs. David Hess (Orioles' No. 29), Altoona at Bowie (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Keller, 21, wrapped up his regular season with Double-A Altoona on a high note by tossing six scoreless innings of three-hit ball with a career-high 11 strikeouts. He allowed two or fewer earned runs in five of his six starts in the Eastern League, posting a 3.12 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 34 2/3 innings overall. The No. 21 overall prospect will take the mound against Bowie in game one in the best-of-five EL Western Division series after a rainout on Wednesday.

Hess, meanwhile, also will be looking to carry his strong finish to the regular season into the postseason. The 24-year-old righty pitched to a 2.25 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP over six starts down the stretch, compiling 33 strikeouts and seven walks while holding hitters to a .163 clip in 40 innings. Overall, Hess has posted a 3.85 ERA with a 123 strikeouts in 154 1/3 innings (26 starts) in his second straight EL campaign.
More top prospect probables
Taylor Clarke (D-backs' No. 3), Reno vs. El Paso (Triple-A)
(Yankees' No. 21), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at Lehigh Valley
Josh Staumont (Royals' No. 9), NW Arkansas vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
James Naile (A's No. 30), Midland at San Antonio (Double-A)
Aaron Civale (Indians' No. 11), Lynchburg at Frederick (Class A Advanced)
Jonathan Hernandez (Rangers' No. 21) vs. Michael Rucker (Cubs' No. 29), Down East vs. Myrtle Beach (Class A Advanced)
Scott Moss (Reds' No. 29), Dayton at West Michigan (Class A)
(White Sox No. 30), Kannapolis at Greensboro (Class A)
Cole Ragans (Rangers' No. 6), Spokane at Vancouver (Class A Short Season)
Kyle Johnston (Nationals' No. 22), Auburn vs. Batavia (Class A Short Season)
Oscar Tovar (A's No. 26), Vermont at Lowell (Class A Short Season)