Pipeline Preview: Tigers' Baez battles Tribe's Bieber

September 4th, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: (Cardinals' No. 4), Memphis at Colorado Springs (2:30 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
O'Neill, MLB Pipeline's No. 95 overall prospect, had another huge game Sunday for Triple-A Memphis, going 3-for-6 with a home run and five RBIs. The three-hit performance was the 22-year-old outfielder's second in as many days, and he's now homered in five of his past six contests. Overall, O'Neill has slugged 31 home runs in 2017 -- one shy of his career high -- including 12 homers in 36 games after going from Seattle to St. Louis in a Trade Deadline deal.

Pitcher to watch: Bryse Wilson (Braves' No. 22), Rome vs. Columbia (1 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
A fourth-round Draft pick in 2016, Wilson has been a standout in his first full season and currently ranks among the South Atlantic League leaders with his 2.55 ERA (third), 1.05 WHIP (tied-third) and 133 strikeouts (third). The 19-year-old righty has proved plenty durable, too, logging 134 innings over 25 starts while holding opposing hitters to a .215/.276/.318 line.

MILB Video - Title: Wilson blanks West Virginia - Url: http://www.milb.com/r/video?content_id=1590067483

Duel of the day: (Tigers' No. 19) vs. Shane Bieber (Indians' No. 12), Erie at Akron (1:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Franklin Perez, the Tigers' new No. 1 prospect after being acquired from the Astros on Friday, was scheduled to start for Erie but was scratched, so Baez took his spot. Baez, who sports a 4.04 ERA this season, is making his second start with the SeaWolves after being promoted on Aug. 28. The righty struck out five and allowed four runs in five innings in his Double-A debut.

Bieber, 22, has given up two or fewer earned runs in seven of his eight starts for Akron en route to a 2.42 ERA. The right-hander has put himself on the map in his first full season with his success across three levels, as he carries a 2.90 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP and a 157-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio through 167 1/3 innings (27 starts) into his final regular-season outing.
Monday's top prospect probables
Zac Gallen (Cardinals' No. 14), Memphis at Colorado Springs (Triple-A)
Jalen Beeks (Red Sox's No. 17), Pawtucket at Rochester (Triple-A)
Conner Greene (Blue Jays' No. 12), New Hampshire at Portland (Double-A)
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 15), Mississippi vs. Birmingham (Double-A)
Jacob Nix (Padres' No. 15), San Antonio at Corpus Christi (Double-A)
Duane Underwood Jr. (Cubs' No. 17), Tennessee vs. Jackson (Double-A)
Heath Fillmyer (A's No. 19), Midland at Frisco (Double-A)
(Phillies' No. 19), Reading at Trenton (Double-A)
Cody Ponce (Brewers' No. 21), Biloxi at Mobile (Double-A)
Oscar De La Cruz (Cubs' No. 1) vs. Kodi Medeiros (Brewers' No. 23), Myrtle Beach at Carolina (Class A Advanced)
Jon Duplantier (D-backs' No. 2), Visalia at Modesto (Class A Advanced)
Logan Shore (A's No. 8) vs. Garrett Williams (Giants' No. 20), Stockton vs. San Jose (Class A Advanced)
Adonis Medina (Phillies' No. 9), Lakewood vs. Kannapolis (Class A)
Bryan Mata (Red Sox's No. 15), Greenville at Asheville (Class A)
Michael Matuella (Rangers' No. 23), Hickory vs. Greensboro (Class A)
Reggie Lawson (Padres' No. 27), Fort Wayne at West Michigan (Class A)
Gerson Garabito (Royals' No. 29), Lexington at Hagerstown (Class A)
Nick Raquet (Nationals' No. 16), Auburn at State College (Class A Short Season)
Spencer Howard (Phillies' No. 21), Williamsport at West Virginia (Class A Short Season)
Jake Thompson (Red Sox's No. 20), Lowell vs. Hudson Valley (Class A Short Season)