Pipeline preview: Smith throwing in duel of the day

Here’s a look at top prospects to watch in today’s Minor League action:

Hitter to watch: JaCoby Jones (Tigers’ No. 8) Erie vs. Richmond

Jones was forced to sit out for the first 37 games of Double-A Erie’s season as he served the remainder of the 50-game suspension levied against him last fall. But since his activation on May 17, the 24-year-old third baseman/outfielder has made up for the lost time by hitting .326 with a 1.073 OPS, eight extra-base hits including three home runs and 14 RBIs in his first 10 games back. Jones extended his hitting streak to seven games on Friday night by going 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs, and he’ll look to keep it alive today when the SeaWolves take on Richmond and Giants’ No. 2 prospect Tyler Beede at 6:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV.

Pitcher to watch: Jonathan Harris (Blue Jays’ No. 4) South Bend vs. Lansing

One of the top pitchers in the Minors Leagues to begin the season, Harris has not allowed an earned run over his last 32 frames (five starts) — a stretch that dates back to his second start of the year on April 14 — and enters the day having struck out exactly 11 hitters (a career-high) in seven innings in back-to-back starts for Class A Lansing. The 22-year-old right-hander, whom the Blue Jays drafted 28th overall last June, is 3-0 with a 0.83 ERA and a 34/12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 32 2/3 innings (seven starts) in 2016, while his shaky Opening Day start (0.2 IP, 3 ER, 2 H, 4 BB) remains the only blemish on his otherwise perfect résumé this season. He’ll take the mound against South Bend on MiLB.TV at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Duel of the day: Nate Smith (Angels’ No. 3) vs. Dillon Overton (A’s No. 10), Salt Lake vs. Nashville

Today’s slate of potential duels …

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