Pipeline preview: Crawford working on hitting streak
Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: J.P. Crawford (Phillies' No. 1), Lehigh Valley at Buffalo (1:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Crawford, No. 3 on the Top 100, stayed hot for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday night, going 2-for-5 with a home run, a double and three RBIs to pace the IronPigs in a 9-1 win over Buffalo. The home run was Crawford's fifth of the season and second at the Triple-A level, and both have come during his current five-game hitting streak. In that span, Crawford has gone 11-for-22 with five extra-base hits and four RBIs.
Pitcher to watch: Dillon Overton (A's No. 9), Nashville vs. New Orleans (2:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Overton was sharp in his first start for Triple-A Nashville since returning from the big leagues, firing six innings of two-run ball in a win against Memphis. In general, the 24-year-old lefty has been great this season across 15 Triple-A outings (14 starts), going 9-4 with a 3.01 ERA in 89 2/3 innings. During his time with A's, however, Overton allowed 11 earned runs (11.42 ERA) on 15 hits, including five home runs in 8 2/3 innings.
Duel of the day: Carson Sands (Cubs' No. 23) vs. Jose Mujica (Rays' No. 24), South Bend vs. Bowling Green (2:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Sands, 21, has pitched beyond the third inning once in his last four starts for Class A South Bend. But in spite of his recent struggles, the 2014 fourth-rounder is still having a strong full-season debut in the Midwest League, where he's gone 6-2 in 12 starts while posting a 3.72 ERA over a career-high 58 innings.
Mujica, meanwhile, is coming off one of his better starts of the season for Bowling Green on July 5, when he yielded just two hits while working a career-best seven scoreless innings. The 20-year-old right-hander tallied six strikeouts against one walk in the outing. Overall, Mujica enters the day with a 4.50 ERA and a 64-24 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 76 innings (15 starts) for the Hot Rods.
Sunday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 70 Jack Flaherty (Cardinals' No. 2), Palm Beach at Lakeland (1:00 p.m. ET)
More top prospect probables
Touki Toussaint (Braves' No. 5), Rome vs. Hickory (Class A)
Austin Smith (Padres' No. 6) vs. Sandy Baez (Tigers' No. 19), Fort Wayne at West Michigan (Class A)
Dillon Overton (A's No. 9), Nashville vs. New Orleans (Triple-A)
Ian Clarkin (Yankees' No. 9) vs. Luis Castillo (Marlins' No. 22), Tampa at Jupiter (Class A Advanced)
Dakota Chalmers (A's No. 10), Vermont vs. Batavia (Class A Short Season)
Juan Hillman (Indians' No. 10), Mahoning Valley at Staten Island (Class A Short Season)
Matt Strahm (Royals' No. 10), Northwest Arkansas at Frisco (Double-A)
Enyel De Los Santos (Padres' No. 12), Lake Elsinore at Modesto (Class A Advanced)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 12), High Desert vs. Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced)
Rookie Davis (Reds' No. 12), Pensacola vs. Biloxi (Double-A)
Jordan Stephens (White Sox No. 13), Winston-Salem at Frederick (Class A Advanced)
Raul Alcantara (A's No. 15), Midland vs. Arkansas (Double-A)
Fernando Romero (Twins' No. 15), Fort Myers vs. Dunedin (Class A Advanced)
Adonis Medina (Phillies' No. 16), Williamsport vs. Aberdeen (Class A Short Season)
Thomas Szapucki (Mets' No. 17), Kingsport at Danville (Rookie)
Joe Gunkel (Orioles' No. 18), Norfolk vs. Syracuse (Triple-A)
Yeudy Garcia (Pirates' No. 18), Bradenton vs. Brevard County (Class A Advanced)
Joan Gregorio (Giants' No. 20), Sacramento vs. Tacoma (Triple-A)
Alberto Tirado (Phillies' No. 20), Lakewood vs. West Virginia (Class A)
Luis Lugo (Indians' No. 25), Lynchburg at Salem (Class A Advanced)
Chris Flexen (Mets' No. 26), St. Lucie at Clearwater (Class A Advanced)
Miguel Diaz (Brewers' No. 27), Wisconsin vs. Peoria (Class A)
Casey Shane (Indians' No. 28), Lake County at Lansing (Class A)
Yunior Marte (Royals' No. 29), Lexington vs. Greenville (Class A)