Pipeline Preview: Crawford, McGuire set for showdown

A year ago, catcher Reese McGuire and shortstop J.P. Crawford were just finishing up their high school careers. They would soon be selected just two picks apart in the first round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft (McGuire went 14th overall to the Pirates, while the Phillies selected Crawford with the 16th pick) and begin their professional careers in the Gulf Coast League.

Now, they are both ranked on MLBPipleine.com's Top 100 Prospects list (Crawford No. 89, McGuire No. 90) and are playing their first full professional seasons in the South Atlantic League. For the last three days, they have faced each other as Class A Lakewood takes on West Virginia. The visiting BlueClaws won, 7-0, Saturday and have taken two of the first three games of the series. But the Power will look to to split the series with a win in the finale Sunday at 2:05 p.m. ET.

Though both teams have several well-regarded prospects between them, Crawford and McGuire have quickly established themselves as two of the best players in the league and have played like it this weekend.

Crawford, the Phillies' No. 3 prospect, has helped Lakewood win two of the first three games in the series. He has gone 5-for-12 with three walks, three runs and three RBIs against West Virginia. He is hitting .349 with a .441 on-base percentage this season.

McGuire, the Pirates' No. 7 prospect, is 4-for-12 with three walks and two runs in the series. He is hitting .295 this season and carries a 15-game hitting streak into Sunday's finale. He is hitting .379 during the streak, which is the longest in the league.

In addition to Crawford and McGuire, the Minor League schedule is highlighted by several pitchers ranked in the Top 100 who are slated to start Sunday, including Eddie Butler (No. 34), Allen Webster (No. 39), Jesse Biddle (No. 46), Marcus Stroman (No. 48), Casey Kelly (No. 75), Jose Berrios (No. 78) and Hunter Harvey (No. 95). Fans can watch most of the action on MiLB.TV, beginning with Double-A Reading and Biddle visiting Akron and Indians No. 1 prospect Francisco Lindor at 2:05 p.m.

Top prospect probables:

Chris Anderson (Dodgers' No. 5), Rancho Cucamonga vs. Lake Elsinore
Alec Asher (Rangers' No. 10), Frisco vs. Springfield
Berrios (Twins' No. 5), Fort Myers vs. Jupiter
Tim Berry (Orioles' No. 6), Bowie at Harrisburg
Biddle (Phillies' No. 2), Reading at Akron
Christian Binford (Royals' No. 11), Wilmington vs. Frederick
Parker Bridwell (Orioles' No. 15), Frederick at Wilmington
Eddie Butler (Rockies' No. 2), Tulsa at Midland
Jamie Callahan (Red Sox No. 18), Greenville vs. Augusta
Anthony DeSclafani (Marlins' No. 6), New Orleans vs. Nashville
Amir Garrett (Reds' No. 19), Dayton at Fort Wayne
Alex Gonzalez (Rangers' No.6), Myrtle Beach at Carolina
Harvey (Orioles' No. 3), Delmarva vs. Kannapolis
Lars Huijer (Mariners' No. 20), Clinton vs. Wisconsin
Brian Johnson (Red Sox No. 12), Salem at New Hampshire
Kelly (Padres' No. 4), San Antonio at Arkansas
Austin Kubitza (Tigers' No. 19), West Michigan at Bowling Green
Michael Lorenzen (Reds' No. 4), Pensacola vs. Birmingham
Cody Martin (Braves' No. 9), Gwinnett vs. Norfolk
Steven Matz (Mets' No. 11), St. Lucie at Palm Beach
Bryan Mitchell (Yankees' No. 14), Trenton at Richmond
Mike Montgomery (Rays' No. 18), Durham at Columbus
Aaron Northcraft (Braves' No. 14), Mississippi at Chattanooga
Ariel Pena (Brewers' No. 17), Nashville at New Orleans
Nick Petree (Cardinals' No. 20), Palm Beach vs. St. Lucie
Alex Reyes (Cardinals' No. 5), Peoria at Kane County
Mark Sappington (Angels' No. 4), Inland Empire at Lancaster
Luis Severino (Yankees' No. 10), Charleston at Hickory
Stroman (Blue Jays' No. 2), Buffalo at Louisville
Eric Surkamp (White Sox No. 20), Charlotte vs. Indianapolis
Allen Webster (Red Sox No. 2) Pawtucket at Syracuse