How low can Crow go?

I'll be looking to run down the top candidates for the Rays' #1 pick next week, but since it's Friday and the top college pitchers will be in action, after the jump is a little preview of righty Aaron Crow trying to lower his ERA, lefty Brian Matusz trying to continue his solid 2008 season, and slugger Pedro Alvarez trying to make up for lost time.

Aaron Crow, RHP, Missouri: 42.2. That's how many innings it's been since Crow last gave up a run, back in his second start of the season. He'll get a tough test tonight as his Tigers host #11 Texas, whose lineup features high-profile hitters Jordan Danks and Kyle Russell, though both have underachieved. Crow, for his part, will just try to keep doing what he's been doing. On the season, in 52 innings, Crow has surrendered just 4 runs on 36 hits, walked 11, and struck out 67. His ERA stands at a miniscule 0.67, though it wouldn't surprise me if his impressive streak comes to end tonight against the Longhorns. In any event, Crow has made sure his name has stayed atop draft boards this spring.

Brian Matusz, LHP, San Diego: Matusz hasn't been quite as dominant as Crow, and some reports have his stuff a bit down from last year(stay tuned for a report on him next week), but he's still in that discussion for the #1 pick, and his stats certainly justify that: 51.2 innings, 39 hits, 9 earned runs, 15 walks, and 71 punchouts. The southpaw doesn't have the tall order of facing a top-15 team like Crow does as the Toreros travel to face Portland.

Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt: Alvarez returned from a broken hammate bone in his hand on April 1st and hasn't really shown any ill effects. The injury, suffered back in the first series of the season, put Alvarez out of commission for a while but couldn't hinder his draft prospects. In a limited sample size of 29 at-bats, Alvarez is hitting .207/.410/517, but with how he's done the past few seasons with the Commodores and Team USA, this year's stats may be largely ignored. Alvarez and the 'Dores are on the road for an SEC matchup with Mississippi State.