Cole Hamels and Trevor Cahill square off as the Phillies and Diamondbacks play an afternoon game. Hamels cut his walk rate by about 1/3 in 2011 versus 2010, and now he’s on a pace to cut his 2011 rate in half. It seems Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee are a good influence on Cole. Cahill has been wild but tough to hit so far in 2012, with 10 BB and 13 hits in 19 innings.

Two teams involved in the four-way tie for first in the AL East go head-to-head as Toronto send Kyle Drabek against Baltimore and Jason Hammel. Drabek is pitching like Cahill above, with lots of walks and few hits. His best game of the season came against these Orioles, 7 1/3 innings with one walk and six strikeouts. Despite the wildness, his ERA stands at 2.00. Hammel comes by his 2.37 ERA the more conventional way, with good rates on all three-true outcomes. The right-hander is holding LHB to a .182 BA this season, although five of the six hits by lefties went for extra bases.

Barry Zito and Bronson Arroyo are each early comeback player of the year candidates as the Giants and Reds meet in Cincinnati. Zito found his control for really the first time in his career, and comes into the game with a 1.71 ERA. Arroyo was sick last season with mono, but now he’s healthy and pounding the strike zone as he’s walked one batter in 21 2/3 innings.

Finally, the Braves and the Dodgers each send a pitcher to the mound with an ERA under 1.00 as Brandon Beachy faces Ted Lilly. Opponents are just 11 for 68 against Beachy, but four of those hits came with runners in scoring position. Lilly is similar, with opponents batting .143 overall, but 3 for 7 with men in scoring position. Teams haven’t scored much against these two due simply to the lack of opportunity.

Enjoy!