Marlins at Phillies
Jake Arrieta won 54 games, a Cy Young Award and a World Series ring the past three seasons, and now the newly signed Philadelphia Phillies ace debuts in Sunday’s home contest against the Miami Marlins. One of several big-name players who did not sign until late in the offseason, Arrieta inked a three-year, $75-million deal on March 11 to join a franchise seeking its first season above .500 since 2011, and the nine-year veteran does not anticipate any issues getting ready.
“Even though I didn’t have a typical spring training, I was still able to get a solid amount of throwing in, a lot of bullpens,” Arrieta told reporters on Thursday, after throwing 35 pitches in a side session that day and 68 pitches in a Monday session. “I’m ready to get extended.” Philadelphia blasted Miami’s pitching in Saturday’s contest, winning 20-1 as Maikel Franco (who finished with six RBIs and three runs scored) and Aaron Altherr each launched grand slams in the opening three innings. Miami looks to avoid the sweep and brings a four-game losing streak into the contest, having been outscored 36-6 during the skid. The Marlins have scored three runs or fewer runs five times in their first eight games, and saw 21 of their final 22 hitters retired Saturday.
TV: 1:35 p.m. ET, FS Florida (Miami), NBCS Philadelphia Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Marlins RH Trevor Richards (0-1, 10.38 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Jake Arrieta (2017: 14-10, 3.53)
Richards looks for better results in his second major-league appearance after taking the loss in his debut against Boston on Monday, and the Marlins need it after having the bullpen and backup catcher Bryan Holaday cover 5 1/3 innings of relief Saturday. The 24-year-old Richards gave up five runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings, striking out five while throwing 55 of his 93 pitches for strikes. Richards posted a 2.53 ERA at High-A and Double-A last season, and won a rotation spot after allowing just one earned run in 12 innings this spring.
The 32-year-old Arrieta went 54-24 with a 2.71 ERA in his final three seasons with the Cubs, averaging 31.3 starts, 196.3 strikeouts and a 1.04 WHIP in that span. Arrieta faced the Marlins twice last season, winning both starts with a 2.08 ERA. He has made two career starts in Citizens Bank Park, going 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA in one of baseball’s more hitter-friendly stadiums.
WALK-OFFS
1. Philadelphia 1B Carlos Santana recorded his 1,000th career base hit Saturday, a three-run homer in an eight-run fourth inning.
2. Miami OF Cameron Maybin collected one of the Marlins’ five hits Saturday and is batting .321 with a .387 on-base percentage entering Sunday’s series finale.
3. Philadelphia has defeated the Marlins eight times in the past nine matchups dating to last season, outscoring Miami 69-24 in that span.