Derek Jeter had the hideous home run sculpture removed from Marlins Park in the offseason and it seems to have worked some kind of magic. Opponents have just four dingers in seven games there so far this season. That is a pace of about 46 for the season after Miami had surrendered 74 there each of the last two years.
So, we are once again laying off home runs for now and handing the Prop Ball instead to Jake Arrieta.
The Phillies’ right-hander is taking his second stab at his 100th career victory. He notched No. 99 in his first start of the year (six strikeouts) but the Phils managed just two runs in his last outing against the Twins. He had just one K that game, but Minnesota does have the fewest strikeouts in baseball.
He should be pumped up here to get that milestone in a stadium where he is 4-1 in five career starts, including an 11-strikeout game in 2014.
Marlins batters have double-digit Ks in three straight games and five of their last seven. They could easily whiff that often again here and Arrieta should stick around long enough to grab most of them for himself.
Pick: Arrieta Strikeouts Over 5.5 (-130)