Chicago Cubs’ Arrieta returns to Baltimore for first time since trade

The Chicago Cubs’ Jake Arrieta returns to Camden Yards for the first time since being traded in 2013. The Cubs hope to keep up the offensive outburst while the bullpen goes back to its usual self.

It’s been a long time for Jake Arrieta. The Chicago Cubs acquired him in 2013, and he’ll make his second appearance against his former team and his first trip to Camden Yards since being dealt. While Arrieta won’t be showcasing the Cy Young form of 2015, the Cubs hope he can find a little bit of that magic in his first start in Baltimore since the trade.

The Cubs (44-45) erupted for eight runs on Friday night, all on home runs. But it was the usually reliable bullpen that fell flat as they allowed the Orioles (42-47) to tie the game in the eighth inning at 8-8. An Addison Russell home run lifted the Cubs to the win, but the bullpen was a concern.

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"“We can’t walk that many folks,” manager Joe Maddon” said. “We walked way too many folks. I want to believe it’s the rust from the layoff, but the layoff is necessary. It’s one of those Catch-22 moments. It just the way it is. H/T Mark Gonzales, Chicago Tribune"

Arrieta (8-7, 4.35) will take the mound tonight, and he’ll need to avoid those “lapses” of 10-15 pitches where he struggles to find the strike zone. And the way the ball was leaving the yard yesterday, that will be a concern as well. Arrieta has allowed 29 home runs in Baltimore in 187 2/3 innings. In Chicago, 20 in 353 innings. It’s a different Arrieta, but also a different place to pitch.

The Orioles will send Wade Miley (4-7, 4.97) to the hill as he looks to rectify his issues. Miley got off to a strong start, with a 2.32 ERA in April. Things only continued to get worse, with his ERA in the first half of July a 9.82.

The Cubs hope to continue the impressive at-bats, as they look to start the second half off with a modest two-game win streak. While the swings looked better from many of the Cubs, it mostly came off of starter Kevin Gausman. He allowed eight runs on seven hits, with all the runs scoring thanks to the long ball. Only Russell’s home run came off a different pitcher.

Here are the lineups for tonight’s action:

First pitch is at 6:05 p.m. CT at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. ABC-7 will have the television coverage while 670 The Score will, as usual, have the radio broadcast. Be sure to check back for more news on the Cubs, as well as the postgame from tonight!