masn-baseballs-orioles.jpgAfter the great comeback attempt that fell short, the Orioles (42-47) host the Chicago Cubs (44-45) in the second game of a three-game series tonight at Oriole Park.
Down 8-0 after the top of the third inning last night, the Orioles pulled even at 8-8 on Mark Trumbo’s two-run homer off Koji Uehara in the eighth inning. But Addison Russell’s solo homer off Brad Brach in the top of the ninth gave the Cubs a 9-8 win in their first game in Baltimore since 2003.
The Cubs are 7-3 all-time against…

After the great comeback attempt that fell short, the Orioles (42-47) host the Chicago Cubs (44-45) in the second game of a three-game series tonight at Oriole Park.

Down 8-0 after the top of the third inning last night, the Orioles pulled even at 8-8 on Mark Trumbo’s two-run homer off Koji Uehara in the eighth inning. But Addison Russell’s solo homer off Brad Brach in the top of the ninth gave the Cubs a 9-8 win in their first game in Baltimore since 2003.

The Cubs are 7-3 all-time against the Orioles and that includes a 3-1 mark at Oriole Park. The Orioles are 8-7 this season versus National League opponents.

Left-hander Wade Miley (4-7, 4.97 ERA) will make his 19th start and ninth at home for the Orioles. Miley got the win at Minnesota in his last start on July 8. Over 5 2/3 innings, he gave up eight hits and one run on 107 pitches.

After getting off to a fast start, which saw him rank among the Top 10 in the American League in ERA, Miley has gone seven games without recording a quality start or pitching six innings or more.

Miley’s first 11 starts: 2-3 with an ERA of 2.82 and five quality starts
Miley’s last seven starts: 2-4 with a 9.64 ERA and no quality starts

While left-handed batters are hitting just .184 off Miley, right-handed batters are hitting .307 with an OPS of .863 off the southpaw. In eight home starts, Miley is 2-3 with a 3.60 ERA.

arrieta-throwing-new-hat.jpgFormer Oriole right-hander Jake Arrieta (8-7, 4.35 ERA) tonight makes his first start at Camden Yards as a visiting pitcher. He pitched the first three-plus seasons of his MLB career with Baltimore before his July 2, 2013 trade to the Cubs with Pedro Strop for Scott Feldman and Steve Clevenger. With the Orioles, Arrieta went 20-25 with a 5.46 ERA in 69 appearances, 63 as a starter. He was the O’s opening day starter in 2012 and helped the Orioles to the postseason that same season, though he did not pitch in the playoffs.

With the Cubs, he is 62-28 with a 2.78 ERA in 116 starts. Arrieta won the 2015 National League Cy Young Award, has tossed two no-hitters and started and won Games 2 and 6 in the 2016 World Series to help the Cubs to their first World Series title in 108 years.

Arrieta by month in 2017:
April: 3-1 with 4.66 ERA
May: 2-3 with 4.54 ERA
June: 2-2 with 4.85 ERA
July: 1-1 with 2.13 ERA

In his only previous start against the Orioles, he got the win on Aug. 22, 2014 at Wrigley Field. Over seven innings, he allowed one run and four hits.

Down on the farm, Single-A Frederick shortstop Ryan Mountcastle is 10-for-19 his last five games with five doubles. Mountcastle has 35 doubles on the year, which leads all of minor league baseball. He has 51 extra-base hits, and that ranks second in all of the minors.