Arrieta and Strop at Camden Yards, Miley's success vs. Cubs

Jake Arrieta will get the bulk of the attention this weekend because he's returning to Camden Yards for the first time since the Orioles traded him to the Cubs on July 2, 2013. The two no-hitters and the Cy Young Award are the likely reasons. No need to overthink it.

However, let's not forget about reliever Pedro Strop, who was included in the deal. He was excited to be back in Baltimore yesterday and got a huge smile on his face after spotting a couple of reporters from the Orioles beat crew in the visiting clubhouse.

Hugs and handshakes followed.

Strop was wearing a sleeveless T-shirt and I'm here to report that he hasn't stayed out of the gym. The guy's arms are huge. He looks like he could bend the foul pole into a pretzel.

Strop couldn't throw strikes toward the end of his stay with the Orioles and he didn't have any options. They tried to stash him on the disabled list so he could work on his command and confidence on a rehab assignment, but it didn't work.

I don't recall many fans lamenting his loss in the trade, and not because of his crooked cap, but he posted a 2.73 ERA and 1.015 WHIP in 271 appearances with the Cubs before last night. He was averaging 3.4 walks per nine innings, compared to 7.2 in three seasons with the Rangers and 4.9 in three seasons with the Orioles.

Called upon in the sixth inning last night, Strop walked Manny Machado and Mark Trumbo and was removed with two outs. Guess the lapses in control aren't completely out of his system.

Being back at Camden Yards was "a little weird" for Strop, though it couldn't erase the smile.

Strop spotted the home clubhouse entrance, paused and said, "Uh, no, not here." A little further down the hall.

Arrieta has taken a few steps back this season with an 8-7 record, 4.35 ERA and 1.303 WHIP in 18 starts. He's averaging 8.6 hits allowed per nine innings, compared to 5.9 in 2015, when he won the Cy Young Award.

Talk about a breakout season. Arrieta went 22-6 with a 1.77 ERA and 0.865 WHIP in 33 starts. He had four complete games and three shutouts. And each one felt like a punch in the gut to Orioles fans. Maybe a little lower.

Arrieta is trying to ride out an inconsistent stretch. In his last four starts before the break, he allowed one run in seven innings in Miami, five earned runs (six total) in four innings in D.C., one hit over seven scoreless innings in Cincinnati and three earned runs (four total) in 5 2/3 innings against the Pirates.

In his only start against the Orioles, Arrieta held them to one run and four hits in seven innings in a 4-1 win on Aug. 22, 2014 at Wrigley Field.

Chris Davis is 3-for-5 against Arrieta. Seth Smith is 1-for-4 with a home run, Trumbo is 2-for-9 with a double and Rubén Tejada is 1-for-9.

Arrieta is making his 36th career appearance and 34th start at Camden Yards. He's 10-12 with a 5.71 ERA and 1.503 WHIP in 187 2/3 innings.

In his final appearance, he faced the Dodgers on April 21, 2013 and allowed only two hits with six strikeouts in four innings. The five runs and five walks were an issue.

Strop retired all four batters he faced with two strikeouts before ... wait for it ...Troy Patton replaced him and served up a home run to Jerry Hairston. Strop lowered his ERA to 9.45. Arrieta's rose to 6.63 and the Orioles optioned him the following day to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled Alex Burnett.

Arrieta was given one more start before the trade, taking the mound in Detroit on June 17 after Jason Hammel was scratched with a stomach virus, and he allowed five runs and 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings to leave his ERA at 7.23. Patton tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings and Strop struck out two in a scoreless inning to lower his ERA to 7.20.

The Orioles optioned Arrieta less than an hour later and recalled Zach Britton. Because it's a small world after all.

Left-hander Wade Miley, slotted second coming out of the break, is 4-1 with a 3.46 ERA in six career starts against the Cubs, with a 0.912 WHIP over 41 2/3 innings. He held them to one run and one hit over seven innings on July 30, 2016, with one walk and nine strikeouts. The Orioles acquired him from the Mariners the following day.

Ben Zobrist is 1-for-13 (.077) against Miley. Jason Heyward is 1-for-10 (.100) and Anthony Rizzo is 2-for-12.

Beware of Jon Jay, who's 5-for-7 (.714) with a double.