Machado on trade speculation, Arrieta on return (tied 8-8)

The tarp is on the field at Camden Yards as a light rain began to fall during batting practice, and the start of tonight's game will be delayed.

This will be the 12th game delayed for the Orioles this season due to inclement weather or the threat of it.

The Orioles took BP without interruption. They made a roster move earlier today by activating first baseman Chris Davis from the disabled list and outrighting outfielder Craig Gentry to Triple-A Norfolk after he again cleared waivers. They didn't trade anyone, though it seems like the entire clubhouse is on alert based on the rumors and speculation.

"Those are questions and answers that only Dan (Duquette) can answer, and people in the front office," said third baseman Manny Machado. "We can't do anything. We don't know if we're going to get traded. We might be here today and tomorrow we're not. That's just part of the game.

"All we can do is control what we can, which is going out there and winning some games for this ballclub and putting ourselves in a good position to make a push for it.

"We're looking forward to the second half. Everybody in here got the rest that we needed. We got our minds off baseball for a little bit and we're ready to roll now. We know we've got a tough schedule coming up, but we're never shy about a new challenge."

Machado said the club is taking it the proverbial one day at a time. Win a game and tackle the next one. Chip away at the deficit in the division without looking too far ahead.

"Play baseball today and worry about tomorrow tomorrow. That's how we have to start seeing it," Machado said. "We lose a game today, let's not come in here with our heads down. We have to keep our heads up and we've got another game to win tomorrow and get on a win streak. And hopefully that's what we (do).

"We need to keep playing together. Last couple days before the break we played good and that's the team that's going to take us to the next level. We need everybody to contribute. We've got players coming back from injuries. They're going to come and help the team. We're just looking forward to the second half and just play baseball again."

Machado didn't make the American League All-Star team, but he was front and center in Miami while enjoying the moment with teammate Jonathan Schoop, brother-in-law Yonder Alonso of the Athletics and assorted friends.

Asked whether he was proud of the way Schoop represented the Orioles, collecting a double and scoring a run in his only at-bat, Machado replied, "One hundred percent."

"He definitely deserved everything he did," Machado said, "and I'm glad that he got to enjoy it and be a part of that."

Machado sat in the stands with his wife and nephew. Baseball and babysitting.

"Yeah, it's a little boring to watch it," Machado said. "I don't know how people go out there and watch games. Now I know why sometimes people don't come to games. But it was nice.

"I knew a lot of players on the other side. I was rooting for my brother-in-law and rooting for Jonathan and rooting for Nellie (Nelson Cruz) and (Robinson) Cano, all these guys who are close to me. It was fun to watch them and have fun and enjoy themselves. They deserved to be there. It was an exciting day, an exciting week for my family and for everyone who was there."

Meanwhile, Jake Arrieta has returned to Baltimore and will make his first start at Camden Yards on Saturday since April 21, 2013. The Orioles traded him to the Cubs three months later along with reliever Pedro Strop for starter Scott Feldman and catcher Steve Clevenger.

The rest of the story is well-documented and painful. The Orioles failed to make the playoffs and Arrieta reached his potential in Chicago, throwing two no-hitters, winning the National League's Cy Young Award in 2015 and winning a World Series last summer. He's 62-28 with a 2.78 ERA in five seasons with the Cubs after going 20-25 with a 5.46 ERA in parts of four seasons with the Orioles.

Manager Buck Showalter said he doesn't sit around wondering about what might have been if Arrieta stayed in the organization.

"I try to think the other way. I think it worked out great for Jake and his career and it was perfect timing for him to reach some levels that he was capable of reaching and I'm happy for him," Showalter said.

"Whether it's Pete (Strop) or him, they did some good things for us and we were able to acquire some players that we felt like we needed. And they got to a place where they were able to go to another level. Whether or not it could have happened here, some people might debate it, but I think Jake sooner or later would have reached his level wherever it would have been.

"I pull for Jake every time he pitches except against us. I'm happy for him. He's done some things you'd like to think he could have done here, but I think time and place always comes out. An old manager told me one time, 'Try as you may, you can't screw up the good ones.' The good ones are going to reach their level."

Arrieta said he doesn't feel any extra motivation this weekend based on the opponent.

"Not really, not in that regard," he told reporters. "The motivation is there because you want to win, you want to win for your team. There's still several guys over there who I played with who I want to get out. It's going to be neat to pitch here against these guys and guys I've played with for a long time and guys I've watched from afar. It's going to be enjoyable. I'm looking forward to it.

"It's an organization with tremendous history. During my time here, I would've liked it to do better statistically speaking.

"Playing in the (American League) East was tremendous competition every year. We all know how hard it is to get to the postseason. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the organization and am very thankful for the years I was part of it and now it's on to another chapter."

It's OK for Arrieta to glance back at the previous ones, to feel some regret over how it didn't work out for the former fifth-round draft pick.

"I think about what could've been," he said. "There's no perfect equation for success at this level and it took me a while to figure some things out. It would've been nice to be here for a long time and never play for another team. It didn't work out that way and things didn't go so well.

"I've had the opportunity to come to this organization and do some really special things.It would've been cool to stay with one team your whole career. You know how things work out."

Or don't work out.

Update: Not a good start for Kevin Gausman. Willson Contreras hit a three-run homer in the first inning and Kyle Schwarber homered on the next pitch to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead.

Update II: Gausman has tied his career high by allowing three home runs, with Ben Zobrist's two-run shot in the second giving the Cubs a 6-0 lead.

Zobrist doubled in the first inning and is 8-for-13 lifetime against Gausman.

Update III: Gausman allowed his fourth home run tonight, a career high, and the Cubs took an 8-0 lead in the third inning. Jason Heyward connected off Gausman with two outs after Ian Happ walked.

The eight runs tie Gausman's career high.

Update IV: Welington Castillo led off the bottom of the third inning with a home run to reduce the lead to 8-1. Mike Montomgery retired the first six Orioles and didn't let a ball out of the infield.

Heyward's ball became the 92nd to land on Eutaw St. and the 52nd by an opponent.

Update V: Chris Davis doubled to score Mark Trumbo in the fourth and reduce the lead to 8-2 Davis reached third base with no outs, but he was stranded.

Gausman lasted only three innings and allowed eight runs and seven hits.

Update VI: The Orioles scored four runs in the fifth to reduce the lead to 8-6.

Trumbo and Trey Mancini had RBI doubles and Joey Rickard delivered a two-run single, as the Orioles sent nine batters to the plate.

Update VII: The Orioles came all the way back, with Trumbo's two-run homer off Koji Uehara in the eighth tying the game 8-8.