Padres' Dylan Cease: Five strikeouts in no-decision
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Cease pitched 3.2 shutout innings Wednesday against the Cubs, surrendering three hits and a walk while striking out five batters. He did not factor into the decision.
A sacrifice fly from Jackson Merrill during the top of the first inning gave Cease a 1-0 lead to work with before he even stepped on the mound Wednesday. He kept the Cubs' offense at bay for the duration of his start, but he got an early hook from manager Mike Shildt after giving up a double to Seiya Suzuki on his 69th pitch of the day. While Cease's brief outing prevented him from picking up the win in Game 2, it will help to keep him fresh for the NLDS if San Diego takes Game 3.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Strikes out eight in no-decision
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Cease allowed a run on six hits and two walks across five innings in a no-decision Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out eight.
It was a strong performance from Cease, who held Milwaukee scoreless until Andrew Vaughn's two-out, RBI double in the fifth. Still, Cease only made it through five innings after throwing 100 pitches -- the right-hander only has one quality start in his last eight outings. Cease figures to finish the regular season at 8-12 with a subpar 4.55 ERA and 1.33 WHIP, although he also recorded 215 strikeouts across 32 starts (168 innings).
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Falters vs. former club
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Cease (8-12) conceded four runs on four hits and three walks over six innings to take the loss Friday against the White Sox. He struck out six.
The San Diego righty entered this appearance on a successful run, going 2-0 with a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings over three starts this month. Despite taking his 12th loss Friday, establishing a new career-worst mark, Cease pitched relatively well. In this 100-pitch outing, the 29-year-old allowed just one extra-base hit -- a Miguel Vargas two-run homer in the first. Cease will carry a 4.64 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 207:69 K:BB across 163 total frames into his next start, which currently projects come at home against Milwaukee.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Victorious against COL
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Cease (7-11) picked up the win Sunday against the Rockies, allowing one run on four hits and two walks across five innings. He struck out five.
Cease navigated Coors Field effectively, keeping the ball in the park and allowing just one extra-base hit -- a double to Orlando Arcia in the third inning. Sunday's outing snapped a streak of five consecutive outings allowing multiple runs. Cease hasn't pitched into the sixth inning in five straight appearances, and hasn't done so in eight of his last nine. Cease will carry a 4.71 ERA into his next projected start, which is scheduled to be a rematch with the Rockies next weekend.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Fans seven in no-decision
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Cease allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out seven batters over four innings in a no-decision against Baltimore on Monday.
Both of the runs Cease allowed came on a Samuel Basallo single in the second inning. Though Cease was otherwise fine, he racked up 91 pitches through four frames and didn't take the mound for the fifth. On a positive note, the right-hander induced an impressive 18 whiffs and allowed fewer than three runs for the first time across his past four outings. Cease has been rocky over that span, posting a 7.02 ERA and 1.80 WHIP while completing five frames just once. He ranks fourth in the majors with 190 punchouts, but it's otherwise been a disappointing campaign for Cease, who carries a 4.81 ERA and 1.34 WHIP through 28 starts.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: No control in loss
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Cease (5-11) allowed five runs (three earned) on two hits and six walks while striking out two over 3.1 innings to take the loss Saturday versus the Dodgers.
Cease threw just 44 of 85 pitches for strikes. It wasn't all his fault, as a Jackson Merrill error in the second inning was responsible for two runs, but Cease's struggles to find the strike zone continue to be a concern at times. This is the second time in four starts he's walked five or more batters. On the year, he's at a 4.61 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 171:56 K:BB over 132.2 innings across 25 starts. Among qualified starting pitchers, Cease's 3.8 BB/9 is fourth worst in the majors, though his 11.6 K/9 is second-best. He's projected to make his next start at home versus the Giants, which is a favorable matchup for him to get back on track.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Wins again
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Cease (5-10) picked up the win Sunday against Boston, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks across six innings. He struck out seven.
Cease notched his first quality start in his last eight appearances, shutting down the Red Sox en route to a victory. The 29-year-old has now taken the win in back-to-back starts for the first time in 2025. In 24 outings this season, Cease has a 4.52 ERA and a 169:50 K:BB over 129.1 innings. He's tentatively scheduled to face the Dodgers next time out.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: CT scans return negative
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Padres manager Mike Shildt said Tuesday that the CT scans Cease (head) received Monday came back negative, per 97.3 The Fan.
Cease was struck in the back of the head by a comebacker off the bat of Francisco Lindor in the third inning during Monday's win, though the ball first hopped off the ground. The veteran hurler remained in the game until the bottom of the fifth inning, and his departure didn't seem to be related to the earlier incident. Nonetheless, Cease underwent precautionary CT scans after the contest, and Shildt indicated that testing revealed no swelling or bleeding or other issues. It thus seems likely that Cease will be able to take his next turn in the rotation, which is tentatively scheduled for this weekend against St. Louis.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Getting CT scan on head
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Cease is receiving a CT scan on his head after being hit on a bounce by a comebacker in the third inning of Monday's game against the Mets, Marty Caswell of The Sporting Tribune reports.
Cease ended up on the ground after a ball hit by Francisco Lindor bounced and then struck the hurler on the back of the head in the third frame. The right-hander was checked on by trainers but stayed in the game, and he struck out the next two batters he faced. Cease ultimately departed the contest after 4.2 innings, but his departure seemed to be a result of the grand slam he gave up to the final batter he faced rather than a consequence of the hit to the head. Nonetheless, Cease is getting a CT scan to check for any issues, and the results of the testing should provide insight about whether he's in danger of missing his next start.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Solid effort in loss
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Cease (3-10) took the loss against the Marlins on Wednesday, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings.
Cease allowed a run in the first inning and a two-run homer in the fifth that ultimately saddled him with the loss. The 29-year-old threw just 56 of 95 pitches for strikes but has now turned in back-to-back solid starts after giving up 10 earned runs across his first two July outings. He'll carry a 4.59 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 144:42 K:BB over 113.2 innings into a home matchup with the Mets next week.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Fans 10 in scoreless gem
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Cease did not factor into the decision in Friday's win against the Nationals, dealing 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing four hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts.
Cease bounced back in dominant fashion Friday, silencing the Nationals into the sixth inning while racking up double-digit strikeouts for the third time this season. The right-hander had been in a rough patch leading up to this start, posting a 6.51 ERA over 27.2 innings over his previous five appearances. While consistency has eluded the 29-year-old ace at times this year, his ability to miss bats remains intact, as he's now tallied 139 strikeouts across 108.2 innings. Cease will look to build on this performance when he takes the mound against the Marlins next week.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Struggles with long ball again
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Cease (3-9) allowed six runs on five hits and three walks while striking out eight batters over six innings in a loss against Arizona on Wednesday.
Cease continues to flash impressive stuff with poor results -- he racked up 16 whiffs and eight strikeouts but allowed three long balls and six runs. The right-hander has now given up multiple home runs in three consecutive starts, yielding 14 runs (13 earned) across 16 innings during that stretch. Cease is tied for sixth in the league with 129 punchouts on the season, but he's also posted a poor 4.88 ERA and 1.33 WHIP.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Picks up third win
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Cease (3-6) allowed one run on three hits and three walks while striking out four over 6.2 innings to earn the win over the Royals on Saturday.
Cease limited the damage to an RBI double by John Rave in the third inning. This was Cease's second quality start over four outings in June, and he's allowed 10 runs with a 31:12 K:BB across 23.2 innings this month. He's now at a 4.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and 109:33 K:BB through 87.1 innings through 16 starts this season. The 29-year-old right-hander is projected to make his next start at Cincinnati.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Fans six in quality start
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Cease (1-3) took the loss Tuesday against the Blue Jays, allowing three runs on three hits and one walk in seven innings. He struck out six.
Although Cease's three runs allowed were the most in his last eight starts, he established a season high with seven innings. The hard-throwing right-hander has now fanned at least six in six of his last seven outings, posting a 3.20 ERA and 46:13 K:BB over 39.1 innings in that span. Two of Cease's hits surrendered went for home runs Tuesday, which represented his season worst in homers allowed, so he'll be looking to keep the ball in the yard in his next scheduled appearance against Atlanta.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Strikes out 10 in no-decision
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Cease allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out 10 over 6.2 innings in a no-decision versus the Angels on Tuesday.
Cease pitched well, but he was charged with a second run after leaving the game when Jeremiah Estrada couldn't keep the Angels at bay in the seventh inning. This was the second start in a row where Cease has set a season high in strikeouts, and he also pitched into the seventh inning for the third time this season. He's at a 4.60 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 58:18 K:BB across 47 innings through nine starts. A nine-run dud against the Athletics on April 8 continues to skew his overall numbers -- he's yet to allow more than three runs in any other start. He's projected to make his next start on the road at Toronto.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Pitches four innings
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Cease didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 9-4 victory over the Pirates after giving up two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out three batters in four innings.
Cease needed 91 pitches to get through four innings Friday, marking the fourth time in seven starts that he hasn't been able to complete a full five innings. His performance was enough to bring his ERA down slightly from 5.75 to 5.61, though he remains stuck in a slump to begin the 2025 campaign. There's a good chance his slump extends into his next start as well, as he's due to take the mound in the Bronx on Wednesday and face a Yankees lineup that boasts an .826 OPS on the season.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Allows two runs Sunday
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Cease allowed two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out six in five innings Sunday against the Astros. He did not factor into the decision.
Cease held the Astros scoreless through four innings while escaping run-scoring threats in both the third and fourth. He was unable to do the same in the fifth, however, as the Astros opened up with a double and two singles and plated a second run on a sacrifice. Cease was able to complete the outing without allowing a single barrel and has only allowed two homers through five starts thus far. He lines up for a home start versus the Rays over the weekend.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Ends up with no-decision Monday
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Cease allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out six batters over 5.2 innings in a no-decision against the Cubs on Monday.
Cease tossed three scoreless frames before serving up three runs -- including two on a homer by Michael Busch -- in the fourth. The right-handed hurler departed with two outs in the sixth facing a two-run deficit, but the Padres rallied to pull out the win. Though San Diego is off to a blazing hot 14-3 beginning of the campaign, Cease has yet to fully find his groove, as he's recorded a 6.64 ERA and 1.52 WHIP through 20.1 innings. On a more positive note, he's given up three or fewer runs in three of his four starts, and his overall poor numbers so far are mostly the result of a nine-run, four-inning start against the Athletics on April 8.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Ambushed by A's
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Cease (1-1) took the loss Tuesday, surrendering nine runs on nine hits and three walks over four innings as the Padres were downed 10-4 by the A's. He struck out four.
The nine runs represented a career-worst performance for Cease, with six of them coming in the first inning as the A's sent 10 men to the plate. The right-hander has failed to last five innings in two of his first three starts this season, leaving him saddled with a 7.98 ERA through 14.2 frames despite an 18:6 K:BB. Cease will try to chip away at his ratios in his next outing, which is scheduled to come at home early next week against the Cubs.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Fans seven in no-decision
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Cease didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 4-3 win over Atlanta, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out seven.
The right-hander exited after 91 pitches (63 strikes) and dominated at times, striking out six of seven batters between a first-inning double by Austin Riley and a third-inning single by former teammate Jurickson Profar. Cease lost focus after that, however, walking the next two batters in the third and running up his pitch count. It was overall a promising beginning to the campaign for the NL Cy Young candidate despite the lack of length, and Cease lines up to face the Guardians at home in his next start.
