Cease looks to build off breakout season

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease won’t forget his first playoff start in Game 3 of the 2021 American League Division Series against the Astros.

It was a memorable night at Guaranteed Rate Field with the fans’ organized blackout and the sold-out crowd crazily reacting to every significant moment in Chicago's comeback victory that temporarily staved off elimination. But it also was an important learning experience for Cease, who allowed three runs over 1 2/3 innings.

“That’s sort of the next level of baseball. Getting there and experiencing it, it can only help you in the long run,” Cease told MLB.com after striking out five over three innings on Friday night in a 3-0 loss to the Mariners. “I didn’t do a good job of controlling my adrenaline and all that.

“Definitely something I’m going to grow and learn from. But it was an incredible experience.”

Cease’s entire 2021 season could be classified as “an incredible experience.” He finished with a 13-7 record and a 3.91 ERA over 32 starts, with his 226 strikeouts ranking seventh in the Majors and third in the AL. His 12.28 strikeouts per nine innings topped the AL and trailed only Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes (12.61) overall.

Although he has 58 career starts over three years on his big league resume, the '21 campaign marked Cease's first full one with the White Sox. He enters this season not just with playoff experience under his belt, but the confidence derived from building off what he has already accomplished.

Friday’s start marked the 26-year-old's first of the Cactus League. Cease arrived at this abbreviated Spring Training slightly behind Lucas Giolito and Lance Lynn, the team’s Opening Day starter candidates, but only because he hadn’t thrown against hitters during his offseason workouts in Woodstock, Ga.

But based on his fastball topping out at 98 mph with movement against Seattle, Cease seems to be in a good place with the regular season approaching.

“I don’t know if I was that behind,” Cease told reporters Friday. “I was throwing high-effort bullpens. I just didn’t have the opportunity to face batters. … When batters step in there, it’s always a little bit of an adjustment, but I feel like I’m in a good spot right now.”

“When he first showed up, he was several steps behind,” said White Sox manager Tony La Russa of Cease. “And [pitching coach] Ethan [Katz] mentioned how quickly he has [caught up]. … He was good last night. It shows you his aptitude and his talent.”

Cease likely figures to slot behind Giolito and Lynn, meaning he’ll get the third and final game of the season’s first series in Detroit. But where he pitches in the rotation doesn't matter as much as working at his best whenever called upon.

This season's White Sox rotation will also feature Michael Kopech, who Cease describes as “one of the most exciting pitchers in baseball.” Cease also predicts veteran Dallas Keuchel will have “a really good bounce-back year.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone can do,” Cease added. “Having a little bit of success definitely gives you some room to breathe. It’s good to have that experience and know what I’m going up against, and know [how] I’m going to feel and little nuances like that.”

After a rough finish to the 2020 season, Cease didn't feel like he deserved a Game 3 start behind Giolito and Keuchel in the AL Wild Card Series loss to Oakland. Now a more established hurler, Cease is still not assuming anything if the White Sox reach the postseason again.

“Last year, I pitched well enough to at least be in the running, so I’m looking forward to hopefully earning that again this year,” Cease said. “It’s not something I really go into the season saying, that this is mine automatically. [It's] something I’ve got to earn.”

“You are not a pressure-proof player the first time you ever experience it,” La Russa said. “Every time you experience something like that, you learn -- especially a guy like him. We watched him grow during the season. That was, he got his feet wet. It will help him this year.”