Dominant Cease fans 12 Cubs in return to Chicago

CHICAGO -- Dylan Cease didn’t have time to reflect on his White Sox tenure after being traded to the Padres in March. He had a lot to figure out logistically, including getting to South Korea to join his new teammates for the season-opening Seoul Series.

Now that the tide has calmed, in quiet moments, Cease can look back.

“I’ve found myself, sometimes, when I’m falling asleep or whatever, kind of just thinking of some memories I had here [in Chicago],” the right-hander said earlier this week.

Cease made another memory on Wednesday afternoon in leading the Padres to a 3-0 victory and series win over the Cubs at Wrigley Field. He threw seven scoreless innings and struck out 12 batters -- one shy of his career high, set on June 26, 2022, with the White Sox. He held the Cubs to one hit and four baserunners (two walks, one hit batter).

“It was amazing,” Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. said. “The guy came in, lights out, striking out people after striking out people. When you see that, you’re just grateful he’s on your team.”

Said manager Mike Shildt: “Oh my gosh, man. What a tremendous outing. Another tremendous performance. Outstanding."

Cease spent five Major League seasons on Chicago’s South Side and 6 1/2 years in the White Sox organization after he was acquired from the Cubs in July 2017. He was the AL Cy Young Award runner-up in 2022 and helped the White Sox reach the ALDS in 2021.

Of course, now more than a month into his Padres tenure, he’s not dwelling on the past.

“We're a very competitive team right now,” Cease said. “I'm happy with how I've been throwing it. It's great to be here.”

Cease has a 2.19 ERA and 0.75 WHIP through eight starts, including Wednesday. He has struck out 60 hitters with 16 walks in 49 1/3 innings. Opponents are hitting just .128 against him.

“I think this is the best I've commanded the ball ever, really,” Cease said after Wednesday’s outing. “I think I'm throwing it really well right now.”

Cease was dominant from the start against the Cubs. He retired the first seven batters he faced before Yan Gomes chipped a grounder off his glove for an infield single in the third inning.

Cease hit Nico Hoerner with a pitch two batters later. After that, the Cubs’ only baserunners came via walks by Pete Crow-Armstrong (sixth inning) and Ian Happ (seventh).

Of his 12 strikeouts, four came with his four-seamer, which averaged 97.3 mph and maxed out at 99.3 mph. He struck out six Cubs with his slider and two with his knuckle-curve.

“His two shapes of his slider play really well off the fastball that he does a really good job keeping up in the zone,” Happ said. “He just did a really good job today.”

Cease’s strong start to 2024 comes on the heels of his challenging 2023 season, both on a team level with the White Sox and individually. Chicago lost 101 games, and Cease had a 4.58 ERA in 33 starts.

Cease noted one key this year is a mechanical cue he began working on last year and took into the winter, involving staying closed in his delivery.

“We're not robots out there, so sometimes mechanical cues and feels and different things can take some time,” Cease said. “Last year wasn't enjoyable in really any way, but I can sit here now and say I got a lot out of it.

“I learned kind of what doesn't work and got back to, hopefully, now what is working.”

The results indicate he’s back at that point. On Wednesday, he became the first Padres pitcher to throw at least seven scoreless innings, allow one or fewer hits and strike out 12 or more hitters since Andy Benes on July 3, 1994.

Cease’s outing also helped save a bullpen that had a heavy workload the past two nights and secured a winning road trip for the Padres.

Next up, the Dodgers visit Petco Park for the first time this season. The Padres have played their rivals tough in two previous series this season, going 3-2.

“It’s going to be fun, especially at Petco,” Cease said. “If I had to guess, it’s probably going to be sold out every game. It’s definitely going to be a fun matchup.”