Cease finding rhythm again, goes 7 frames for 1st time in '23

CHICAGO -- If there was a theme to Dylan Cease’s overall 2023 performance for the White Sox, it would be something along the lines of a learning process.

That concept might seem a bit strange for a hurler who finished second to Justin Verlander in the 2022 American League Cy Young voting. But it’s good to remember Cease’s solid effort during a 7-3 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field marked just the 115th start of his career in the midst of his third full season as part of the rotation.

Nonetheless, let’s alter this ’23 theme to, "Go for the flow," based on Cease’s comments when asked to compare how he felt as a developing pitcher over the last two campaigns.

“This year has been more of a grind. Last year was pretty effortless,” Cease said. “I feel like I was in that flow state most of my starts. This year, it’s been more working through things and figuring things out. But that’s a part of the game.”

“Fastball command is a big deal,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “The mechanics have been touch and go for him all year. He works relentlessly on that with [bullpen coach Curt Hasler] and [pitching coach] Ethan [Katz]. There's some games where he comes out and he feels great mechanically, everything is in sync, and there's some games where it's not. He's got four great pitches. Fastball command for me is the determining factor of how great he can be.”

Sunday’s start against the National League Central leaders provided a good example to back up Grifol’s words, with the fifth inning being of particular interest.

Milwaukee scored a run in that fifth and had runners on second and third with nobody out. Cease held the runners via two infield popouts before intentionally walking Christian Yelich after falling behind 2-0. That decision left a Cease vs. William Contreras matchup with the bases loaded.

Contreras took a 96.7 mph four-seam fastball, per Statcast, for a called strike. He swung through a 96.4 mph four-seamer and then struck out on a foul tip on a 96.4 mph four-seamer perfectly located on the outside edge. The velocity didn’t necessarily show a huge boost, but Cease was pitching with a little extra.

“It seemed like they were starting to sit soft, so we mixed in some more heaters, and fortunately, it worked out,” Cease said. “If there's any time to let it eat, it's right there.”

“He commanded the baseball, and he used his fastball,” Grifol said. “He normally mixes in a couple of sliders somewhere, especially with somebody we’ve been attacking with sliders. He flipped the script a little bit today.”

Cease (5-6) still had nine swings and misses off 52 sliders, with three swings and misses against 34 four-seamers of his 97 pitches covering seven innings during his 10th quality start of the season. The seven innings was Cease’s longest outing since he came within a two-out Luis Arraez single in the ninth of no-hitting the Twins on Sept. 3, 2022.

His efficiency was just as important. After walking 10 in seven innings covering starts against the Rangers and Yankees, Cease walked two and struck out seven against the Brewers (65-54).

“Throwing a lot of strikes. Keeping guys off balance,” said White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn, who had three of the team’s nine hits. “Only gave up two runs, went seven. It was a really good outing from him.”

“Every game is still important, every start is still important,” Cease said. “I'm following my process, making adjustments and bringing focus and bringing intensity to my starts. I'm really pleased with some adjustments I've made and am looking forward to the rest of my starts."

Being focused on staying closed and getting down the mound closed are two of the adjustments made by Cease, as is “being athletic” and trusting his mechanics and his stuff. It’s all part of that learning process, even for a Cy Young runner-up.

“For the end of this season and next season, I’ll now know if I’m yanking or this goes out of line, this could be one of three issues I had last year.” Cease said. “So, it just builds on it. Just still making all the starts and still going out and competing even when your stuff isn’t the best or your command is not the best, it’s really important to do as a Major League pitcher.”