Cease rounding into top form as Padres make playoff push

SAN DIEGO -- For the Padres to achieve their postseason dreams, they’re going to need Dylan Cease to pitch like the best version of himself down the stretch.

After a rocky first half of the season, it’s looking more and more like that version of Cease is back.

Cease pitched six-plus innings with two runs allowed to lead the Padres to a 6-2 win over the Red Sox on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park. The 29-year-old right-hander allowed just four hits, struck out seven and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time in his last six starts.

After posting a 4.88 ERA through the All-Star break, Cease has a 3.12 ERA in five starts since the break.

“I have a better feel and a better process now,” Cease said. “I'm really just trying to be aggressive and physically power it, and that's getting me into rhythm.”

Cease had everything working against the Red Sox. His four-seam fastball reached 99 mph. His slider got 11 swings and misses. His sinker and knuckle curve, the third and fourth pitches in his arsenal, got swings and misses and called strikes throughout the game.

Cease cruised through six scoreless innings before departing in the seventh after allowing the first two batters to reach base. Those inherited runners eventually scored, Cease’s only blemish on an otherwise dominant afternoon.

“He just continues to be more consistent,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “He's just throwing the ball where he wants to; he's controlling counts better. And one of the indicators was his ability to go into the seventh -- his ability to be efficient with his pitches, dominate early in counts and to get quicker outs.

“We know he's got strikeout stuff, clearly, but those early outs and those controlled counts are important for his efficiency and for us.”

The Padres jumped out to a 5-0 lead to give Cease all the run support he’d need. Luis Arraez opened the scoring with a two-run double, Fernando Tatis and Xander Bogaerts each had RBI singles, and Jake Cronenworth drew a bases-loaded walk.

The Red Sox threatened in the seventh, when they scored their first two runs and loaded the bases with no outs, but Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon combined to strike out three consecutive batters to escape and keep Cease in line for the win.

“It seems like Dylan from last year,” Cronenworth said. “... It’s not if, it's when it's going to happen. And it seems like it's happening.”

Cease’s recent success has been a welcome development for the Padres. With his first-half struggles, he was frequently mentioned in rumors as the Trade Deadline approached.

The Padres ultimately decided to keep him, and he has rewarded them for that decision. Cease has won both of his starts since the Deadline, allowing just two earned runs in 11 innings pitched.

“I mean, it is nice being able to know where you're going to be,” Cease said. “But that never really bothers me that much, to be honest. It's just a part of baseball. But, yeah, I mean, it's been definitely much better.”

Cease’s turnaround comes at a perfect time. The Padres’ rotation became whole again on Saturday when Michael King returned from the injured list after missing nearly three months with a pinched nerve in his right shoulder.

With Cease, King, Nick Pivetta and Yu Darvish all active together for the first time this season, the Padres boast one of the best top fours of any rotation, to go with their Major League-best bullpen.

But that’s only if their starters pitch to their full potential. Darvish and King are still rounding into form after returning from their injuries. Pivetta has been dominant all season, although he is coming off his worst start in two-plus months.

Having Cease at his best will be key. When he’s right, he’s a Cy Young Award contender and bona fide frontline starter.

If his most recent outings are any indication, Cease is finally back to pitching at that level.

“He has quality pitches, and yeah, he's getting his strikeouts,” Shildt said. “But he's also getting a lot of earlier outs and controlling counts. That’s allowing him to go be who he is, and that's one of the better pitchers in our game.”