The first postseason start of Dylan Cease’s career came in Chicago for the White Sox in 2021.

It was as forgettable as the two turns he took for the San Diego Padres last year in the National League Division Series — only that’s not how the 29-year-old right-hander approaches such things.

“It never really leaves; it’s part of your story and your history, I suppose,” Cease said. “But when a new season starts, it’s a new opportunity.”

Cease is hoping the slate feels just as clean this postseason, though he’s willing to take the momentum of his last month into Wednesday’s Game 2, win-or-go-home assignment against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.

Although he finished with the third-highest ERA (4.55) of his career, Cease posted a 3.12 ERA in five starts in September, turned in a quality start in one of the turns and allowed two runs or fewer in four of them.

His last start — against the Milwaukee Brewers, the team with the best record in the major leagues — may have been his best. The right-hander struck out eight while allowing a single run on six hits and two walks over five innings.

Game 1 photos: Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres

“I’ve just been putting in the work and trying to feel out some things,” Cease said. “Sometimes with pitching, it’s all about execution. But it’s kind of a feel-oriented thing. I’ve been trying to find it and create it all year, and I feel like toward the end of the year, I’ve gotten in a good spot with that.”

Cease’s upward trend is one reason the Padres are giving him the ball for Game 2 over Michael King, who hasn’t quite found his groove since returning from the injured list with shoulder nerve and knee troubles. Yu Darvish would start Game 3 if necessary.

Manager Mike Shildt said the Padres were “pretty straightforward” about their plan, which came together over the past week or so. They announced their starters for the series Monday, while the Cubs waited until after Tuesday’s win to announce that righty Andrew Kittredge will start Game 2.

Cease has a 2.50 ERA in three career starts at Wrigley Field.

“As we talked through it, we came to an internal decision that it was going to be Dylan,” Shildt said, “or that equation was to make sure Dylan is getting his work in and getting his sides and getting prepped physically and mentally for that day and leading up to it.

“Once we decided that, we announced it and here we ride.”

Cease’s pedigree is also part of the equation: He has struck out an MLB-best 1,106 batters since entering the White Sox rotation for good in 2021. This season marked his fifth straight with 200 or more.

Cease made his postseason debut in 2020, working one scoreless inning out of the bullpen for the White Sox in a wild-card series against the Oakland Athletics. The next season, Cease allowed three runs in the first 1⅔ innings of Game 3 of the ALDS. The White Sox beat the Houston Astros that night but ultimately were eliminated in four games.

The Padres lost both of Cease’s postseason starts last year. He allowed five runs in 3⅓ innings at Dodger Stadium in Game 1 and then gave up three runs in 1⅔ innings on short rest in Game 4. The Padres were bounced in five games.

He returns to the mound Wednesday for yet another high-stakes game.

“It’s always higher stakes,” Cease said before Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Cubs. “It’s always more on the line, which is fun and exciting. … I want to have some better results than I have had, but, yeah, I’m excited.”

Originally Published: September 30, 2025 at 6:11 PM CDT