Cease pitched 5.2 scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against Cincinnati on Saturday, allowing two hits and striking out nine batters without issuing any walks.

EDGE Analysis

Cease was dominant in the outing, as he induced 18 whiffs on 74 pitches and topped out at 99 mph on the radar gun. The veteran righty finished his spring in superb form, tossing 10 scoreless frames and striking out 17 batters over his final two starts. Michael King has been named the Opening Day starter for San Diego, so Cease will pitch in the team's second contest of the regular season, which will take place Friday, March 28 at home against Atlanta.

Cease pitched 4.1 scoreless innings in a Cactus League start against the Angels on Sunday, allowing three hits and issuing three walks while striking out eight batters.

EDGE Analysis

Cease looked great in his fourth start this spring, and he was able to push his pitch count to 78. The right-hander has had an up-and-down spring, but he's been fine overall with a 4.61 ERA and 17:6 K:BB over 13.2 frames. The Padres are expected to name their Opening Day starter Monday, per Sammy Levitt of 97.3 The Fan, and it would be a mild surprise if Cease's name isn't called for the assignment.

Cease completed 3.2 innings against the White Sox in a Cactus League game Tuesday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk while striking out four batters.

EDGE Analysis

In his third start this spring, Cease retired the side in order in three of the four frames in which he pitched. However, the right-hander's line was marred by a poor second inning during which Chicago racked up four hits -- including two doubles -- and a walk to push four runs across the plate. Cease was lifted with two outs in the frame, but under spring-training rules he was allowed to return to the game in the following inning. Cease worked up to 64 pitches in the start, and he appears to be progressing well toward the regular season.

Cease allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 2.2 innings in a Cactus League start against Cincinnati on Saturday.

EDGE Analysis

Cease tossed 43 pitches -- 32 of which were four-seam fastballs and sliders -- in his first appearance this spring. The veteran righty gave up a solo home run to Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the second frame but otherwise kept the Reds from crossing the plate. The Padres have not yet announced their Opening Day starter, but Cease is probably the leading candidate after posting a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB in 189.1 regular-season innings last year.

Padres manager Mike Shildt said Cease will make his first Cactus League start Friday versus the Mariners, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Through their first seven Cactus League games, the Padres haven't used any of their presumed four locks for the season-opening rotation, but that streak will end Friday when Cease takes the mound. The right-hander is likely the leading candidate to get the Opening Day nod for the Padres after he submitted a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB in 189.1 regular-season innings during his inaugural campaign in San Diego in 2024. Though Cease's name has popped up in trade rumors this offseason amid an ownership shakeup in San Diego, a move elsewhere doesn't appear imminent and may not be revisited until closer to the trade deadline.

Cease agreed to a one-year, $13.75 million contract with the Padres on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease will receive a raise of almost $6 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility. The 29-year-old posted a 3.47 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 224:65 K:BB over 189.1 innings during the regular season and is now entering a contract year.

Cease will start Wednesday in Game 4 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cease had a hard time keeping the Dodgers' bats quiet during a loss in Game 1 on Saturday, giving up five earned runs on six hits and two walks over just 3.1 innings. The 28-year-old righty had better luck against Los Angeles during the regular season, turning in a 3.37 ERA across 10.2 frames, so a bounce-back performance Wednesday isn't out of the question.

Padres manager Mike Shildt on Monday didn't dismiss the possibility of Cease starting Wednesday in Game 4 of the NLDS versus the Dodgers on short rest, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Martin Perez was added to the roster as an injury replacement for Joe Musgrove (elbow) and would seem to be the other logical option for a Game 4 start. Whether the Padres win Game 3 could factor into Shildt's decision. If the Padres do opt for Cease on three days' rest in Game 4, they could turn back to Yu Darvish on normal rest for a potential Game 5.

Cease will start Saturday in Game 1 of the NLDS against the Dodgers, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

After not being needed in the two-game sweep of Atlanta in the wild-card round, Cease was an easy call to take the ball in the NLDS opener. The righty collected a 3.47 ERA and 224:65 K:BB across 189.1 innings covering 33 starts this season for the Padres. Cease will be opposed by Jack Flaherty.

Cease did not factor into the decision in a loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Cease got off to a bit of a rocky start, issuing a walk to Shohei Ohtani to lead off the bottom of the first before then allowing the slugger to reach second on a wild pitch. The right-hander saw one run come home in the frame and was later tagged for another two runs in the fourth after allowing four-consecutive batters to reach. Cease did generate 20 whiffs in the contest, but that led to only four strikeouts over his five innings of work. It marked the fourth time in his last six starts that he failed to strike out at least five batters and the fifth time over that stretch in which he issued multiple walks. On a positive note, he still carries a 2.97 ERA in September and hasn't allowed a home run in three straight outings.