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.

Cease (14-11) picked up the win Wednesday against the Astros, allowing two hits and no walks with five strikeouts across 8.1 scoreless innings.

EDGE Analysis

Cease couldn't go the distance Wednesday, falling two outs short of a complete game shutout and being pulled after 103 pitches. Still, it was a masterful performance from the 28-year-old, especially considering he had allowed three or more runs in three of his previous four starts. Through 184.1 innings, Cease has a 3.42 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. His 220 strikeouts rank second in baseball. He's tentatively scheduled for a road start against the Dodgers next week.

Cease (13-11) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out 10 over six shutout innings to earn the win Friday over the Giants.

EDGE Analysis

Cease had allowed at least three runs in each of his last six starts before turning in this excellent performance. This was his fifth start of the year with double-digit strikeouts. Cease is now at a 3.58 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 215:62 K:BB through 176 innings over 31 starts this year. His next start is lined up to be at home versus the Astros.

Cease (12-11) took the loss against the Giants on Saturday, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks over six innings while striking out four.

EDGE Analysis

Cease allowed at least one hit in each of his first four innings on the mound, including a three-run shot off the bat of Grant McCray in the top of the second as the Giants took an early lead. The right-hander also failed to retire each of the first three batters he faced in the fourth, leading to a fourth run coming home for San Francisco. Cease did still manage to make it through six innings for only the second time in his last eight starts (with one of those eight starts being shortened due to a rain delay), though he's now surrendered multiple free passes in three straight. It also marked his third loss in his last four decisions (spanning six starts).

Cease did not factor into the decision Sunday, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks over five innings against the Rays. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Cease entered the sixth with a three-run lead, having managed to hold the Rays off the board through five while allowing only two batters to reach base. However, Cease removed from the game after loading the bases while not recording an out in the sixth, on the hook for all three runners that eventually came around to score. It was the third time over his last four starts that Cease has walked at least three batters, though he did allow just five batters to reach base over five-plus innings after having allowed 37 baserunners during his previous 21.1 innings. He's next scheduled to take the hill in a home matchup against the Giants.

Cease came away with a no-decision in Tuesday's 7-5 win over the Cardinals, giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four and threw three wild pitches.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander got only 52 of his 96 pitches in the strike zone as he issued three or more free passes for the fourth time in his last seven starts. Over that stretch, Cease has maintained a 2.92 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 38:18 K:BB in 37 innings, though he hasn't produced a single double-digit strikeout performance in that span. He'll look to get back in the win column in his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Tampa Bay.

Cease (12-10) took the loss against the Mets on Thursday, allowing three runs (two earned) on nine hits and one walk over 6.1 innings. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

The Mets got to Cease early, tagging the right-hander for a run in the first and two more in the fourth, though one of those would not be charged to him after coming across on a passed ball. He would still manage to come away with his first quality start since July 25 despite taking his 10th loss, generating 14 whiffs in the process. Cease has gone at least five innings in each of his last three outings, though he's allowed multiple runs on each occasion. He now carries a 3.50 ERA in August to go along with a 19:8 K:BB.

Cease (12-9) picked up the win over the Rockies on Saturday, allowing three runs on three hits and five walks over 5.2 innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

Cease started off strong, striking out five of the first nine batters he faced while keeping the Rockies off the scoreboard through the first five innings. The right-hander then began to stumble in the sixth, allowing three consecutive batters to reach before eventually surrendering three runs in the frame. He was relieved by Adrian Morejon with two outs, marking the third consecutive start in which Cease has been unable to get through six innings (excluding his rain-delayed start on Aug 6). The five walks on the night also matched his season high and he's now issued multiple free passes in four consecutive outings in which he's pitched outside of the first inning. Despite that, Cease has now won five of his last six decisions (spanning seven starts).