Sep 1, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) delivers during the first inning against the Baltimore Orioles at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images Denis Poroy-Imagn Images

Padres' Mike Shildt Addresses Surprising Dylan Cease Decline

Originally posted on San Diego Padres on SI
By Patrick Warren | Last updated Sep 17, 2025 2:30 PM ET

A season ago, starting pitcher Dylan Cease impressed in his first year with the Padres after San Diego made a trade for the right-hander with the White Sox.

Cease held a 3.47 ERA, a 4.2 WAR and a 1.07 WHIP — the lowest of his career — through 33 starts last season. After a rough run in two postseason starts against the Dodgers, Cease and the Padres' 2024 season was over.

It seems that whatever held Cease back in the 2024 postseason might have stuck around for 2025, as Cease has struggled to be the dominant pitcher the Padres acquired.

Cease's 4.59 ERA this season is his highest since his rookie year. When asked about the differences between Cease's 2024 and 2025 seasons, Padres manager Mike Shildt expressed his confusion.

“It’s interesting, but I don’t know how to explain it,” Shildt told reporters. “You see these things take place in the course of a season. One year you do this, the next year you do that. In this case specific to Dylan, I don’t have a real clear explanation. You could say there would be more merit to it if he hadn’t had a longer career, where he’s normalized how well he’s pitched.”

Cease is in his seventh season as a pro and is performing decidedly below his career averages. However, the 29-year-old has put together three strong performances in September, perhaps a sign that he is heating up as the playoffs approach.

Across three starts in September, Cease holds a 2.40 ERA and a 2-0 record as a starter. Despite making 30 starts this season, Cease said he's feeling "as good as you can this time of year."

Cease is slated for two more starts before the regular season ends, beginning with Friday night's opening game in Chicago against the White Sox, Cease's former team.

By Friday, the Padres could theoretically have already punched their ticket to the playoffs with a Wild Card spot, but their chase of the Dodgers to the top of the NL West standings continues. Entering Wednesday's games, the Dodgers hold a two-game lead over San Diego in the NL West as both teams continue to falter down the stretch.