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Just one game into the 2025 MLB playoffs, the San Diego Padres already have their backs against the wall. Falling to the Chicago Cubs, 3-1 on Tuesday in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card round, the Friars are now one loss away from elimination. Just like that.
However, the Padres might be in luck. The club's starting pitcher for Game 2 will be right-hander Dylan Cease, who has rather impressive career numbers against the Cubs. Hopefully, Cease returns to that form, and can push San Diego to live another day in the postseason.
Dylan Cease gives Padres best chance to win in NL Wild Card Round vs. Cubs
Across eight career starts against Chicago, Cease owns a 2.47 ERA in 47.1 innings. The perennial Cy Young contender has fanned 61 batters over this stretch (11.6 K/9) alongside a 1.035 WHIP, which is his second best career mark (minimum 25 IP) against any team in baseball. The only team that Cease dominates more is the Diamondbacks (0.723 WHIP, 27.2 IP).
Cease opposed the Cubs one time in 2025, which occurred all the way back in April. In his fourth start of the season, Cease dialed up six strikeouts in 5.2 innings, allowing two earned runs as the Padres downed the Cubs in 10-4 fashion on April 14.
Cease will oppose Andrew Kittredge on Wednesday, who will be Chicago's opener. Kittredge ended the regular season with 10 scoreless outings in his final 11 appearances. In his career against the Padres, the reliever has allowed two runs across four innings, striking out four Friars.
The Cubs opting to go with an opener already in the playoffs is... interesting. The Padres should take advantage of this decision, and hopefully Cease can keep Chicago's offense at bay after they homered twice in Game 1. Cease last appeared in the postseason in the 2024 NLDS against the Dodgers, allowing eight runs in five innings - but he's more than ready to put that behind him. We need Cease to come up big, or else the Padres are headed home much earlier than anticipated.