Dylan Cease continues second-half surge with refined pitch mix for Padres

San Diego Padres pitcher Dylan Cease has significantly altered his pitch mix since late July, contributing to a 3.92 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and 34.5% strikeout rate over his last four starts. He has increased his curveball usage against lefties and introduced a sinker primarily to right-handed hitters, reducing reliance on his four-seam and slider pitches. These adjustments aim to deepen his arsenal, making him less predictable and improving his ability to induce groundballs and increase strikeout efficiency in two-strike counts.