Cease Dominates Cubs As Padres Return Home with Hot Dodgers on Deck

Dylan Cease had a day to remember Wednesday, as he struck out 12 and gave up just one hit in a 3-0 Padre victory over the Cubs.

That one hit wasn’t much, just an infield single by Yan Gomes. In particular he gave Cub third baseman Christopher Morel and first baseman Michael Busch fits, striking them out three times each.

“I think this is the best I’ve commanded the ball ever, really,” Cease told MLB.com.

Fernando Tatis Jr. – who along with Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth drove in the Padre runs on the day – offered MLB.com a simple description of Cease’s performance: “lights out.”

With the win, the club took its third straight series – again returning to .500 on the season – after a sweep at the hands of the Phillies to begin their last home stand.

But it doesn’t get any easier now that they’re returning to Petco Park. The first-place Dodgers loom and they’ve won seven straight.

L.A. has the two leading hitters in the National League, Shohei Ohtani at .355 and Mookie Betts at .346, with Will Smith, at .331, not far off their pace. The dynamic duo of Ohtani and Betts also top the league in hits, but the Padres have newly acquired Luis Arraez right behind them.

In addition, Tyler Glasnow, Friday’s starter, is tied for the NL at six wins.

Meanwhile Randy Vásquez, who on Sunday took the injured Joe Musgrove’s place on the roster, got the start in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss, but wasn’t a factor in the decision. Musgrove has elbow inflammation and the plan, according to MLB, is for him to sit out two weeks.

After an off-day Thursday, Michael King takes the mound vs. Glasnow, with Matt Waldron vs. James Paxton to follow Saturday and Walker Buehler vs. Yu Darvish Sunday.

The weekend is not sold out; best availability is for Friday, with Saturday tickets very scarce.