The San Diego Padres leaned into Dylan Cease at the 2025 deadline, flirting with a blockbuster that never fully closed. Since the trade lull, Cease has flipped the script, leaning on a knuckle-curve he previously overruled. In his last two starts, he used the pitch at a 14.5% clip and delivered two strong outings totaling 11 innings, 2 earned runs, and 16 strikeouts. The result: a 4.52 ERA and a rebound in value as postseason pivots loom.

With Yu Darvish slumping and Nestor Cortes an unsettled piece, Cease—backed by a Padre trio of kingpins like Michael King and Nick Pivetta—could anchor the rotation come October. A stronger finish could boost his free-agent appeal this winter and help San Diego push through a deep playoff run, making the late-season turnaround not just a win in the standings, but a strategic reset for Cease’s career arc.