White Sox rookie Cease hopes to end losing ways vs. Mets
Five runs, six hits, 42 pitches.
Another blow-up inning torpedoed Chicago White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease's most recent start on July 26, a familiar affliction he'll try to avoid when Chicago closes a 10-game homestand against the New York Mets on Thursday afternoon.
"It's just a lack of executing," Cease said. "It's all the same. If you're not executing pitches and you're falling behind, you're putting yourself in a bad spot. That's what I've been doing in those big innings."
Since defeating the Detroit Tigers on July 3 in his major league debut, Cease (1-3, 6.86 ERA) has lost his past three starts while compiling a 7.31 ERA.
In addition to that nagging "L" on his won-loss ledger, each outing has carried at least one thing in common. Cease allowed a trio of two-run innings against the Kansas City Royals on July 16 and surrendered four runs in one frame against the Tampa Bay Rays five days later before the Twins' recent outburst.
"It's definitely frustrating because it's causing losses," Cease said. "For me it's not the end of the world, but I need to be better."
Despite his struggles, Cease, who hasn't faced the Mets or appeared in interleague play, continues to find support in the clubhouse. White Sox catcher James McCann applauded Cease's perseverance against Minnesota, noting that he retired nine consecutive Twins and 10 of the last 12 batters he faced after the rally.
"I do think he made strides in this start, and unfortunately the results don't show it," McCann said. "Every guy's going to have a learning curve, and I think he again showed awesome composure and found a way to get through five after a tough second inning.
"He's facing a lineup for a second, third time and he's able to get through three innings without giving up runs. So, despite the fact that you have one rough inning and things don't go your way, he found a way to navigate through the lineup another time and a half or so and get through the fifth."
Right-hander Zack Wheeler will start for the Mets, a matter of conjecture even as players began arriving at Guaranteed Rate Field for Wednesday's game, a 4-2 victory that marked New York's sixth win in a row.
However, when New York opted not to deal Wheeler (7-6, 4.71) or any of its other players rumored to be on the block as the MLB trade deadline passed Wednesday, the veteran exhaled.
"I'm glad it's in the past," Wheeler said. "I'm glad it's over with. It was all there for it to happen and it just didn't happen. I was ready for it. Especially with me being a free agent after the year, I knew it might happen. I was ready, but it just didn't."
Wheeler hasn't faced the White Sox this season and took a no-decision in his only career start against them, allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings for a 6.75 ERA.
The White Sox, who will look to avoid the sweep, are 2-7 entering the final game of the homestand.
--Field Level Media
