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Dylan Cease hasn't thrown a regular season pitch for the San Diego Padres yet, but he's already felt the weight that comes with trying to conquer the Los Angeles Dodgers. And according to him, it's not just a rivalry-it's a different kind of pressure.
Cease, who was acquired in a high-profile offseason trade with the Chicago White Sox, ed the Padres to stabilize a rotation in flux.
Known for his electric fastball and calm demeanor, the right-hander carries a $13.75 million price tag and expectations to match. But even before Opening Day arrived, Cease got a taste of what separates the Dodgers from the rest of the league.
In what was supposed to be a relaxed spring training outing in Arizona, Cease itted the energy felt nothing like a typical exhibition game. "It doesn't matter if it's regular season, even spring training," he said. "It always has that next-level intense feel. It always has a playoff feel, no matter what time of year it is."
His honesty sheds light on what the Padres are up against in the National League West. While spring training games often come and go without significance, a matchup against the Dodgers - even in March - has the emotional stakes of October.
Padres aim to stay composed
The Dodgers have long been the division's gold standard, stacking MVPs like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and now Shohei Ohtani atop a lineup that rarely lets up. And as Cease acknowledges, they don't just affect the scoreboard-they affect the rhythm, the tempo, and the tension of the entire game.
The Padres know this. Their path to playoff relevance runs directly through L.A., and their strategy isn't built on trying to outshine the Dodgers - it's about sticking to execution and discipline.
"We really focus on playing as clean baseball as we can," Cease said during a March appearance on the Baseball Isn't Boring podcast. "We focus on our plan, our execution, and just see what happens."
For Cease, that means blocking out the noise and refusing to get drawn into the emotional tug-of-war the Dodgers often win before the first pitch. He understands how one momentary lapse in concentration-one mislocated fastball-can instantly change the game when facing that caliber of talent.
"Against a team like that, you have to be on from pitch one," Cease added. "They don't give you room for mistakes."
This mental clarity is exactly what the Padres are banking on. After a 2024 season that fell short of expectations, the club is looking to reclaim its place among NL contenders. Adding Cease was a clear signal that San Diego is serious about shoring up its rotation-and matching up with L.A. pitch for pitch.
And if Cease can channel that Dodgers-induced pressure into sharp, focused performances, he could become the piece that finally swings the balance in San Diego's favor.