As we continue into the second month of the 2022 MLB season, the Chicago White Sox sitting at an even .500 record at 15-15. While the team has struggled to get things going offensively early on, the speedy-return of one outfielder should bode well for the lineup. And despite the lack of output at the plate, one player appears to be firing on all cylinders. That guy is starting pitcher Dylan Cease.
With his sneaky slider and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it fastball, Cease’s arsenal has proven to make batter’s lives difficult when he’s out on the mound. Just ask Mike Trout, who Cease struck out three times in one game earlier this May. But just how far can his arm take him this season?
A Case For Cease Winning The Cy Young
Yep, you guessed it, the Cy Young Award. We have no reason not to believe that Cease can’t walk away from this season with the award. It would be quite the accomplishment, and his first time winning one. With the way he’s slinging the ball across the plate, it’ll be hard for voters not to include his name on the ballot. All he needs to do is keep up with the pace he’s on. That should be possible for him. Through seven appearances and 38 innings pitched, Cease has an ERA of 3.55 with 58 strikeouts. He’s on an absolute tear with a 3-1 record to his name so far.
And it’s not just the numbers on a scoresheet that add to the Dylan Cease Cy Young resume. When he’s on the mound, the entire opposing team’s lineup is bound to have a bad night. He can alter the game on one arm alone.
Plus, take into consideration that the Cy Young Award is given to the best pitchers in both the AL and NL. We mentioned Cease’s slider and fastball earlier. But, he also has a nasty knuckle curve and a change-up in his toolkit that he isn’t afraid to turn to. When it comes to pure pitching abilities, all of his different options make him one of the top talents in the game.
Especially when they’re all working in his favor.
It’s exactly what happened the night he struck out Mike Trout three times, and Trout wasn’t the only one at the mercy of Cease. By the end of the night, he shutdown 11 batters for the Angels and notched the tenth double-digit strikeout outing of his career.
To top it all off, he has a pretty high baseball IQ with an ability to predict plays before they happen. With a mind and arm Cease has, how could he not be in contention for a 2022 Cy Young Award?
What’s Next On The White Sox Calendar?
The White Sox will finish off the week against the New York Yankees before taking a road trip to Kansas City on Monday, May 16. They’ll play five games there with a double-header on Tuesday. Dylan Cease will get the start against the Royals for the first one at 1:10 PM.
By next Friday, May 20, the Sox will finish off their season series against the Yankees with a three-game stretch. They’ll look to end the month with home series against the Red Sox, Cubs, and Blue Jays!
Featured Image Credit: Chicago White Sox Instagram