Dylan Cease Achieves No-Hitter Against Nationals, Making History for Padres

Dylan Cease etched his name in baseball history on Thursday by throwing a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals, becoming only the second pitcher in San Diego Padres history to achieve this milestone. The right-hander needed 114 pitches to complete the game, striking out nine batters and walking three. The ninth inning posed a challenge, particularly with Ildemaro Vargas's lengthy at-bat, but Cease ultimately secured the no-hitter with a groundout from Jacob Young and a lineout from C.J. Abrams. This no-hitter marks the second in Major League Baseball this season, following Ronel Blanco's achievement with the Houston Astros on April 1. Cease's performance is particularly notable as it comes just two years after Joe Musgrove delivered the franchise's first no-hitter in 2021. The Padres have faced the unfortunate distinction of being no-hit ten times in their history, highlighting the significance of Cease's accomplishment. With this performance, Cease lowered his season ERA to 3.50 in his first year with the Padres after spending five seasons with the Chicago White Sox. His best season came in 2022, where he finished second in the AL Cy Young Award voting. The Padres acquired him to bolster their starting rotation amid a rebuilding phase, especially after trading Juan Soto to the Yankees and losing Blake Snell to the Giants. Despite a fluctuating career, Cease's ability to generate strikeouts—leading the National League this season—ensures he remains a valuable asset in the league, capable of delivering exceptional performances.