The O's talk about the challenge of facing Dylan Cease tonight

Coming off an uplifting win Sunday that provided the Orioles a series victory, for their next test tonight they open a series against the Chicago White Sox and face one of the best pitchers in the sport.

Sox righty Dylan Cease (12-5, 2.09 ERA), 26, ranks second in the American League and the major leagues in ERA to Houston’s Justin Verlander at 1.95. Cease ranks first in the AL in strikeouts per nine innings at 12.0, third in opponent average at .200 and 12^th in WHIP at 1.167.

He faced the Orioles June 26 and was the winning pitcher, going seven innings while allowing one run and four hits and notching a season-high 13 strikeouts.

“It’s always exciting to face the best,” O’s center fielder Cedric Mullins said. “If you are able to come out on top it puts a chip on your shoulder for the next guy you face.”

As he's leading off, Mullins will get the first chance to see Cease tonight. And first chance to start a rally.

“I think the first thing is just acknowledge that he’s good,” he said. “It’s going to be a battle for one through nine. I think the goal is kind of pass the baton. I get to lead the charge. Just trying to spark something. Whether I get the result I want or not, I want to try and have good at-bats throughout the day.”

From May 29 through Aug. 11, Cease allowed no more than one earned run in 14 consecutive starts, setting a major league record. He gave up three in his most recent outing to end that streak while facing Houston and Verlander, who also gave up three runs as the White Sox won the game, 4-3.

Over those past 15 outings, Cease is 8-3 with an ERA of 0.93.

Rookie Terrin Vavra, who bats fifth tonight, will turn to his teammates for scouting reports.

“I think the big conversation I like to have is with guys that have seen him," Vavra said. "There are guys in this clubhouse that have seen him. I like that type of report first and foremost, just kind of hear what they have to say. What challenged them when they faced him. More things that helped them have success or feel more prepared going into that matchup. From there, it is just go through the advance reports our team does here, just kind of break it down and come up with a game plan.”

What is he looking for in the advance reports and team-provided scouting data?

“I think tendencies are big, but I also think, you know, what makes him effective is how often he is able to get guys to chase, so looking at where he gets guys to chase. What he does effectively and what he is trying to get you to do so you can go up there and try and make it your at-bat, as opposed to his at-bat.”

And take that last game against Cease and learn from that also.

“He’ll look at what he did last time, what was working and what wasn’t and what he wants to try and do again," added Vavra, who is batting .282 in his first 18 big league games. "So I think it benefits us to do the same. So look in the mirror and see how we can do better this time.”

“You have to watch film, see how he attacks you,” said Ryan Mountcastle, who is 0-for-3 in his career against Cease. “At the end of the day, you just have to put together good at-bats. He’s got really good stuff and it will be a battle all night. We’ll need all nine guys. Excited to get this series rolling, and hopefully we get a couple of wins.

“He was really tough in Chicago and pitched well. It was tough to see that day, so hopefully we can see a little better today and have good at-bats.”

Adley Rutschman went 1-for-2 in that earlier game, and Mullins is a rare bird with some success against Cease, going 3-for-8 for a .375 average.

“He’s dominating for a reason," said Mullins. "He has really good stuff and his slider is good, fastball is heavy. He gets it up to 99 or 100, so it’s a dogfight.”

Cease, who ranks in the top four percent of the majors in whiff percentage and fastball spin rate, is statistically easier to hit for lefties. Lefty batters have an OPS this year of .651 against him, while right-handers are at .557. The O’s will have six lefty batters or switch-hitters starting tonight in the series opener.