Cease just didn’t have it on Tuesday despite being spotted three runs to start the game. The Athletics hung six runs on him on six hits and a walk in the first inning. Cease didn’t get his first swing-and-miss until his 26th pitch, striking out the leadoff man to end the frame as the A’s hit around the order. The A’s brought three more runs in to score in the third on a walk and three more hits. The 29-year-old right-hander will look to put this start in the rear view mirror when he takes on the Cubs in San Diego on Monday.

Cease walked two while allowing four hits. He gave up a solo blast to Jarred Kelenic before exiting, and it prevented him from factoring into the decision. Cease generated 11 swings-and-misses and was consistently hitting the high 90s with his fastball, so it’s encouraging start, even with a slightly disappointing result. He’s scheduled to face the Guardians next week.

Cease and Opening Day starter Michael King are the only locks in San Diego’s starting rotation mix at the moment as a result of spring training injuries to Yu Darvish (elbow) and Matt Waldron (oblique). It’ll be some combination of Nick Pivetta, Kyle Hart and Randy Vásquez taking the ball for the Padres, but the exact order has yet to be determined. There should be some clarity prior to Thursday’s season-opener.