White Sox' Dylan Cease pleased with his velocity in second Cactus League start

GLENDALE, Ariz. — After a rare Arizona rain delay, White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease was sharp in three innings Thursday against the Brewers.

Cease allowed one run and struck out five in the Sox’ 8-2 Cactus League loss to Milwaukee. He was consistently touching 96 mph with his fastball and felt good about his overall outing.

‘‘If I can live there during the season, I’ll get plenty of outs,’’ Cease said.

The lone run he allowed was a homer by Brewer Hicklen on a hanging curve. Cease said the feel for the ball is affecting the off-speed pitches more than usual.

‘‘[The overall performance] was pretty good,’’ Cease said. ‘‘I don’t think it was my sharpest, but I’m very happy throwing strikes. A start like that, if I had the same exact stuff, I would be feeling good in all my starts.’’

‘He can play anywhere in the infield’

Shortstop/second baseman Nicky Lopez made an impressive stop Wednesday in the Sox’ 12-9 loss to the Dodgers.

His defensive prowess will help a team that was second-to-last in the majors in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs.

“He can play anywhere in the infield, and his defense is pretty reliable out there,” said outfielder Andrew Benintendi, who played two seasons with Lopez in Kansas City. “His first step is one of the strengths of his game and just the overall consistency of his routine.”

Lopez’s defense made waves in the majors when he was in the minors. What stands out to Lopez’s teammates is his consistency.

“Oh, it’s huge,” third baseman Mike Moustakas said. “I was fortunate enough to play most of my career with [former Royals shortstop] Alcides Escobar — one of the best shortstops at the time — and it makes things easier with the balls he can get to. It makes your ability to play the line a bit easier just because you don’t have to cover as much ground.”

Lopez’s range allows him to get to balls that others can’t; he finished in the 96th percentile for range, according to Baseball Savant. He said he works on an aspect of the game each day.

He meticulously approaches the defensive side and takes pride in it because he knows the pitchers are giving it their all. Though he works at his defense, a lot of the plays Lopez makes are instinctual.

“Instincts are probably half of defense,” Lopez said. “It’s knowing what you’re going to do with the ball before you get there. If the ball is hit to your backhand, you know how you’re going to attack it, then also just kind of letting your talents take over, as well.”

Inaugural Spring Breakout

MLB released the Spring Breakout rosters Thursday. The games, which take place from March 14 to 17, feature some of the prospects from each club. The Sox’ prospects play the Cubs’ prospects on March 15 at Sloan Park in Mesa.

The Sox’ projected roster includes top prospect Colson Montgomery, catcher Edgar Quero and third baseman Bryan Ramos.

Montgomery had a hitting line of .287/.456/.484 across three minor-league levels in 2023. Quero, acquired in July from the Angels, has quickly ascended the top-prospects list. Ramos hit 15 home runs across two minor-league levels.

Brewers 8, Sox 2

Rain delayed the start Thursday and made the outfield just damp enough to take outfielders Luis Robert Jr. and Andrew Benintendi out of the lineup. Dylan Cease didn’t need much outfield help, striking out five in his second good start. The Sox (4-10) had two hits, a triple by Triple-A catcher Chuckie Robinson and a single by designated hitter Eloy Jimenez.

• In a B game at the Reds, right-hander Nick Nastrini, angling for a spot in the rotation at some point this season, pitched two scoreless innings of one-hit ball, allowing one walk and striking out three. Righty Jonathan Cannon tossed two scoreless innings of one-hit ball, striking out two. Against the Brewers, Jordan Leasure made his fourth scoreless relief appearance.

• John Brebbia (strained right calf) threw his first bullpen session in 2½ weeks but is on course to be part of the bullpen by Opening Day, manager Pedro Grifol said.

• On deck: Sox at Guardians, 2:05 p.m. Friday, Goodyear, Erick Fedde vs. Tanner Bibee.

— Daryl Van Schouwen