As the Los Angeles Dodgers battle through numerous injuries, rookie right-hander Landon Knack has stepped up to fill in for veteran pitchers in the starting rotation. On Friday night against the Cleveland Guardians, Knack delivered a strong performance, striking out eight over six innings while allowing just three hits and one walk. “He was pitching really well,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times. “Landon was a star tonight. He exceeded our expectations, as he’s done all year despite the ups and downs. Six innings, two runs, eight punchouts, one walk—he gave us a great chance to win. I’m looking forward to his next start.”
Knack’s only major mistake was a two-run home run to Andrés Giménez, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead. “I left a fastball too much in the middle, and he made me pay for it,” Knack said of the pitch. Despite the homer, he remained sharp, particularly impressive given that he faced the leaders of the American League Central.
“It builds a lot of confidence to see how your stuff holds up against some of the best teams and players in the world,” Knack added. “The way I’ve pitched makes me feel like I belong here.”
Though his 91-pitch outing was overshadowed by Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd, Knack’s performance stood out in a rotation riddled with injuries. His consistency suggests he may hold onto a starting role as the regular season winds down.
“It’s all about taking it one day at a time,” Knack said. “It’s tough going up and down without thinking about the future, but as they say, focus on the present and keep working. Every chance I get, I’ll make the most of it.”