The Los Angeles Dodgers starting rotation is loaded, but Landon Knack is hoping there is room for at least one more.
The 2020 second-round pick is trying to make the leap to Los Angeles’ rotation after making seven starts in 2025 but falling out the equation for the Dodgers in the postseason.
Knack is already 28 years old yet is only set to enter his second major-league season. He was 3-2 with a 4.89 ERA in 2025, throwing just 42 1/3 innings in his 10 appearances. But Knack still has only 0.119 years of MLB service time and will not even be arbitration eligible until 2029.
Landon Knack is Working on Making His Delivery More Consistent
The 2026 season is a big one for Knack. After pitching to a 3.65 ERA in 69 innings over 15 games, and 12 starts, he regressed mightily while struggling to repeat his delivery.
“Last year, one of my issues … was just trying to constantly tweak things,” Knack told MLB.com’s Courtney Hollman. “This one really was more so just back to being me a little bit more.
“It’s definitely finding kind of the old me in the throw. Just finding the easiest way to just make it repeatable ⦠make it consistent all the time.”
Even though he remained a 9.0 strikeouts-per-nine-innings pitcher, Knack’s control struggled, since he allowed one more walk in 27 fewer innings in 2025. His 1.39 WHIP was a consequence of allowing an .817 OPS against in 2025.
Knack had trouble in the minors last year too. He pitched to a 7.01 ERA in Triple-A Oklahoma City, with 55 walks and a 1.56 WHIP in 21 appearances there.
So far, Knack has had the same fortune in spring training, since he has pitched to a 9.64 ERA in three starts for the Dodgers.
But his outing Saturday where he surrendered one hit and two earned runs in three innings against the Colorado Rockies was an improvement to the two homers and three runs he gave up in just 2/3 of an inning against the Los Angeles Angels on March 1.
Still, Knack found that outing more to his liking, since as Hollman noted, he has pitched more to contact and found success.
“I was glad to have a little bit more efficient one today … get ahead, get some quicker outs,” Knack said.
The Dodgers Rotation is Stacked, but There Will Be Starts for Landon Knack
Knack has started games in consecutive seasons, and he is toeing the slab in spring training with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto away with Japan in the World Baseball Classic — plus an early-season injury to Blake Snell.
So there will be chances for Knack to make starts in LA. But how many depends on how well he can get outs.
Yamamoto, Ohtani and Snell are three of LA’s top starters, along with Tyler Glasnow. Emmett Sheehan is usually the Dodgers’ No. 5 starter, but they typically use a six-man rotation — since Ohtani and Yamamoto need an extra day of rest — which leaves one spot up for grabs in the rotation.
With 2024 11-game winner Gavin Stone shut down due to throwing-shoulder inflammation, Knack now has an opportunity. Whether he can take it is up to him.
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