Having taken three of four games from the Colorado Rockies in Denver this week, the Los Angeles Dodgers return home Friday for a quick set against the Angels. Getting things started on the bump will be a relatively familiar face in rookie Landon Knack.
The Dodgers were always going to be in need of a starter given recent injuries to both Yoshinobu Yamamoto & Walker Buehler. The former hit the IL to start the week with a rotator cuff strain, while Buehler is set to miss time with hip inflammation. That left Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, and James Paxton as the team's three healthy starters, with Bobby Miller also returning earlier this week (though to shaky results).
Knack is the only other starter the team has used with at least some regularity this season, as Friday's start will be his fifth of the year.
The results thus far for the 2020 second round pick have been fairly solid. He's allowed two earned or less in each start, posting a 2.61 ERA for the year. He's at a 6.97 K/9 through that set of starts to go along with a strong 2.61 BB/9.
Knack's numbers at Triple-A have been a bit better in the strikeout game and a bit worse with the walks. He's approaching 10 K/9, but also walking nearly four per nine. Nevertheless, he's pitched to a 3.54 ERA across nine starts for Oklahoma.
If Friday goes well, there's a chance here for Landon Knack to get a little bit of an extended run over the next couple of weeks. The Dodgers have used an opener in various circumstances this season, but with two starters out (and Clayton Kershaw still working his way back), a stable presence could be required over this next stretch of games. While Knack hasn't worked his way deep into games or possess massive strikeout ability, he's shown that he can provide such stability.
A start against the Angels could be a nice springboard in that regard. They're a bottom 10 club in on-base percentage, while ranking only 21st in runs scored overall. They aren't a team that strikes out a lot, but their lack of impact contact at the plate could provide Knack with a solid opportunity toward gaining traction for an even longer look this time around.