As the Los Angeles Dodgers continued to be hampered by injury, rookie right-hander Landon Knack has stood in for veteran pitchers in the starting rotation.
Against the Cleveland Guardians Friday night, Knack recorded eight strikeouts over six innings, allowing three hits and one walk.
“I just felt that he was pitching really well,” Roberts told Mike DiGiovanna of The Los Angeles Times. “I liked the way he was throwing. Landon was a star tonight. He did everything we hoped for and more. He’s done it all year for us, given his uncertain circumstances, being up and down … six innings, two runs, eight punch-outs, one walk, and he gave us a good chance to win. I’m looking forward to him making his next start.”
Knack gave up a two-run homer to Andrés Giménez that gave the Guardians a 2-0 lead over Los Angeles.
“Just kind of pulled a fastball a little bit, left it a little bit too middle, and he jumped me,” Knack said of the home run pitch. “I was trying to get it away more than anything, and it kind of leaked back over the plate.”
Besides the two-run home run, Knack was sharp on the mound. It was an impressive feat for a rookie who had to go against the leaders of the American League Central.
“It gives you a lot of confidence to go out there and see how your stuff plays against some of the best teams, some of the best players in the world,” Knack said. “The way that I’ve been able to come out here and make pitches against these guys makes me know I belong.”
His 91-pitch performance wasn’t able to top Guardians left-hander Matthew Boyd’s delivery, but with an injury-riddled rotation, Knack answered when the Dodgers called.
His consistent performances for Los Angeles indicate he will likely remain a starter for the final weeks of the regular season.
“It’s really kind of taking it one day at a time,” Knack continued. “It’s hard as you continue to go up and down to not think about the future and where you are, but like cliche says, stay where your feet are and continue to work. Anytime I get an opportunity here or there, just show what we can do and keep taking advantage of the opportunities.”
