The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Landon Knack for Thursday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds.
The Dodgers optioned right-hander Bobby Miller, who pitched in the third game of the series Wednesday, in a corresponding move.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the roster move following the close of Wednesday’s game, revealing Knack would handle the bulk of the innings in Thursday’s game alongside left-hander Justin Wrobleski, who the Dodgers have slated to start.
How Has Landon Knack Performed This Season?
Knack’s last MLB appearance came against the Kansas City Royals in a home series Aug. 12, where he threw 2.2 innings without allowing a run in a win.
Over the course of four appearances this season, Knack has 7.2 innings pitched, allowing five earned runs while striking out six batters.
That’s not the whole story, though, as the right-hander is in the midst of an incredible stretch beginning Aug. 5. He made four appearances between Triple-A and MLB in August, allowing just four earned runs through 17.2 innings of work for a 2.04 ERA.
He has two Triple-A appearances under his belt in September, and held his opponents scoreless in both outings over 7.2 innings pitched.
In Knack’s last MLB outing, it took his just 36 pitches to get through 2.2 innings—an incredibly efficient pace. His fastball topped out at 94.4 mph which is far faster than his 93.3 mph average for the season. He also had a 25% whiff rate in the outing, which is a big improvement over his 21.7% mark in a limited sample size.
If the right-hander can bring those same results to Thursday’s game, he may get a little more runway with the Dodgers—though likely not given their crowded schedule for the remainder of the season.
Why Did the Dodgers Option Bobby Miller?
Miller had to handle 2.1 innings on Wednesday following Dodgers starter Blake Snell’s injury after the first inning, so almost definitely wouldn’t have been able to pitch in a planned bullpen day for the Dodgers on Thursday.
Additionally, his outing didn’t inspire much confidence, as he struggled to miss bats.
He allowed five baserunners in his outing, three reaching with base knocks and the other two via hit by pitch, giving up two runs—one of which crossed the plate after he had already exited the game—and striking out just one batter across 2.1 innings pitched.
Miller’s season may not be completely finished with the Dodgers, as they have a crowded schedule over the course of the final week and a half of the MLB regular season, but the chances of him making the postseason roster are extremely slim after the return of All-Star Kris Bubic.
The Dodgers will look to use Knack to claim their four-game set against the Reds on Thursday, as they close in on a bye for the Wild Card round of the playoffs. First pitch comes at 9:40 a.m. PT.
