The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to fine-tune their roster as the regular season enters its final stretch, and Wednesday brought a familiar face back into the fold.
The club recalled right-handed pitcher Landon Knack from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned fellow right-hander Seth Halvorsen in a corresponding move.
At 29 years old, Knack returns to the major league bullpen with the hope of providing length and reliability during a critical stretch of games.
Knack’s path to this moment has been marked by both promise and interruption. Selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2020 draft, he reached the majors in 2024 and immediately contributed, making 15 appearances that included 12 starts.
That season he logged 69 innings with a solid 3.65 ERA and earned a spot on the club’s World Series roster. The following year proved more challenging.
Limited to seven starts, he posted a 4.89 ERA and did not make the postseason roster. Career numbers now stand at 116.1 innings pitched, a 4.33 ERA, 115 strikeouts, and a 1.229 WHIP.
Injuries delayed his 2026 campaign. Knack began the year on the 60-day injured list and was not activated until July 11. In two subsequent relief outings he allowed five runs across five innings before the Dodgers optioned him to Oklahoma City on July 21.
Once in Triple-A, he settled in, posting a 2.60 ERA over five appearances. That performance earned him another opportunity in Los Angeles, where the bullpen has at times struggled to deliver consistent results.
The Dodgers enter the move on a modest upswing, having taken the first two games of their series against the Kansas City Royals. Their overall record of 72-48 keeps them tied with the Atlanta Braves for the second-best mark in the National League.
After wrapping up the Royals series, Los Angeles will host the Milwaukee Brewers for a four-game set beginning Thursday, a challenging matchup against the team currently leading the majors.
Manager Dave Roberts and the front office appear to view Knack as a versatile long-relief option who can soak up innings when starters exit early or when the bullpen needs a bridge.
Whether he can translate his recent minor league success into steady major league production remains to be seen, but the organization clearly believes the former World Series contributor still has something to offer as the club pushes toward October.
