Dodgers Interview: Landon is starting to get the “Knack”

LOS ANGELES — Saturday night’s 18–2 win over the Yankees was a showcase for the Dodgers’ offense, but it also marked another significant step forward for rookie pitcher Landon Knack, who delivered six strong innings in one of his best performances at the big league level. With the Bronx Bombers in town and a national TV audience watching, Knack rose to the occasion—allowing just one run, striking out five, and showing poise beyond his years.

“Yeah, they’ve got a good offense over there,” Knack said postgame. “It felt good to kind of get in there, get through six, give up only one.” He admitted that his breaking ball wasn’t as sharp as he would’ve liked—“My arm was just a little bit late on the breaking balls, kind of dragging a little”—but found success using his fastball and changeup to keep the Yankees off balance. “Did a good job front to back with the fastball and change and made pitches when we needed to.”

Knack had plenty of help from a Dodgers offense that exploded for double-digit runs for the second straight night. “We got a fun offense to watch, obviously,” Knack said with a grin. “They can explode at any time… It takes a lot of the pressure off. You can just go out there and attack, be a little more aggressive.” But it wasn’t just the bats that had Knack smiling—rookie outfielder Hyeseong Kim nicknamed “The Comet,” made two standout defensive plays that helped Knack cruise. “He was huge,” Knack said. “The double play ball and then that throw in on Judge was just awesome. Great day for him.”

The outing marked Knack’s third consecutive solid start, and he acknowledged that things are beginning to click after some early-season ups and downs. “It’s a confidence builder for sure,” he said. “We’re definitely getting there. Still haven’t quite had the entire arsenal working at once, but it’s a step forward.” He credited recent adjustments—cleaning up some mechanical inconsistencies and addressing potential pitch tipping—with helping him find a better rhythm. “Just making sure we’re as consistent as possible… and really having both changeups working well has been huge.”

Knack also pointed to the experience of the NLCS last season as an important stepping stone. “Having that experience, just kind of knowing how to go through one of those games and what it entails, definitely is a big help as you move forward,” he said. Against a World Series-caliber lineup like the Yankees, that maturity showed.

With each start, Knack is proving he belongs—not just as a spot starter, but as a legitimate contributor on a team with October aspirations. And if he continues building on outings like Saturday night, the Dodgers may have found yet another homegrown gem to add to their rotation depth.

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