Knack's goal is not just to squeeze into the Dodgers' starting rotation, but to firmly establish himself.

For Landon Knack, the margin for error in a major league starting rotation isn't just small; it's "extremely limited."

This is the term Dodgers manager Dave Roberts used today to describe the 28-year-old right-hander's control. When Knack took the mound at Camelback Ranch for the Dodgers' 4-6 loss to the Colorado Rockies, the narrative around him had shifted from whether he could pitch in the majors to how he would stay there.

Pursuing Efficiency, Not "Fine-Tuning"

Knack delivered his most efficient outing of the spring today, throwing 3 innings on 36 pitches, allowing 1 hit, 1 walk, and 2 runs. While the lack of strikeouts in the stats is unusual for a starter, it was a product of his deliberate "pitch-to-contact" strategy. Knack said this is part of him "getting back to myself."

After the game, Knack reflected on how he moved away from the excessive analysis of his pitching mechanics that plagued him during the 2025 season.

"Last year, one of my issues was... always wanting to fine-tune things constantly," Knack admitted. "This year, it's more about getting back to myself a little bit."

The 2025 season was a mental marathon for Knack. He served as the Dodgers' primary "yo-yo" player, shuttling between Triple-A Oklahoma City and the majors. While his 4.89 ERA over 10 MLB appearances (7 starts) was decent, the lack of a fixed schedule took a toll on his minor league performance, where his ERA ballooned to 6.66 over 21 appearances.

"The ups and downs were really tough," Roberts said. "But credit to him, he never made excuses."

While the absence of strikeouts might cause some concern, it traded for quick outs.

"I was happy to be more efficient today... getting ahead in counts, getting some quick outs," Knack said.

Emphasizing "Conviction"

Knack doesn't have triple-digit heat; his four-seam fastball averaged 93.1 mph in 2025, slightly below the league average of 94.2 mph. To be effective, he relies on what Roberts calls "conviction in his pitches."

Statcast data supports this. Knack's most lethal weapon is his changeup, which features elite-level 30.2 inches of vertical drop and a consistent six-foot release point. When thrown with conviction, it's a devastating finishing pitch. Without it, his "extremely limited" control becomes a burden for a pitcher who naturally induces fly balls.

A Long Road Ahead

Earlier this week, the Dodgers announced Gavin Stone is paused from throwing due to right shoulder inflammation, significantly elevating the importance of Knack's "conviction." While an MRI showed no structural damage, Stone is expected to miss at least a few weeks, leaving a vacancy in the back end of the rotation.

In this situation, the door is fully open for Knack to prove he's more than just a swingman. This also aligns with the "grinder" mindset Knack often credits to his time at Walters State Community College, where he pitched for two years before transferring to East Tennessee State University.

"It's definitely about getting back to a little bit of my old self in pitching," Knack said. "Finding the simplest way to make it repeatable... keeping it consistent all the time."

For a pitcher whose value lies in his versatility, the message from the Dodgers coaching staff is clear: don't just pitch, pitch with conviction. Conviction means believing firmly in your pitches.