Dave Roberts to Dodgers’ Landon Knack After Poor Start: ‘Wash It and Move On’

Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Landon Knack was rocked on the mound Friday night, but manager Dave Roberts told Knack not to harp on the rough outing.

At a time in the season where every game matters, it’s an important virtue hold on to.

“My message to Landon on the bench was – it happened,” Roberts told Bill Plunkett of The Orange Country Register . “He’s had nothing but good outings for us. This was a bad one. Let’s wash it and move on. Overall, his whole body of work for us has been fantastic and it’s just one of those nights where the command wasn’t where it’s been.”

The pressure has mounted for the right-hander as the club finalizes the starting rotation for the postseason.

Knack has been a reliable starter for the Dodgers since his debut. He’s had to stand in for several veteran pitchers as the rotation dwindled due to injury.

Before Friday night, he had done a stellar job of facing competitive teams. Knack had previously allowed just four earned runs before his start against the Atlanta Braves, but he gave up five runs in the first two innings of the matchup.

The right-hander could usually pitch into the fifth or sixth inning throughout most of his starts, but Knack left the mound after the second inning of Friday’s game.

Knack threw 64 pitches before his early exit from the National League matchup. Nevertheless, Roberts hasn’t confirmed Knack as a postseason starter, but he hasn’t eliminated him as an option either after his performance.

“I don’t think it weighs into our decision at all,” Roberts said.

“I look forward to his next start. I don’t think as far as the postseason or any outings going forward, this is affected.”

Every performance matters for the rookie as he tries to earn his slot in the October rotation, but Knack is trying to focus on each performance one day at a time.

“Obviously you can’t help but think about that,” Knack said. “But honestly, it’s continuing to take it a day at a time. Focusing on the future you can’t really take advantage of the present. So it’s really just trying to continue to be consistent day by day and make adjustments quick after a day like today.”

Photo Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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