Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki are projected to be on the Dodgers\u2019 roster, but it remains to be seen how to use them. While 27-year-old River Ryan could be a factor, Gavin Stone and Landon Knack may receive the first chances to help, given their prior experience with Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Gavin Stone has shown high upside in big league action![\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Los-Angeles-Dodgers-pitcher-Gavin-Stone-throws.jpg\")
\u00a9 Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Stone did not pitch in 2025 but showed real potential in 2024. Across 25 starts that season, the Lake City native went 11-5 with a 3.53 ERA and a 4.01 FIP. According to Baseball Savant, he ranked in the 89th percentile in terms of Pitching Run Value,<\/a> thanks in large part to his changeup, sinker, and slider.<\/p>\n Following a lengthy recovery process that included a setback last summer, Stone committed himself to adding body mass and becoming more durable.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s still gonna be a long process, fine-tuning some things, getting the timing down,\u201d Stone told Jack Harris of the California Post. \u201cShut it down for a little while (after that). Played light catch during the postseason, just to keep that elasticity in the tissue and stuff. But then took some time this offseason, took a couple weeks off, and ever since then, have been feeling great.\u201d<\/p>\n The former fifth-round pick impressed with his offspeed pitches in 2024, and after facing hitters recently, his fastball, which clocks in at around 95 MPH, was a highlight that impressed at least one member of the team\u2019s brass.<\/p>\n \u201cReally good fastball quality, the arm\u2019s good, the changeup was encouraging, and velocity was great,\u201d general manager Brandon Gomes said. \u201cThat was a really nice (outing) for Stoney.\u201d<\/p>\n Landon Knack could surprise this season Stone and Ryan might be receiving a heap of the praise early in camp, but Knack should not be forgotten. The Tennessee native was serviceable in 2024, going 3-5 with a 3.65 ERA and a 4.72 FIP through 69 innings. In 2025, he posted a 4.89 ERA along with a 5.71 FIP across 42.1 innings.<\/p>\n These marks do not jump off the page, but his advanced metrics leave room for optimism. According to Baseball Savant, Knack put up a walk rate of 6.3% in 2024.<\/a> The following year, this number spiked to 10.3%. This dip was accompanied by a decrease in strikeout rate and a rise in Barrel %.<\/p>\n It would seem that Knack simply had trouble putting batters away last season. If he could lean into collecting more ground balls with his sinker, or using his changeup to generate more weak contact or strikeouts, he may finally become a mainstay who can oscillate between the rotation and bullpen.<\/p>\n Further, Knack boasts one advantage that neither Ryan nor Stone possess \u2014 postseason experience. He tossed seven innings of October work as Los Angeles brought home the 2024 World Series title. While he surrendered six runs, the experience could benefit him as he attempts to prove himself.<\/p>\n![\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Los-Angeles-Dodgers-starting-pitcher-Landon-Knack-delivers-a-pitch.jpg\")
\u00a9 Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/p>\n