As the 2024 MLB regular season continues, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Knack to debut:
The Dodgers are set to call up pitching prospect Landon Knack today, as manager Dave Roberts told reporters (including The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya) last night. Knack, 26, was the club’s second-round pick in the 2020 draft and is expected to make his MLB debut tonight when he takes the ball for a start in Dodger Stadium opposite Jake Irvin and the Nationals. The right-hander enjoyed a breakout season last year as he impressed with a 2.51 ERA and a 24.1% strikeout rate in 22 starts split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. Knack is already on the club’s 40-man roster, but the Dodgers will need an active roster move to accommodate him.
2. Red Sox facing injuries:
Yesterday’s game against the Guardians was a brutal one for the Red Sox, as Boston saw two key players exit the game due to injury. Right-hander Garrett Whitlock exited after the fourth inning due to tightness in his left oblique, while star third baseman Rafael Devers left after the seventh inning due to left knee discomfort. Per Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic, Whitlock indicated to reporters after the game that he wasn’t very concerned about his oblique, and manager Alex Cora suggested that the young righty will be evaluated further today. The 27-year-old has looked fantastic through four starts this season, pitching to a 1.96 ERA and 3.41 FIP in 18 1/3 innings of work while striking out 22.7% of batters faced.
Devers’ ailment, on the other hand, appears to be more concerning. Cora indicated to reporters after the game that the team is currently discussing whether or not to send the infielder for an MRI due to the sudden onset of the pain during a double play attempt. The club’s most reliable offensive force, Devers has slashed an excellent .280/.354/.517 in 462 games since the start of the 2021 season.
3. Guardians roster move incoming:
Reporting yesterday indicated that the Guardians are set to acquire right-hander Pedro Avila in a deal with the Padres, who designated him for assignment last week. The Guardians have a full 40-man roster, meaning they’ll need to make a corresponding move in order to officially acquire the righty.
The 27-year-old Avila has appeared in five seasons with the Padres since making his MLB debut back in 2019, but the 2023 campaign was Avila’s first with more than two appearances. Last year, the right-hander pitched in a swing role for San Diego with a 3.22 ERA and 3.67 FIP in 50 1/3 innings of work. That ability to provide solid results out of both the bullpen and rotation could make Avila a valuable piece for the Guardians, who are currently without key pieces of both their rotation (such as Shane Bieber and Gavin Williams) as well as their bullpen (such as Sam Hentges and Trevor Stephan).
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