The Los Angeles Dodgers optioned Landon Knack, James Outman and Matt Sauer to Triple-A Oklahoma City after completing a sweep of the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series.
Knack, Outman and Sauer were each included on the 31-player Dodgers travel roster for Japan. Knack and Outman also were included on the Dodgers’ Opening Day roster, and Sauer was added Wednesday when Justin Wrobleski was optioned to Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers also transferred Clayton Kershaw to the 60-day injured list in order to make room for Sauer on their 40-man roster.
Sauer was among several players the Dodgers signed to a Minor League contract during the offseason and he was a non-roster invitee to big league camp for Spring Training.
Sauer had an 8.22 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in four Cactus League games (one start) this spring. He made just one appearance in the Dodgers’ four games in Japan, throwing 0.2 innings against the Hanshin Tigers while serving as a bridge from Blake Snell to Tyler Glasnow.
Outman entered off the bench in both of the Dodgers’ exhibition games at the Tokyo Dome but did not appear in the Tokyo Series.
He went into Spring Training with an opportunity to reclaim his starting job in center field. The Dodgers elected to have Tommy Edman play second base, and it left Andy Pages and Outman vying for the everyday role in center field.
Outman had a high strikeout rate during Cactus League play and seemingly remained behind Pages throughout that competition.
Knack, who also was on the Opening Day roster in 2024 for the Seoul Series, pitched two scoreless innings in the finale of the Tokyo Series and was credited with the win.
Knack was the only Dodgers relief pitcher to log multiple innings against the Cubs. He flashed a refined change that featured an increase in velocity and induced seven strikes with seven strikes, five whiffs and a routine groundout on eight throws.
Dodgers roster for domestic Opening Day
Optioning the three players marked the start of expected changes to the Dodgers roster before the Dodger Stadium opener on Thursday, March 27.
Among other potential movement will be putting Snell and Glasnow on the active roster after they filled some of the permitted exempt spots during the Tokyo Series.
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