Landon Knack has been a human life preserver for the Dodgers, an unsung rookie right-hander who has helped keep the rotation afloat when seas get a little rough.

With Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Clayton Kershaw and Gavin Stone on the injured list, the Dodgers summoned the 27-year-old right-hander from triple A for the fifth time this season, and Knack did what he usually does — give his team a chance to win, this time with a six-inning, two-run, three-hit, eight-strikeout effort.

But Knack’s quality start could not match the one delivered by Matthew Boyd, the Cleveland left-hander who held a prolific Dodgers offense to one run and three hits in six innings of the Guardians’ 3-1 victory in Chavez Ravine on Friday night.

Boyd, in his fifth start back from Tommy John surgery, struck out six and walked none to improve to 2-1 with a 2.20 earned-run average, his only mistake a center-cut, 89-mph sinker that Shohei Ohtani crushed 413 feet to center field for his National League-leading 45th home run and 100th RBI of the season in the sixth. In the process, Ohtani became the first 45-45 player in history.

Guardians right-hander Hunter Gaddis escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth, and closer Emmanuel Clase retired the side in order in the ninth for his 42nd save.

The Dodgers’ second straight loss, on the heels of Wednesday night’s 10-1 shellacking at the hands of the Angels in Anaheim, reduced their NL West lead over the San Diego Padres to four games entering Saturday.

As if the pregame news of Stone going on the IL because of shoulder inflammation wasn’t jarring enough, the Dodgers absorbed another body blow in the first when cleanup hitter Teoscar Hernández was hit in the left foot by an 81-mph slider and was in so much pain he was pulled from the game.

Hernández initially was diagnosed with a left-foot contusion, and his X-rays were negative. He was out of the starting lineup Saturday, but said he would not be put on the injured list after MRI and CT scans on his foot also were negative. He said he was targeting a return of Monday or Tuesday.

Hernández was batting .266 with 28 home runs and 87 RBIs and ranked second on the team with a .287 average with runners in scoring position.

Knack blanked the American League Central-leading Guardians on one hit and struck out eight through five innings,with only one runner reaching second when José Ramírez hit a one-out single in the fourth and stole a base.

No. 9 batter Brayan Rocchio led off the sixth with a single to right, and Roberts chose to let Knack go a third time through the order, even though Cleveland had three left-handed hitters and a switch-hitter coming up and the Dodgers had left-hander Anthony Banda warming in the bullpen.

“I just felt that he was pitching really well,” Roberts said of Knack. “I liked the way he was throwing.”

Knack got Steven Kwan to fly out to center, but Andrés Giménez jumped on a first-pitch fastball that was slightly up but over the middle and drove a two-run homer to right for a 2-0 Cleveland lead.

“Just kind of pulled a fastball a little bit, left it a little bit too middle, and he jumped me,” Knack said. “I was trying to get it away more than anything, and it kind of leaked back over the plate.”

It was the only mistake in the 91-pitch effort from Knack, who is 2-3 with a 3.00 ERA in 11 games, nine of them starts, in five big-league stints. The Dodgers are 3-6 in his starts, but Knack has given the team a chance to win in eight of those games.

“Landon was a star tonight,” Roberts said. “He did everything we hoped for and more. He’s done it all year for us, given his uncertain circumstances, being up and down … six innings, two runs, eight punch-outs, one walk, and he gave us a good chance to win. I’m looking forward to him making his next start.”

Knack didn’t make more than three consecutive starts in his first four stints with the Dodgers, but with the number of starters on the IL, the way Knack is throwing and the way he has navigated the challenges of being shuttled between triple A and the majors, he could remain in the rotation for the final three weeks of the regular season.

Read more: ‘Feel like myself.’ How embattled Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler is salvaging his season

“It’s really kind of taking it one day at a time,” Knack said. “It’s hard as you continue to go up and down to not think about the future and where you are, but like the cliche says, stay where your feet are and continue to work. Anytime I get an opportunity here or there, just show what we can do and keep taking advantage of the opportunities.

“It gives you a lot of confidence to go out there and see how your stuff plays against some of the best teams, some of the best players in the world. The way that I’ve been able to come out here and make pitches against these guys makes me know I belong.”

The Dodgers trimmed the deficit to 2-1 on Ohtani’s sixth-inning homer, but Rocchio burned them again in the eighth, lining a 1-and-0 sinker from Banda into the left-field bullpen for his eighth homer and a 3-1 lead.

The Dodgers threatened in the bottom of the eighth when Ohtani lined a one-out single to right and took third on Mookie Betts’ double to left. Freddie Freeman was walked intentionally to load the bases for Chris Taylor, who had replaced Hernández.

Taylor fouled off three two-strike pitches before lining a 104-mph one-hopper to shortstop. Rocchio fielded the ball cleanly and threw to second to start an inning-ending, 6-4-3 double play.

Read more: With Gavin Stone injured, who’s left to carry Dodgers’ starting rotation?

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

The season-opening loss to the Eagles was bad. The Packers are now bracing for something that could be much worse.

Quarterback Jordan Love, in his first game after signing a massive contract with a new-money average of $55 million per year, suffered a leg injury late in the fourth quarter. His status is unknown to most, including his head coach.

Said Matt LaFluer after the game regarding Love’s injury: “I don’t know.”

Love got twisted up and hit by multiple Eagles. He spent a few minutes on the ground. He limped off the field. He then walked gingerly with assistance to the locker room after the 34-29 loss. Malik Willis, who recently arrived via trade with the Titans, finished the last-gasp effort to win the game.

Love completed 17 of 34 passes for 260 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception.

The Packers host the Colts in Week 2. They have Willis on the active roster and Sean Clifford on the practice squad. Green Bay might have to add another quarterback. Among the available options, Ryan Tannehill is the biggest name.

For now, however, no one knows. Including LaFleur.

The Green Bay Packers faced a desperate situation at the end of their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, and then they lost starting quarterback Jordan Love.

With only 6 seconds remaining in an eventual 34-29 loss to the Eagles, Love got caught in the pocket and faced a likely game-ending sack. He scrambled and got the ball away to running back Josh Jacobs.

However, Love went down awkwardly in the process of getting tackled by Josh Sweat and Jalen Carter. His ankle bent under Carter, who was wrapping up the QB’s legs. Jacobs ran the ball out of bounds to give the Packers one more play, but the bigger concern was Love left on the ground, clutching his leg.

Love was able to walk off the field with help from athletic trainers. Backup quarterback Malik Willis entered to finish the game, but was sacked on his Hail Mary pass attempt by the Eagles’ Zack Baun as the clock ran out.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said he didn’t know about Love’s status when asked by reporters about it after the game.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported early Saturday that Love would be getting an MRI after the Packers landed in Green Bay, and that an ankle injury had been ruled out at this point.

Before leaving the game, Love passed for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, completing 17-of-34 passes. It was his first regular-season game since signing a four-year, $220 million contract extension in late July that makes him the highest-paid quarterback in NFL history. Love was signed to the lucrative deal after his first season as Green Bay’s starter in which he threw for 4,159 yards and 32 touchdowns.

There was a memorable scene in “Hard Knocks: Offseason” in which New York Giants co-owner John Mara tells his general manager Joe Schoen that he didn’t want to see Saquon Barkley leave in free agency. Especially to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was brought up roughly a million times on social media Friday night.

“I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I’ll tell you that,” Mara said.

Mara might not fall asleep for a few days after Friday night’s game. Philadelphia Eagles fans might not either. Same for Green Bay Packers fans but for a much different reason.

Barkley was a game changer for the Eagles’ offense in a shootout 34-29 win over the Packers in São Paulo, Brazil. He became the second player in Eagles history to score three touchdowns in his debut, joining Terrell Owens in 2004.

The game had an unexpected turn with six seconds left when Packers quarterback Jordan Love had his foot pinned underneath an Eagles defender as he was being brought down. Love was down on the field in pain and helped off while backup Malik Willis came on to finish the game at quarterback. The Packers will hope that Love’s injury doesn’t cost him any games. When asked about Love’s status postgame, head coach Matt LaFleur said, “I don’t know.”

Barkley used all of his skills to beat the Packers. He had a great reception on a deep pass, exploded through a hole for his first touchdown run and bulled his way into the end zone for his third score.

The Eagles didn’t have everything ironed out in their first game this season. But they already know that they added a star on offense who might carry them as they figure things out. The Eagles have to be fired up about what their offense could look like with Barkley making plays at running back.

Eagles and Packers hit big plays

The game had a lot of scoring but it wasn’t always pretty. Both teams had trouble with the turf, with players on each side slipping. That seemed to get a little better in the second half as teams adjusted their cleats. Other parts of the game seemed disjointed, whether it was due to being in Brazil, the unusual Friday night kickoff or neither team using starters for almost all of the preseason. It didn’t help that there seemed to be a penalty on every other play.

But there was plenty of excitement. Barkley had a hat trick of touchdowns. Packers receiver Jayden Reed had two touchdowns, a 33-yard run and a 70-yard catch. A.J. Brown added a 67-yard touchdown catch for the Eagles early in the second half.

There were big plays and big mistakes too. Hurts threw a bad interception on the first possession of the game and then another inexcusable one into the end zone in the fourth quarter when he threw across his body. It wasn’t always pretty for Love either. He threw an interception that led to Barkley’s third touchdown and also missed on a lot of passes. Love completed just 50% of his attempts. He seemed to be cramping up in the second half, as the training staff worked on his calves when he was on the sideline.

In the fourth quarter, the Packers had a choice to make on fourth-and-5 from the Eagles’ 8-yard line. There was a little less than eight minutes remaining. They trailed 31-26. They chose to kick a field goal and cut Philly’s lead to two points instead of going for it, hoping they could get the ball back needing just a field goal to win it.

But the Eagles, who had moved the ball in large chunks most of the game, got deep into Packers territory while chewing up the clock. The Packers seemed to have a third-down stop but defensive lineman Kenny Clark was called for holding, the second questionable defensive holding call on that drive. DeVonta Smith had two big first-down catches just before the two-minute warning. The Eagles couldn’t punch it in, fumbling a snap when they were about to try a Tush Push, but kicked a field goal with 27 seconds left. Love went out with the injury and on Willis couldn’t get a Hail Mary attempt of as he was sacked by linebacker Zack Baun, who had a huge game, and time expired.

Each team had issues. It might take a few weeks, and certainly a return home, to feel a little more comfortable. But on Friday night, the difference was the Eagles’ new running back.

Saquon Barkley makes big impression

The Giants got a great rookie season out of Barkley and he was never able to replicate that production, though he was good. The question was whether some injuries had taken their toll on him, or if the Giants’ situation around Barkley was so bad that he was being held back.

It seemed like we got the answer on Friday night.

The Eagles signed Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal in the offseason, which was unusual for them. They have generally not invested much in the running back position. Obviously they thought Barkley was a special talent.

He showed that right away on a leaping touchdown catch in the end zone from Hurts. Not all backs have that type of receiving ability. Barkley rushed for 109 yards, had a big play in the passing game and gave the Eagles offense a jolt that it could have used late last season.

The Eagles were able to grind out a win with an effective final drive as the Packers desperately tried to get a stop and have one more possession with a chance to win. Barkley was a big part of that game-clinching drive as well. It wasn’t always the prettiest win for the Eagles, especially on defense. But it’ll be a much better flight back to the United States with a 1-0 record.

In the flyweight division of MMA, Demetrious Johnson is the only answer for the greatest of all time. And now that career is over.

The 38-year-old Johnson announced his retirement from mixed martial arts during an appearance at ONE 168 in Denver on Friday, ending a run that spanned five promotions and nearly a decade of title reigns. He will finish his career with a record of 25-4-1, with a 17-2-1 record at flyweight.

“They wanted me to leave the belt in here, I ain’t doing that s***. I came into this sport as a champ, I’m leaving my Black ass as a champ too,” Johnson said.

The announcement came with the news that Johnson would become the first inductee into the new ONE Championship Hall of Fame. Johnson also said he would continue training in jiu jitsu, so he might not be entirely done in combat sports, just the one that made him a star.

Johnson made his ascent as the original UFC flyweight champion, joining the promotion through the World Extreme Cagefighting merger and winning the belt in 2012 via tournament victories over Ian McCall and Joseph Benavidez.

Johnson proceeded to defend the flyweight title 11 times, breaking Anderson Silva’s UFC record for consecutive title defenses. “Mighty Mouse” dismantled opponent after opponent for six years, and it eventually took an Olympic champion in wrestling, Henry Cejudo, to knock him off his perch, on his second try, with a split decision.

Rather than try to reclaim the belt, Johnson was traded to ONE and became the face of the nascent promotion. He won the ONE Flyweight World Grand Prix in 2019, then fought Adriano Moraes for the ONE flyweight belt.

That Moraes rivalry turned into a trilogy, with Moraes taking the first fight via a second-round knee KO, then Johnson taking the next two with a fourth-round flying knee then a unanimous decision.

While Johnson works on his grappling, a full-time media career also wouldn’t be a difficult transition for him as he’s already moved into the podcasting space.