The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 43-25 record, face the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are third in the NL Central with a 35-33 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -170 moneyline compared to the Pittsburgh Pirates' +140. Starting pitchers are Justin Wrobleski for the Dodgers, with a 2.62 ERA, and Mitch Keller for the Pirates, with a 4.81 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The St. Louis Cardinals, ranked second in the NL Central with a 37-28 record, face the New York Mets, who are fifth in the NL East with a 29-38 record. The New York Mets are favored with a -155 moneyline compared to the St. Louis Cardinals' +125. Starting pitchers are Hunter Dobbins for St. Louis, with a 2.77 ERA, and Christian Scott for New York, with a 2.50 ERA.
How to watch St. Louis Cardinals vs. New York Mets
On the latest episode of Yahoo Sports' "Football 301," host Nate Tice and guest Diante Lee of The Ringer set out to answer an offseason debate: which defenders are set to define the 2026 NFL season?
Tice and Lee drafted their top picks for a one-year, all-defensive draft, ranking their selections by a blend of advanced stats, positional value and the all-important "culture-setter" factor. Here's a recap of their consensus top-five defenders and some of the reasoning behind their choices.
These five defenders were highlighted not just for their raw production, but also their ability to transform schemes, elevate teammates, and serve as centerpieces for Super Bowl-caliber units. According to Tice and Lee, expect them to be the most influential defensive forces of the 2026 season.
1. Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans, EDGE
For Lee, the top pick had to be Anderson, the Texans' superstar edge rusher. Lee praised Anderson's "explosion in sack production," pointing to his 12 sacks last season and his dominance as a run defender, which Lee argued was the best at his position league-wide.
Advanced stats back it up: Anderson posted a 97th percentile sack rate and an equally elite QB hit rate. His relentless style sets the tone for the Texans' defense, transforming what it means to play defensive end in Houston.
Tice followed up by selecting Garrett, now a key piece on the Rams. The panel described Garrett as "one of the true best players in football" and "one of the best players I've ever seen in my life"
Garrett's transition to L.A. is a potential game-changer, reminiscent of era-defining player moves like Randy Moss to the Patriots and Reggie White to the Packers . Garrett's ability to disrupt both run and pass sets him apart, and Lee suggested that L.A.'s infrastructure could unlock his very best season yet.
3. Micah Parsons, Green Bay Packers, EDGE
Lee emphasized Parsons' "transformational" traits, his perennial 2%+ sack rate and his ability to single-handedly elevate the run and pass defense. Parsons' on-off splits, where Green Bay's defense plummets in his absence, drive home just how rare his impact can be.
The consensus: if he's healthy, few defenders can change a game like Parsons.
Micah Parsons is no stranger to double teams. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
Justin Edmonds via Getty Images
4. Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos, CB
Surtain is described as "one of the best corners I've ever watched" and "the prototype" at the position, thanks to a rare blend of size, speed, quickness and football IQ. Both hosts compared Surtain's effect to Darrelle Revis: eliminate half the field, force quarterbacks to look elsewhere and anchor any coverage shell.
5. Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs, DT
Rounding out the top five is Jones, a true game-wrecker. Lee couldn't leave Jones off his board, citing his penchant for taking over games, especially in critical moments like the second half vs. Indianapolis last year.
While Jones "picks and chooses his spots," when he's engaged, he's simply "unblockable." His presence fundamentally redefines what offenses are able to do, even if the box sheet doesn't always show a 10-tackle, 3-sack stat line.
For more on the NFL, listen to "Football 301" wherever you get your podcasts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers, ranked first in the NL West with a 42-24 record, face the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are third in the NL Central with a 34-32 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Pittsburgh at -110 and the Dodgers at -110. Starting pitchers are Eric Lauer for the Dodgers, with a 5.74 ERA, and Paul Skenes for the Pirates, with a 2.83 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
The New York Yankees, ranked second in the AL East with a 39-26 record, face the Cleveland Guardians, who are first in the AL Central with a 37-31 record. The New York Yankees are favored with a -120 moneyline compared to the Cleveland Guardians' +110. Starting pitchers are Gerrit Cole for the Yankees, with a 2.00 ERA, and Slade Cecconi for the Guardians, with a 4.92 ERA.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians
Date: Tuesday, June 9
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
TV Channels: TBS, Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive, WKYC 3, Amazon Prime Video
The Cincinnati Reds (31-33) face the San Diego Padres (33-31). San Diego has lost 11 of its past 13 games. Scheduled starting pitchers are Andrew Abbott for Cincinnati, with a 4.06 ERA, and Walker Buehler for San Diego, with a 4.53 ERA.
How to watch Cincinnati Reds vs. San Diego Padres
Date: Monday, June 8
Time: 9:40 p.m. ET / 6:40 p.m. PT
Where: PETCO Park, San Diego, CA
TV Channels: Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health, Reds.TV, Gray Media, WXIX FOX19
The Philadelphia Phillies, second in the NL East at 35-30 record, face the Toronto Blue Jays, who are third in the AL East with a 32-34 record. This is the opener of a three-game series between the teams. The starting pitchers are scheduled to be Cristopher Sánchez for Philadelphia (1.46 ERA) and Patrick Corbin for Toronto (3.98 ERA).
How to watch Philadelphia Phillies vs. Toronto Blue Jays
The New York Yankees (38-26) open a three-game series against the Cleveland Guardians (37-30). The game is essentially a pick'em, with Cleveland at -117 and the New York Yankees at -103. Scheduled starting pitchers are Will Warren for the Yankees, with a 3.22 ERA, and Gavin Williams for the Guardians, with a 3.20 ERA.
How to watch New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Guardians
Date: Monday, June 8
Time: 6:40 p.m. ET / 3:40 p.m. PT
Where: Progressive Field, Cleveland, OH
TV Channels: FS1, Guardians.TV Presented by Progressive, YES
The Boston Red Sox, ranked fifth in the AL East with a 27-36 record, face the Tampa Bay Rays, who are first in the AL East with a 37-25 record. The game is essentially a pick'em, with Boston at -115 and Tampa Bay at -105. Starting pitchers are Connelly Early for Boston, with a 3.26 ERA, and Ian Seymour for Tampa Bay, with a 5.23 ERA.
The San Francisco Giants (26-39) play the Chicago Cubs (34-31) in the finale of their three-game series. The teams split the first two games. The Cubs are favored with a -120 moneyline compared to the San Francisco Giants' +100. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Trevor McDonald for San Francisco (4.50 ERA) and Jameson Taillon for Chicago (5.13 ERA).
How to watch San Francisco Giants vs. Chicago Cubs
The Los Angeles Angels (24-41) will try to avoid a three-game sweep at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers (42-23). The Dodgers won the series’ first two games 1-0 and 9-2. The Dodgers are favored with a -211 moneyline compared to the Los Angeles Angels' +175. Scheduled starting pitchers are José Soriano for the Angels, with a 2.72 ERA, and Emmet Sheehan for the Dodgers, with a 4.50 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Date: Sunday, June 7
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET / 1:10 p.m. PT
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV Channels: SportsNet LA, ABTV, presented by Pechanga Resort Casino, KCOP 13
The New York Mets I28-36) take on the San Diego Padres, who are second in the NL West at 33-30. The game is essentially a pick'em, with San Diego at -110 and New York at -109. Starting pitchers are Huascar Brazobán for the Mets, with a 2.25 ERA, and Randy Vásquez for the Padres, with a 3.31 ERA.
How to watch New York Mets vs. San Diego Padres
Date: Sunday, June 7
Time: 4:10 p.m. ET / 1:10 p.m. PT
Where: PETCO Park, San Diego, CA
TV Channels: Padres.TV Presented by UC San Diego Health, SNY
The Seattle Mariners, first in the AL West with a 34-31 record, face the Detroit Tigers, who are fourth in the AL Central with a 26-39 record. Seattle is favored with a -119 moneyline compared to Detroit's -100. Starting pitchers are scheduled to be Luis Castillo for Seattle, with a 5.53 ERA, and Jack Flaherty for Detroit, with a 5.31 ERA.
The Boston Red Sox (27-35) take on the New York Yankees (37-26) on Sunday. Saturday’s game between the two teams was postponed. The scheduled starting pitchers are Ranger Suarez for Boston, with a 3.38 ERA, and Cam Schlittler for New York, with a 1.89 ERA. The Yankees are favored with the over/under set at eight runs.
The Los Angeles Angels, ranked fifth in the AL West with a 24-40 record, face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are first in the NL West with a 41-23 record. The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored with a -375 moneyline compared to the Los Angeles Angels' +290. Starting pitchers are Jack Kochanowicz for the Angels, with a 5.23 ERA, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the Dodgers, with a 2.86 ERA.
How to watch Los Angeles Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Date: Saturday, June 6
Time: 10:10 p.m. ET / 7:10 p.m. PT
Where: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA
TV Channels: SportsNet LA, ABTV, presented by Pechanga Resort Casino, KCOP 13
