September 14, 2026 | Edition #258

Hey MLB Gang,

Today’s edition brings a mix of injury news, possible farewells, and standout performances from around the league. We look at a Tigers veteran potentially making his final start, a major setback for a Giants star, a crucial defensive lapse that left Diamondbacks fans frustrated, and the Yankees’ praise for a 25-year-old after another strong performance. Let's unpack...

Games you can tune in to tonight:

• Los Angeles Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds @ 6:40 PM ET

• Chicago White Sox vs Cleveland Guardians @ 6:40 PM ET

• Detroit Tigers vs Toronto Blue Jays @ 7:07 PM ET

• Baltimore Orioles vs New York Mets @ 7:10 PM ET

• New York Yankees vs Minnesota Twins @ 7:40 PM ET

We decided to include the ones that could be the most thrilling - both on and off the field. Tell us your thoughts, too.

While in high school (most likely 1998-99), Justin Verlander needed 50 cents for a chocolate milk. His friend provided the money and wrote down the agreement on a napkin, trading those cents for 0.1% of Verlander's future professional signing bonus. When the Detroit Tigers drafted Verlander in 2004 at $3.12 million, he kept true to his word. Taking out that percentage, he returned $3,120 to his friend.

Thank you for reading Essentially Dugout. We’d really appreciate any feedback you have for us.