Astros pitcher Will Harris is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s World Series Game 3.

The Houston Astros win 4-1, as the Washington Nationals lead the best-of-seven series, 2-1.

Harris struck out two over 1 2/3 scoreless middle relief innings, allowing no hits and no walks. Harris did not earn the win, picking up a no-decision.

Harris earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point during the regular season. However, he has now earned Player of the Game honors twice this postseason. He was also Player of the Game Oct. 17 in the AL Championship Series Game 4 win over the Yankees.

To be considered Box-Toppers Player of the Game pitchers usually must appear for at least three innings or earn the win or save. That would have made Astros reliever Josh James Player of the Game. He had the highest Box-Toppers game score (+1.1) among pitchers who met those qualifications (0.1 0H 0R 0BB K W). He earned the win only because starter Zack Greinke, though he exited with the lead, did not pitch the required five innings to earn the win. James earned the win because he relieved Greinke, completing that fifth inning with the lead intact.

However, under Box-Toppers rules, if another pitcher has the same or more innings pitched and a higher Box-Toppers game score as the pitcher who is otherwise deemed top player, then that pitcher is Player of the Game. Harris pitched more innings than James (1 2/3 vs. 1/3) and had a higher game score (+3.2) and so wins Box-Toppers Player of the Game.

Reliever Josh Smith also had more innings pitched than James and had a higher Box-Toppers game score of +2.0 (1IP H 0R 0BB 2K ND).

Greinke has now failed to earn Player of the Game honors in his four 2019 postseason starts after earning 17.9 regular season Box-Toppers points, seventh among all players and fifth among AL pitchers. He had a Box-Toppers game score Friday of -1.8 (4.2IP 7H R 3BB 6K ND).

Leftfielder Michael Brantley had the highest Box-Toppers game score (0.0) among Astros batters (2-4 0R 2BI).

Nationals starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez had a Box-Toppers game score of -9.9 (5.1IP 10H 4R BB 4K L).

The series resumes with Game 4 Saturday in Washington.

About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

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Top Astros in World Series Game 3: Astros 4, Nationals 1
Here are the Box-Toppers game scores (BTG) of all Astros who played in World Series Game 3, listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score. Player of the Game (POG) is Will Harris.






  
    10/25
    BTG
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    POG
    +3.2
    `Will Harris (H, 5)
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    +2.0
    Josh Smith (H, 2)
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    +1.1
    Josh James (W, 2‑0)
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    
    0.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    +1.0
    Roberto Osuna (S, 2)
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    0.0
    Michael Brantley LF
    4
    0
    2
    2
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Robinson Chirinos C
    4
    1
    2
    1
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Roberto Osuna P
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Josh James P
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Kyle Tucker PH
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Brad Peacock P
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Will Harris P
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Joe Smith P
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    0.0
    Jake Marisnick CF
    0
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑0.9
    Brad Peacock (H, 1)
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    
    0.1
    0
    0
    0
    2
    1
  

    
    ‑1.0
    Jose Altuve 2B
    5
    2
    2
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑1.0
    Zack Greinke P
    1
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑1.0
    Yordano Alvarez PH
    1
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑1.8
    Zack Greinke
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    
    4.2
    7
    1
    1
    3
    6
  

    
    ‑2.0
    George Springer CF‑RF
    4
    0
    2
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑2.0
    Josh Reddick RF‑LF
    4
    0
    1
    1
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑2.0
    Carlos Correa SS
    4
    1
    1
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑4.0
    Yuli Gurriel 1B
    5
    0
    1
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  

    
    ‑5.0
    Alex Bregman 3B
    5
    0
    0
    0
    
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
    ‑
  
BTG—Box-Toppers game score

POG—Player of the Game

` Pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.