Dodgers closing pitcher Kenley Jansen and Astros middle reliever Kendall Graveman are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Tuesday’s two league championship series games.
National League Championship Series Game 3: Dodgers 6, Braves 5
Jansen struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning, allowing no hits, no walks and earning the save, as the Dodgers won for the first time in the best-of-seven game series and now trail the Braves, 2-1.
Jansen had a Box-Toppers game score Tuesday of +4.0, best of all Dodgers players. Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler had a game score of -11.8 (3.2IP 7H 4R 3BB 3K ND). Dodgers top batter Cody Bellinger had a game score of +2.0 (HR 1-3 R 3BI). Braves starting pitcher Charlie Morton had a game score of -3.0 (5IP 3H 2R 6BB 5K ND). Braves top batter Adam Duvall had a game score of 0.0 (2-5 R 2BI).
Jansen earned 6.0 Box-Toppers points in the 2021 regular season, 141st among all players, 49th among NL pitchers and third among NL closers, behind Ian Kennedy of the Phillies (8.7) and Alex Reyes of the Cardinals (6.7).
The series resumes Wednesday in Los Angeles.
American League Championship Series Game 4: Astros 9, Red Sox 2
Graveman struck out two over two scoreless middle relief innings, allowing no hits, one walk and earning the win, as the Astros even the best-of-seven game series with the Red Sox, 2-2.
Graveman, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings, had a Box-Toppers game score Tuesday of +3.0, best among Astros players. Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke had a game score of -6.9 (1.1IP H 2R 3BB 0K ND). Astros top batter Michael Brantley had a game score of +1.0 (2B 2-5 R 2BI). Red Sox starting pitcher Nick Pivetta had a game score of +2.0 (5IP 2H R 2BB 3K ND). Red Sox top batter Xander Bogaerts had a game score of 0.0 (HR 2B 2-5 R 2BI).
Graveman earned 2.0 Box-Toppers points in the 2021 regular season, 475th among all players, 135th among AL pitchers and 35th among AL closing pitchers. He earned 1.0 of his 2.0 points with the Mariners, prior to being traded at midseason to the Astros.
The series resumes Wednesday in Boston.
Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners
Here is the top player from each of the day’s games listed from highest to lowest Box‑Toppers game score (BTG).| BTG | Game | Player | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +4.0 | LAD 6, ATL 5 | Kenley Jansen, (S 1) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| +3.0 | HOU 9, BOS 2 | Kendall Graveman, (W 1‑0) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
` Pitcher had a no‑decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
Coming Wednesday:
AL Championship Series Game 5: Astros at Red Sox, series tied 2-2
The pitching matchup Wednesday:
Astros—Framber Valdez, 5.0 Box-Toppers points, 175th among all players, 58th among AL pitchers.
Valdez has started two games so far in the postseason but did not win Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors in either. He started Oct. 8 in the ALDS Game 2 win over the White Sox and Oct. 15 in the ALCS Game 1 win over the Red Sox.
Red Sox—Chris Sale, 2.0 Box-Toppers points, 440th among all players, 124th among AL pitchers.
Sale has started two games so far in the 2021 postseason, did not earn Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors in either and pitched only 3 2/3 combined innings in both. He started Oct. 8 in the ALDS Game 2 win over the Rays (pitching one inning) and Oct. 15 in the ALCS Game 1 loss over the Astros (pitching 2 2/3 innings).
Box-Toppers preview of the ALCS from Oct. 14
NL Championship Series Game 4: Braves lead series over Dodgers, 2-1
The pitching matchup Wednesday:
Braves—Huascar Ynoa, 6.7 Box-Toppers points, 113th among all players, 43rd among NL pitchers.
Ynoa has made one appearance in the 2021 postseason, pitching one inning of middle relief Oct. 12 in the NLDS Game 4 win over the Brewers. (He did not earn Player of the Game honors).
Reports indicate the Braves are planning this to be a bullpen game with Ynoa pitching as a one-or-two inning “opener,” rather than as a traditional five-innings-or-more starter. Other candidates to open the game were A.J. Minter (0.0 Box-Toppers points in 2021) and Drew Smyly (8.0 points, 37th among NL pitchers).
Ynoa earned 5.0 of his 6.7 points prior to his mid-May injury when he punched a bench and broke his hand. Smyly earned 6.0 of his points as a starter through August before earning his final 2.0 points as a middle reliever in the final weeks of the season.
Dodgers—Julio Urias, 19.1 Box-Toppers points in 2021, fourth among all players, third among NL pitchers.
Urias has earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors twice in three previous 2021 postseason appearances. He was Player of the Game in the NLDS Game 2 win over the Giants on Oct. 9 and in the NLDS Game 4 win over the Giants on Oct. 14. He also appeared in the NLCS Game 2 loss to the Braves on Oct. 17. Urias’ two Player of the Game honors are tied for the most of any player this postseason with Jose Altuve of the Astros, who has also won Player of the Game honors twice.
In the 2020 postseason, Urias won Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors four times, most of any player.
Box-Toppers preview of the NLCS from Oct. 15
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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