Box-Toppers Toppers Box
Today’s key Box-Toppers numbers. Click links to jump to charts elsewhere on this page.▪️ Players of the Game
▪️ B-T points of day’s top players
▪️ Top 10 players in 2024
▪️ Friday’s sidelights sidebar
▪️ Upcoming pitching matchups
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▪️ Support Box-Toppers
Tigers pitcher Brant Hurter is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Friday, Padres pitcher Dylan Cease rises to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning National League Player of the Day honors.
Top 10 players
Here are the top 10 players in 2024 Box-Toppers points (BTP) through Friday, Sept. 13:Player | Pos | Team | BTP | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Zack Wheeler | pi sp | Phillies | 20.4 |
2 | Dylan Cease | pi sp | Padres | 19.1 |
3 | Shota Imanaga | pi sp | Cubs | 18.7 |
4 | Tarik Skubal | pi sp | Tigers | 18.1 |
5 | Chris Sale | pi sp | Braves | 18.1 |
6 | Luis Gil | pi sp | Yankees | 17.4 |
7 | Framber Valdez | pi sp | Astros | 15.4 |
8 | Nestor Cortes | pi sp | Yankees | 14.4 |
9 | Seth Lugo | pi sp | Royals | 14.1 |
10 | Bryce Miller | pi sp | Mariners | 13.7 |
Player of the Day
Hurter struck out eight over 5 2/3 scoreless and hitless innings of middle relief, walking one, in the 1-0 win over the Orioles.
Hurter came on in relief with one out in the second inning after Tigers opener Beau Brieske retired the first four batters he faced. Hurter then retired 17 straight batters, keeping a combined perfect game intact, until giving up a walk to Adley Rutschman of the Orioles to open the eighth inning. Hurter was then replaced after 71 pitches by Brenan Hanifee, who kept the combined no-hitter intact through the eighth inning, retiring all three he faced. But the no-hitter came to an end when Tigers closer Tyler Holton gave up a triple to Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles with two out in the ninth inning, the only hit allowed by the four Tigers pitchers.
Hurter earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 4.0 for the season, 234th among all players, 71st among American League pitchers and fourth among AL middle relievers.
National League Player of the Day
Padres pitcher Dylan Cease struck out 10 over six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, in the 5-0 win over the Giants.
Cease earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 19.1 for the season, rising from fifth to second place in season player rankings behind Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (20.4). He also ranks second among NL pitchers behind Wheeler.
National League Batter of the Day
Hunter Goodman of the Rockies hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the 9-5 win over the Cubs. Goodman went 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in seven runs.
American League Batter of the Day
Julio Rodriguez of the Mariners hit a three-run home run, doubled and went 4-for-5, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 5-4 win over the Rangers.
Debut
Athletics pitcher Michel Otanez made his Box-Toppers debut Friday with his first career Player of the Game honor.
Otanez (1.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K ND in the 2-0 win over the White Sox) made his Major League debut June 10 and was playing in his 31st career game.
Friday’s sidelights sidebar
Top pitching matchup
▪️Dylan Cease, Padres17.4 Box-Toppers points in 2024, 4th
▪️Logan Webb, Giants
10.0 Box-Toppers points in 2024, 22nd
Result—SD 5, SF 0
Cease was Player of the Game with +10.0 B-T game score (6IP 4H 0R 2BB 10K W).
Webb had -7.0 B-T game score in loss (4IP 7H 4R 3ER BB 4K L).
Cease earns 1.7 B-T points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 19.1 for 2024, rising to 2nd.
High scores, no points
Highest Box-Toppers game scores for the day among players who did not earn Player of the Game honors:▪️+11.0—Edward Cabrera, Marlins (6IP H 2R 0ER BB 9K L)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. WSH.
Player of the Game—DJ Herz, Nationals (5IP 4H R BB 5K W) with +3.0 game score.
▪️+4.0—Aaron Judge, Yankees (GS 2-3 R 4BI)
Was not Player of the Game in win vs. BOS.
Player of the Game—Teammate Luke Weaver (2IP H 0R 0BB 5K Sv) with +6.0 game score.
▪️+4.0—Brandon Marsh, Phillies (HR 1-1 R 3BI)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. NYM.
Player of the Game—Jose Quintana, Mets (7IP 3H 0R 0BB 4K W) with +8.0 game score.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores
Out of 434 total players Friday, 127 pitchers-17.0—Samuel Aldegheri, Angels (2IP 6H 4R 5BB 0K L vs. HOU)
-15.0—Landon Knack, Dodgers
-9.0—Victor Vodnik, Rockies
-9.0—Luis Ortiz, Pirates
-9.0—Zack Kelly, Red Sox
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters
Out of 307 total batters Friday-5.0—Jake Cronenworth, Padres 0-5 3K
-5.0—Michael Siani, Cardinals 0-5 2K
-4.0—Charles Leblanc, Angels 0-4 3K
-4.0—Connor Norby, Marlins 0-4 3K
-4.0—Tyler O'Neill, Red Sox 0-4 3K
-4.0—Eugenio Suárez, Diamondbacks 0-4 3K
Box-Toppers uses Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com and other sources to compile this information.
Scoring
Hurter earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day.
Cease earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day.
Goodman and Rodriguez each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day.
All of Friday’s other Player of the Game winners (listed in the chart) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.
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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2024 Box-Toppers points—NL pitchers
— Box-Toppers (@BoxToppers) September 14, 2024
1—Zack Wheeler #Phillies 20.4
2—Dylan Cease #Padres 19.1*
3—Shota Imanaga #Cubs 18.7
4—Chris Sale #Braves 18.1
5—Aaron Nola #Phillies 13.4
6—Sean Manaea #Mets 13.4
7—Michael King #Padres 12.7
*Earns 1.7 pts as Thursday’s NL Player of the Day
Jacob deGrom #Rangers records +3.2 Box-Toppers game score in return from injury Friday vs. SEA (3.2IP 4H 0R 0BB 4K ND).
— Box-Toppers (@BoxToppers) September 14, 2024
TEX loses to SEA, 5-4.
Player of the Game—Julio Rodriguez #Mariners (HR 2B 4-5 2R 3BI) with +4.0 B-T game score.
Friday results—https://t.co/bsqD4llVLM https://t.co/omLMd99mTB pic.twitter.com/Wz20rbG3nY
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).9/13 | BTG | Game | Player | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MLB | +12.2 | DET 1, BAL 0 | Brant Hurter (W, 5‑1) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 5.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | |
NL | +10.0 | SD 5, SF 0 | Dylan Cease (W, 13‑11) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | |
+9.0 | TB 3, CLE 1 | Zack Littell (W, 7‑9) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
BAT | +8.0 | COL 9, CHC 5 | Hunter Goodman C | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | |
+8.0 | NYM 11, PHI 3 | Jose Quintana (W, 9‑9) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
+7.1 | KC 8, PIT 3 | Alec Marsh (W, 8‑8) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 5.1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 11 | ||
+6.0 | NYY 5, BOS 4 | Luke Weaver (S, 2) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | ||
+4.2 | `OAK 2, CHW 0 | Michel Otañez (H, 3) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
BAT | +4.0 | SEA 5, TEX 4 | Julio Rodríguez CF | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | |
+4.0 | CIN 8, MIN 4 | TJ Friedl CF | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ||
+3.0 | ATL 6, LAD 2 | Jorge Soler RF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ||
+3.0 | WSH 4, MIA 1 | DJ Herz (W, 4‑7) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 5.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | ||
+3.0 | HOU 5, LAA 3 | Josh Hader (S, 30) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
+3.0 | `MIL 2, ARI 1 | Joel Payamps (H, 18) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
+2.0 | TOR 4, STL 3 (F/11) | Erik Swanson (W, 2‑2) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box‑Toppers points.
NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box‑Toppers points.
BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box‑Toppers points.
All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box‑Toppers point.
` Pitcher had a no‑decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
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Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s Player of the Game winners
Here are Box-Toppers point totals of each of the Player of the Game winners. Players are ranked by their Box-Toppers point total in 2024 (’24). Also shown is their point total for this season and last (’23-24), the period 2019-2024 (’19-24) and each players’ career point total. Also shown is how their 2024 Box-Toppers point total compares with their 2023 total (+/-).Back to top
Player of the Game | Pos | Team | ’24 | ’23‑24 | ’19‑24 | Career | +/‑ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cease, Dylan 4231 | pi sp | sd nl | 19.1 | 29.1 | 65.9 | 65.9 | +9.1 |
Hader, Josh 3881 | pi cp | hou al | 9.0 | 13.0 | 40.7 | 55.4 | +5.0 |
Quintana, Jose 3040 | pi sp | nym nl | 9.0 | 9.0 | 31.8 | 92.1 | +9.0 |
Littell, Zack 4533 | pi sp | tb al | 6.7 | 8.7 | 12.7 | 12.7 | +4.7 |
Herz, DJ 5032 | pi sp | dc nl | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 | +6.7 |
Marsh, Alec 4961 | pi sp | kc al | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | +6.0 |
Friedl, TJ 4720 | cf | cin nl | 5.0 | 10.0 | 11.0 | 11.0 | 0.0 |
Hurter, Brant 5099 | pi mr sp | det al | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
Rodriguez, Julio 4590 | cf | sea al | 3.5 | 7.5 | 15.0 | 15.0 | -0.5 |
Weaver, Luke 3719 | pi cp mr | nyy al | 3.0 | 3.0 | 15.0 | 28.7 | +3.0 |
Goodman, Hunter 5033 | ca | col nl | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | +3.0 |
Soler, Jorge 3403 | dh rf | atl nl | 2.5 | 8.2 | 24.4 | 32.6 | -3.2 |
Swanson, Erik 4131 | pi mr cp sp | tor al | 2.0 | 5.0 | 7.7 | 7.7 | -1.0 |
Payamps, Joel 4527 | pi cp mr | mil nl | 2.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 0.0 |
Otanez, Michel 5109 | pi mr | oak al | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
About Box-Toppers’ team abbreviations
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A Box-Toppers look at Saturday’s pitching matchups
A Box-Toppers look at the upcoming day’s probable pitching matchups. Teams are paired below with visiting teams on top and home teams on the bottom. Each team’s starting pitcher is shown with their Box-Toppers point total from 2024 (’24), this year and last year (’23-24), over a six-year period (’19-24) and their career point total.Back to top
Game | Starter | ’24 | ’23‑24 | ’19‑24 | Career |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BOS | Bello, Brayan 4727 | 7.7 | 9.7 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
NYY | Cole, Gerrit 3232 | 6.0 | 23.0 | 100.4 | 161.3 |
KC | Wacha, Michael 3276 | 9.4 | 20.4 | 39.9 | 70.6 |
PIT | Keller, Mitch 4230 | 11.7 | 24.7 | 31.7 | 31.7 |
STL | Gibson, Kyle 3312 | 7.4 | 16.1 | 43.2 | 69.6 |
TOR | Berrios, Jose 3791 | 8.7 | 19.1 | 51.2 | 78.0 |
MIA | Bellozo, Valente 5082 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
WSH | Corbin, Patrick 3027 | 4.0 | 11.1 | 38.2 | 96.4 |
NYM | Severino, Luis 3567 | 6.7 | 11.4 | 21.1 | 64.9 |
PHI | Allard, Kolby 4232 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
BAL | Burnes, Corbin 4029 | 8.7 | 20.4 | 61.6 | 64.6 |
DET | Undecided | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
TB | Rasmussen, Drew 4547 | 0.0 | 6.7 | 19.8 | 19.8 |
CLE | Cantillo, Joey 5106 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
CIN | Martinez, Nick 3430 | 6.7 | 14.1 | 19.1 | 25.8 |
MIN | Woods Richardson, Simeon 4974 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
OAK | Ginn, J.T.* | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
CHW | Flexen, Chris 4368 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 15.4 | 15.4 |
LAD | Flaherty, Jack 3971 | 12.0 | 16.0 | 44.2 | 57.3 |
ATL | Sale, Chris 2806 | 18.1 | 26.8 | 39.8 | 171.4 |
CHC | Taillon, Jameson 3658 | 6.0 | 11.4 | 31.1 | 57.5 |
COL | Freeland, Kyle 3763 | 2.0 | 7.7 | 22.7 | 41.1 |
MIL | Myers, Tobias 5026 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 |
ARI | Pfaadt, Brandon 4812 | 9.4 | 13.1 | 13.1 | 13.1 |
SD | Musgrove, Joe 3705 | 7.0 | 14.0 | 57.5 | 67.2 |
SF | Black, Mason* | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
HOU | Verlander, Justin 2112 | 2.0 | 14.4 | 68.9 | 247.0 |
LAA | Anderson, Tyler 3656 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 32.4 | 45.4 |
TEX | Scherzer, Max 2588 | 2.0 | 17.4 | 71.9 | 253.7 |
SEA | Gilbert, Logan 4439 | 11.0 | 24.4 | 45.5 | 45.5 |
* Player has yet to earn any career Box-Toppers points.
What are those numbers after players' names?
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