Mariners' Wade Miley tops players for Saturday, July 30; Marlins' Rea tops NL players

Shawn Plank July 31, 2016

Mariners pitcher Wade Miley is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 30:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	17.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	14.1
6	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	12.4
8	Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	12.4
9	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
10	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Miley struck out nine over seven innings, allowing one run, one hit and one walk, in the 4-1 win over the Cubs.

National League Player of the Day—Marlins pitcher Colin Rea pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, no walks and striking out four, in the 11-0 win over the Cardinals. Rea did not pitch the requisite five innings to earn the win, picking up a no decision. He exited in the fourth with elbow soreness.

American League Batter of the Day—Mike Napoli of the Indians homered, doubled and went 3-for-3, driving in two runs, in the 6-3 win over the Athletics.

National League Batter of the Day—Cameron Rupp of the Phillies went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in one run, in the 9-5 win over the Braves.

Notable—Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ became the 18th player with 10 or more Box-Toppers points on the season after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Happ (7IP 3H R 3BB 11K W in the 9-1 win over the Orioles) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.0 for the season, most of any of the 15 who earned Player of the Game honors Saturday. Happ now ranks 17th among all players and seventh among AL pitchers.

Also notable—Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander now has 130.6 career Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Verlander (CG 5H 2R BB 11K W in the 3-2 win over the Astros) now ranks 30th among all players in career points since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 29th-ranked player Jason Giambi (133.4). Verlander has 6.0 Box-Toppers points on the season, 26th among AL pitchers.

Debut—Diamondbacks pitcher Braden Shipley made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Shipley (6IP 5H 0R BB 4K in the 4-2 win over the Pirates) made his Major League debut July 25 and was playing in his second career game. He is the 3,695th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Miley earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Rea earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Napoli and Rupp each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) 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.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/30
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    SEA 4, CHC 1
    Wade Miley (W,7-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    1
    1
    1
    9
  

    
    10.0
    DET 3, HOU 2
    Justin Verlander (W,11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    5
    2
    2
    1
    11
  

    
    10.0
    TOR 9, BAL 1
    J.A. Happ (W,14-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    3
    11
  

    NL
    6.1
    `MIA 11, STL 0
    Colin Rea
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.1
    1
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    
    5.0
    MIL 5, PIT 3
    Chase Anderson (W,6-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    4
    1
    0
    2
    7
  

    
    4.0
    ARI 4, LAD 2
    Braden Shipley (W,1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    4.0
    TB 6, NYY 3
    Alex Colome (S,24)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    CLE 6, OAK 3
    Mike Napoli, 1B
    3
    1
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    `TEX 2, KC 1
    Martin Perez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    3
    5
  

    
    3.0
    `LAA 5, BOS 2
    Cam Bedrosian (H,7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    2.0
    `CHW 6, MIN 5 (10)
    Miguel Gonzalez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    2
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    2.0
    SD 2, CIN 1 (10)
    Brad Hand (W,3-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    BAT
    1.0
    PHI 9, ATL 5
    Cameron Rupp, C
    5
    2
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    SF 5, WSH 3
    Brandon Belt, 1B
    1
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    COL 7, NYM 2
    Daniel Descalso, PH
    0
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Here are Box-Toppers point totals of each of the Players of the Game. Players are ranked by their Box-Toppers point total for the current season (16). Also shown are each players’ Box-Toppers point total for this season and last (15-16), the period 2011-2016 (11-16) and each players’ career point total. Also shown is how their 2016 Box-Toppers point total compares with their 2015 total (+/-).


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Happ, J.A. 2536	pi sp	tor al	10.0	23.1	38.5	46.5	-3.1
Verlander, Justin 2112	pi sp	det al	6.0	12.4	75.6	130.6	-0.4
Anderson, Chase 3328	pi sp	mil nl	6.0	10.0	15.0	15.0	2.0
Belt, Brandon 2943	1b	sf nl	6.0	7.5	19.5	19.5	4.5
Gonzalez, Miguel 3062	pi sp	chi al	5.7	12.4	34.5	34.5	-1.0
Colome, Alex 3189	pi cp	tb al	5.0	10.0	13.7	13.7	0.0
Rupp, Cameron 3556	ca	phi nl	5.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	4.0
Miley, Wade 3006	pi sp	sea al	4.0	11.0	34.4	34.4	-3.0
Napoli, Mike 2161	1b	cle al	3.5	8.0	35.7	54.7	-1.0
Hand, Brad 2907	pi mr cp sp	sd nl	3.0	4.0	8.0	8.0	2.0
Rea, Colin 3582	pi sp	fla nl	2.7	3.7	3.7	3.7	1.7
Perez, Martin 3213	pi sp	tex al	2.0	3.0	13.0	13.0	1.0
Bedrosian, Cam 3694	pi cp mr	ana al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Descalso, Daniel 2855	ss ph	col nl	1.0	2.0	10.2	10.2	0.0
Shipley, Braden 3695	pi sp	ari nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Twins' Nolasco tops players for Friday, July 29; Scherzer, Lester rise in Box-Toppers top 10 rankings

Shawn Plank July 30, 2016

Twins pitcher Ricky Nolasco is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Friday, two players—Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer and Cubs pitcher Jon Lester—rise in Box-Toppers top 10 season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 29:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	17.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	14.1
6	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	12.4
8	Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	12.4
9	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
10	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Player of the Day—Nolasco allowed one run over eight innings, giving up three hits, one walk and striking out six, in the 2-1, 12-inning win over the White Sox. Nolasco did not earn the win, picking up a no decision, because he exited with the game tied.

National League Player of the Day—Cubs pitcher Jon Lester pitched six scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing four hits and two walks, in the 12-1 win over the Mariners.

Lester earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 12.4 for the season and rising to eighth place in season player rankings, sixth among NL pitchers.

Lester displaces teammate, pitcher Jake Arrieta (10.7 Box-Toppers points), from the season player ranking top 10 list. Arrieta had been in the top 10 this season continuously since April 16 and led all players from April 21 to April 30 and from May 3 to May 6. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has led all players since May 7 (currently with 20.0 Box-Toppers points). Arrieta has not earned Box-Toppers points since June 17. He led all players in Box-Toppers points in 2015 with 29.1.

Lester now also has 133.5 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 28th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Friday, Lester passes Jason Giambi (133.4) on the “all-time” list and now trails 27th-ranked player Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (138.4).

National League Batter of the Day—Tommy Pham of the Cardinals hit a two-run homer and went 2-for-4, scoring three times and driving in three runs, in the 11-6 win over the Marlins.

American League Batter of the Day—Cameron Maybin of the Tigers doubled and went 3-for-5, scoring three times and driving in two runs, in the 14-6 win over the Astros.

Rankings—Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer rises to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Friday.

Scherzer (7IP 5H R 2BB 6K W in the 4-1 win over the Giants) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 17.0 for the season. He rises from third to second in season player rankings, passing Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (16.4) and now trails overall leader Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (20.0 Box-Toppers points) by 3.0 points.

Scherzer also now has 123.0 career Box-Toppers points, ranked 38th among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. Scherzer trails 37th-ranked player Gary Sheffield (124.1).

Scoring—Nolasco earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Lester earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Pham and Maybin each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/29
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    8.0
    `MIN 2, CHW 1 (12)
    Ricky Nolasco
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    NL
    7.0
    CHC 12, SEA 1
    Jon Lester (W,11-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    
    6.2
    MIL 3, PIT 1
    Junior Guerra (W,7-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.2
    4
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    5.2
    TB 5, NYY 1
    Jake Odorizzi (W,5-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    6
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    BAT
    4.0
    STL 11, MIA 6
    Tommy Pham, CF
    4
    3
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    WSH 4, SF 1
    Max Scherzer (W,11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    4.0
    CIN 6, SD 0
    Brandon Finnegan (W,6-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    3
    5
  

    BAT
    3.0
    DET 14, HOU 6
    Cameron Maybin, CF
    5
    3
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    TEX 8, KC 3
    Rougned Odor, 2B
    4
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    LAD 9, ARI 7
    Joc Pederson, CF
    4
    1
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    BOS 6, LAA 2
    Rick Porcello (W,14-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    5
    2
    2
    0
    3
  

    
    2.0
    COL 6, NYM 1
    Carlos Gonzalez, RF
    5
    1
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    TOR 6, BAL 5
    Edwin Encarnacion, DH
    3
    2
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    CLE 5, OAK 3
    Abraham Almonte, PH
    1
    1
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    ATL 2, PHI 1
    Nick Markakis, RF
    3
    0
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	17.0	38.0	102.6	123.0	-4.0
Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	12.4	24.4	70.6	133.5	0.4
Guerra, Junior 3633	pi sp	mil nl	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	8.0
Encarnacion, Edwin 2098	dh	tor al	7.0	17.4	45.6	66.1	-3.4
Porcello, Rick 2573	pi sp	bos al	6.0	10.0	31.7	40.7	2.0
Nolasco, Ricky 2125	pi sp	min al	5.7	7.7	28.4	81.5	3.7
Gonzalez, Carlos 2460	rf	col nl	5.5	17.0	45.7	58.7	-6.0
Markakis, Nick 2116	rf	atl nl	4.0	8.5	19.5	46.1	-0.5
Odor, Rougned 3336	2b	tex al	4.0	7.0	8.5	8.5	1.0
Odorizzi, Jake 3291	pi sp	tb al	3.7	12.4	23.4	23.4	-5.0
Finnegan, Brandon 3535	pi sp	cin nl	3.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	0.0
Maybin, Cameron 2672	cf	det al	3.0	4.0	11.5	15.5	2.0
Pederson, Joc 3621	cf	lad nl	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Pham, Thomas 3596	cf	stl nl	1.5	3.0	3.0	3.0	0.0
Almonte, Abraham 3554	cf ph	cle al	1.0	2.5	2.5	2.5	-0.5

What are those numbers after players' names?

Kershaw still leads Box-Toppers player rankings, but new leaders rise among AL batters, pitchers

Shawn Plank July 29, 2016

Jose Altuve of Astros rises to lead AL batters in Box-Toppers points, Cole Hamels of the Rangers rises to lead AL pitchers. Kershaw maintains overall lead.

Chicago Cubs regain lead in Box-Toppers team rankings after acquiring Aroldis Chapman

Shawn Plank July 29, 2016

Cubs, week's hottest team, thanks to Chapman trade, regain lead after Red Sox hold it for one week. Red Sox, despite down week, still lead AL teams.

Rangers' Cole Hamels tops players for Thursday, July 28, takes lead among AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank July 29, 2016

Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to take the season Box-Toppers points lead among American League pitchers.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 28:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	14.1
6	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	12.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Hamels struck out 12 over eight innings, allowing two runs, six hits and one walk, in the 3-2 win over the Royals.

Hamels earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 14.1 for the season, rising from seventh to fifth in overall season player rankings. He rises to first among AL pitchers, passing previous leader Corey Kluber of the Indians (12.5).

Hamels also takes the lead among AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points since the start of 2015. He has 29.5 Box-Toppers points in the span, the same totals as Chris Sale of the White Sox and David Price of the Red Sox, but Hamels holds the tiebreaker and ranks higher because he has more points in 2016.

Hamels also now has 140.3 career Box-Toppers points and rises to 25th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Thursday, Hamels passes two players on the “all-time” list—Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (138.4) and Andy Pettitte (138.5). Hamels now trails 24th-ranked player, Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (141.8). Hamels also now ranks 10th in career Box-Toppers points among active players.

National League Player of the Day—Cubs closing pitcher Aroldis Chapman pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits or walks and striking out two, in the 3-1 win over the White Sox. It is his first Player of the Game honor he has earned since being traded from the Yankees earlier this week.

Chapman earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 6.4 for the season, rising to first among all closing pitchers, passing previous leader David Robertson of the White Sox (5.0).

National League Batter of the Day—Aaron Altherr of the Phillies hit a two-run homer and went 2-for-5, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 5-4 win over the Marlins.

American League Batter of the Day—Max Kepler of the Twins homered, tripled and went 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 6-2 win over the Orioles.

Debut—Angels closing pitcher Cam Bedrosian made his Box-Toppers debut Thursday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Bedrosian (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K in the 2-1 win over the Red Sox) made his Major League debut June 3, 2014, and was playing in his 93rd career game. He is the 3,694th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Hamels earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Chapman earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Altherr and Kepler each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/28
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    TEX 3, KC 2
    Cole Hamels (W,12-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    2
    2
    1
    12
  

    NL
    3.1
    CHC 3, CHW 1
    Aroldis Chapman (S,21)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    3.0
    PHI 7, ATL 5
    Aaron Altherr, RF
    4
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    MIN 6, BAL 2
    Max Kepler, RF
    3
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    LAA 2, BOS 1
    Cam Bedrosian (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    STL 5, MIA 4
    Aledmys Diaz, SS
    5
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    MIL 6, ARI 4
    Hernan Perez, SS
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    COL 2, NYM 1
    Carlos Estevez (S,11)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.1
    WSH 4, SF 2
    Shawn Kelley (S,5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	14.1	29.5	81.1	140.3	-1.3
Chapman, Aroldis 2826	pi cp	chi nl	6.4	14.4	44.4	45.4	-1.6
Diaz, Aledmys 3612	ss	stl nl	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5	5.5
Estevez, Carlos 3641	pi cp	col nl	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Kepler, Max 3664	rf	min al	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5
Perez, Hernan 3577	3b ss ph	mil nl	2.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	1.0
Altherr, Aaron 3563	rf	phi nl	1.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	0.5
Kelley, Shawn 2630	pi cp mr	dc nl	1.0	3.0	7.0	10.0	-1.0
Bedrosian, Cam 3694	pi cp	ana al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Pirates' Gerrit Cole tops players for Wednesday, July 27; Nationals' Strasburg rises to 6th in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 28, 2016

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 27:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	12.4
7	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Wednesday, Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg rises to sixth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Cole pitched a complete game, allowing one run, three hits, no walks and striking out six, in the 10-1 win over the Mariners.

American League Player of the Day—Astros pitcher Lance McCullers struck out 10 over six innings, allowing one run, five hits and two walks, in the 4-1 win over the Yankees.

National League Batter of the Day—Freddie Freeman of the Braves homered and went 4-for-4, driving in five runs, in the 9-7 win over the Twins.

American League Batter of the Day—Khris Davis of the Athletics hit two home runs, doubled and went 3-for-4, driving in three runs, in the 6-4 win over the Rangers.

Rankings—Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg rises to sixth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday.

Strasburg (7IP 3H 0R 2BB 7K W in the 4-1 win over the Indians) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 12.4 for the season. He ranks fifth among NL pitchers.

Debut—Cardinals closing pitcher Seung Hwan Oh made his Box-Toppers debut Wednesday with his first career Player of the Game honor.

Oh (1IP 0H 0R 0BB K Sv in the 5-4 win over the Mets) made his Major League debut April 3 and was playing in his 52nd career game. He is the 3,693rd player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Cole earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and McCullers earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Freeman and Davis each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/27
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.0
    PIT 10, SEA 1
    Gerrit Cole (W,6-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    6
  

    
    9.0
    WSH 4, CLE 1
    Stephen Strasburg (W,14-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    AL
    7.0
    HOU 4, NYY 1
    Lance McCullers (W,6-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    2
    10
  

    
    6.2
    CIN 2, SF 1
    Dan Straily (W,6-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    3
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    BAT
    6.0
    ATL 9, MIN 7
    Freddie Freeman, 1B
    4
    1
    4
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    CHC 8, CHW 1
    Jason Hammel (W,10-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    2
    7
  

    
    4.0
    ARI 8, MIL 1
    Yasmany Tomas, RF
    5
    2
    2
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    4.0
    OAK 6, TEX 4
    Khris Davis, DH
    4
    2
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    SD 8, TOR 4
    Brett Wallace, 1B
    3
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.2
    TB 3, LAD 1
    Matt Moore (W,7-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    4
    1
    0
    4
    5
  

    
    2.0
    MIA 11, PHI 1
    Don Kelly, 1B
    5
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    DET 4, BOS 3
    Victor Martinez, DH
    4
    0
    4
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    KC 7, LAA 5
    Paulo Orlando, RF
    4
    2
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    COL 3, BAL 1
    Carlos Estevez (S,10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    STL 5, NYM 4
    Seung Hwan Oh (S,6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	12.4	26.4	72.5	80.2	-1.6
Hammel, Jason 2235	pi sp	chi nl	7.0	16.7	40.1	53.2	-2.7
Moore, Matt 2975	pi sp	tb al	6.7	6.7	32.2	32.2	6.7
Cole, Gerrit 3232	pi sp	pit nl	6.5	25.5	35.9	35.9	-12.5
McCullers, Lance 3488	pi sp	hou al	6.1	12.8	12.8	12.8	-0.6
Martinez, Victor 1695	dh 1b	det al	6.0	9.5	29.4	69.6	2.5
Davis, Khris 3242	lf	oak al	5.7	9.7	15.7	15.7	1.7
Tomas, Yasmany 3489	lf rf	ari nl	4.5	8.0	8.0	8.0	1.0
Estevez, Carlos 3641	pi cp	col nl	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Freeman, Freddie 2887	1b	atl nl	3.0	6.0	34.2	34.2	0.0
Orlando, Paulo 3526	rf	kc al	2.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	1.0
Straily, Dan 3080	pi sp	cin nl	2.0	2.0	12.7	12.7	2.0
Wallace, Brett 2837	3b 1b	sd nl	2.0	2.0	4.5	4.5	2.0
Kelly, Don 2890	1b	fla nl	1.0	1.0	5.5	5.5	1.0
Oh, Seung Hwan 3693	pi cp	stl nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Mets' Bartolo Colon tops players for Tuesday, July 26; Angels' Skaggs tops AL players

Shawn Plank July 27, 2016

Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 26:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Colon struck out eight over seven innings, allowing one run, three hits and no walks, in the 3-1 win over the Cardinals.

Colon earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 145.8 for his career. He ranks 22nd among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began, and now trails 21st-ranked player Jim Thome (146.7).

Colon has 5.7 Box-Toppers points this season, most of any of the 16 who earned Player of the Game honors Tuesday. He ranks 78th among all players, 31st among NL pitchers.

American League Player of the Day—Angels pitcher Tyler Skaggs pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, one walk and striking out five, in the 13-0 win over the Royals.

American League Batter of the Day—Kyle Seager of the Mariners homered, doubled and went 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 7-4 win over the Pirates.

National League Batter of the Day—Scooter Gennett of the Brewers went 2-for-3, scoring once and driving in three runs, in the 9-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Notable—Matt Cain of the Giants becomes the fifth pitcher this season to earn Player of the Game honors for batting and also has now earned Box-Toppers points for 12 straight seasons.

It is the second time in his career that Cain (3-R HR 1-2 in the 9-7 win over the Reds) has earned Player of the Game honors for batting. He also did it Aug. 23, 2007.

With his first point of the season, Cain has now earned Box-Toppers points in 12 straight seasons. He earned his first points in 2005 with the Giants and has 98.0 career points, 12th among active NL pitchers and third among active Giants, behind Jake Peavy (141.8) and Madison Bumgarner (103.7). His best season was 2010 with the Giants when he had 16.1 Box-Toppers points, seventh among NL pitchers. In 2015, he had 2.0 Box-Toppers points with the Giants.

Scoring—Colon earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Skaggs earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Seager and Gennett each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/26
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.0
    NYM 3, STL 1
    Bartolo Colon (W,9-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    8
  

    
    8.1
    LAD 3, TB 2
    Bud Norris (W,6-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    2
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    AL
    8.0
    LAA 13, KC 0
    Tyler Skaggs (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    7.0
    MIA 5, PHI 0
    Tom Koehler (W,8-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    4.2
    CHW 3, CHC 0
    James Shields (W,5-12)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    4
    0
    0
    4
    5
  

    BAT
    3.0
    SEA 7, PIT 4
    Kyle Seager, 3B
    4
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    MIL 9, ARI 4
    Scooter Gennett, 2B
    3
    1
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    SF 9, CIN 7
    Matt Cain, P
    2
    1
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    ATL 2, MIN 0
    Lucas Harrell (W,2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    3
    4
  

    
    2.0
    OAK 6, TEX 3
    Josh Reddick, RF
    4
    1
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    CLE 7, WSH 6
    Tyler Naquin, PH
    1
    1
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    NYY 6, HOU 3
    Andrew Miller (S,9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    COL 6, BAL 3
    Carlos Estevez (S,9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    DET 9, BOS 8
    Jarrod Saltalamacchia, C
    4
    0
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    TOR 7, SD 6 (12)
    Justin Smoak, 1B
    2
    1
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    STL 3, NYM 2
    Jedd Gyorko, 3B
    4
    1
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Colon, Bartolo	pi sp	nym nl	5.7	12.4	54.3	145.8	-1.0
Norris, Bud 2638	pi sp	lad nl	5.7	6.7	37.1	46.1	4.7
Seager, Kyle 3031	3b	sea al	5.0	10.0	24.0	24.0	0.0
Koehler, Tom 3159	pi sp	fla nl	4.0	8.0	16.0	16.0	0.0
Miller, Andrew 2436	pi cp	nyy al	4.0	8.0	12.0	19.0	0.0
Reddick, Josh 2936	rf	oak al	3.5	11.7	24.4	24.4	-4.7
Harrell, Lucas 2988	pi sp	atl nl	3.0	3.0	7.7	7.7	3.0
Estevez, Carlos 3641	pi cp mr	col nl	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Gyorko, Jedd 3164	3b 2b	stl nl	2.5	6.0	15.2	15.2	-1.0
Shields, James 2157	pi sp	chi al	2.0	9.4	67.6	98.4	-5.4
Smoak, Justin 2731	1b	tor al	2.0	7.0	16.9	21.4	-3.0
Saltalamacchia, Jarod 2355	ca	det al	2.0	2.0	13.0	19.0	2.0
Naquin, Tyler 3662	cf ph	cle al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Skaggs, Tyler 3183	pi sp	ana al	1.7	1.7	11.4	11.4	1.7
Gennett, Scooter 3254	2b	mil nl	1.5	3.5	10.5	10.5	-0.5
Cain, Matt 2081	pi sp	sf nl	1.0	3.0	35.8	98.0	-1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Blue Jays' Sanchez tops players for Monday, July 25; Angels' Pujols regains 6th place, passing Kershaw, on Box-Toppers' ‘all-time' list

Shawn Plank July 26, 2016

Blue Jays pitcher Aaron Sanchez is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 25:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Monday, Albert Pujols regains sixth place in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 (when Box-Toppers tracking began) after earning Player of the Game honors, passing Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who had passed him on the career chart on June 11.

Player of the Day—Sanchez pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing three hits and two walks, in the 4-2 win over the Padres.

National League Player of the Day—Phillies pitcher Jeremy Hellickson pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk, striking out one, in the 4-0 win over the Marlins. Hellickson did not earn the win, picking up a no decision, because he exited with the game tied, 0-0.

Hellickson earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 9.1 for the season, the most of any of the 10 who earned Player of the Game honors Monday. Hellickson ranks 21st among all players and 13th among NL pitchers.

All-time leaders

Here are Box-Toppers top 20 players since record keeping began in 1995:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Randy Johnson	pi sp	retired	278.8
2	Pedro Martinez	pi sp	retired	244.8
3	Curt Schilling	pi sp	retired	194.1
4	Alex Rodriguez	dh	nyy al	187.0
5	CC Sabathia	pi sp	nyy al	182.0
6	Albert Pujols	1b dh	ana al	180.3
7	Clayton Kershaw	pi sp	lad nl	179.3
8	Roy Halladay	pi sp	retired	170.7
9	Manny Ramirez	lf dh	retired	167.2
10	Johan Santana	pi sp	free agent	166.6
11	Roger Clemens	pi sp	retired	164.8
12	Felix Hernandez	pi sp	sea al	164.7
13	John Smoltz	pi sp	retired	160.9
14	Tim Hudson	pi sp	retired	157.0
15	Zack Greinke	pi sp	ari nl	156.1
16	Mike Mussina	pi sp	retired	155.6
17	Barry Bonds	lf	retired	153.2
18	Greg Maddux	pi sp	retired	151.7
19	Chipper Jones	3b	retired	149.0
20	Javier Vazquez	pi sp	retired	148.3

List of top 100 players since 1995 (as of July 15, 2016's All-Star break)

American League Batter of the Day—Adrian Beltre of the Rangers hit two homers, including a walk-off, two-run shot, in the 7-6 win over the Athletics. Beltre went 4-for-5, scoring three times and driving in three.

Beltre earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day, giving him 107.3 for his career, rising to 58th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. Beltre passes Frank Thomas (106.2) on the “all-time” list and now trails 57th-ranked player Lance Berkman (108.1). Beltre has 5.5 Box-Toppers points on the season, 14th among AL batters.

National League Batter of the Day—Jay Bruce of the Reds hit two home runs, going 2-for-4 and driving in four runs, in the 7-5 win over the Giants.

Notable—Albert Pujols of the Angels regains the sixth-place ranking in “all-time” career Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors Monday.

Pujols (3-5 R 4BI in the 6-2 win over the Royals) now has 180.3 career Box-Toppers points, passing Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (179.3). Kershaw had passed Pujols on the “all-time” list on June 11 with 176.3 points. Pujols again trails fifth-place player, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (182.0) in most points since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began.

Pujols has 6.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, 13th among AL batters.

Scoring—Sanchez earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Hellickson earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Beltre and Pujols each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Monday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/25
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    TOR 4, SD 2
    Aaron Sanchez (W,11-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    
    6.0
    NYY 2, HOU 1
    Michael Pineda (W,5-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    BAT
    5.0
    TEX 7, OAK 6
    Adrian Beltre, 3B
    5
    3
    4
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    5.0
    `PHI 4, MIA 0
    Jeremy Hellickson
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    1
  

    BAT
    4.0
    CIN 7, SF 5
    Jay Bruce, RF
    4
    2
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    LAA 6, KC 2
    Albert Pujols, DH
    5
    1
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    MIL 7, ARI 2
    Martin Maldonado, C
    3
    1
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.1
    DET 4, BOS 2
    Francisco Rodriguez (S,28)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.2
    `CHW 5, CHC 4
    Miguel Gonzalez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    7
    2
    2
    2
    8
  

    
    1.2
    `BAL 3, COL 2 (10)
    Yovani Gallardo
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    5
    2
    2
    2
    6
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Hellickson, Jeremy 2778	pi sp	phi nl	9.1	14.1	37.8	40.8	4.1
Sanchez, Aaron 3392	pi sp	tor al	8.7	10.7	12.7	12.7	6.7
Bruce, Jay 2453	rf	cin nl	6.5	9.7	29.7	56.8	3.3
Pujols, Albert 1438	dh 1b	ana al	6.0	13.0	43.0	180.3	-1.0
Beltre, Adrian 1141	3b	tex al	5.5	18.0	43.9	107.3	-7.0
Pineda, Michael 2841	pi sp	nyy al	5.0	15.7	33.1	33.1	-5.7
Gonzalez, Miguel 3062	pi sp	chi al	4.7	11.4	33.5	33.5	-2.0
Gallardo, Yovani 2333	pi sp	bal al	2.0	7.0	58.3	89.7	-3.0
Rodriguez, Francisco 1707	pi cp	det al	2.0	3.0	16.0	62.4	1.0
Maldonado, Martin 3082	ca	mil nl	1.0	2.5	7.5	7.5	-0.5

What are those numbers after players' names?

Blue Jays' J.A. Happ tops players for Sunday, July 24; Astros' Altuve takes Box-Toppers lead among AL batters

Shawn Plank July 25, 2016

Blue Jays pitcher J.A. Happ is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 24:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Sunday, Jose Altuve of the Astros rises to lead American League batters in Box-Toppers points after earning AL Batter of the Day honors.

Player of the Day—Happ pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and four walks, striking out six, in the 2-0 win over the Mariners.

National League Player of the Day—Mets pitcher Steven Matz pitched six scoreless innings, allowing four hits and two walks, striking out six, in the 3-0 win over the Marlins.

Matz earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 10.4 for the season, the most among the 16 who earned Player of the Game honors Sunday. Matz becomes the 17th player this season with 10 or more Box-Toppers points and now ranks 15th among all players, 10th among NL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Jose Altuve of the Astros hit two home runs and went 3-for-5, driving in six runs, in the 13-3 win over the Angels.

Altuve earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day, giving him 10.0 for the season. He becomes the 16th player and first batter this season with 10 or more Box-Toppers points. He also takes the lead in season Box-Toppers points among AL batters, passing Manny Machado of the Orioles (8.7). Altuve ranks 17th among all players.

National League Batter of the Day—Adrian Gonzalez of the Dodgers hit a grand slam and went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 9-6 win over the Cardinals.

Notable—Carlos Beltran of the Yankees rises to 64th place in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 (when Box-Toppers tracking began) after earning Player of the Game honors Sunday.

Beltran (HR 2-4 2R BI in the 5-2 win over the Giants) now has 102.9 career Box-Toppers points and passes three players on the “all-time” list—Ken Griffey Jr. (102.2, who was inducted Sunday into the Baseball Hall of Fame and now ranks 67th), Red Sox pitcher David Price (102.2) and Miguel Tejada (102.3). Beltran now trails 63rd-ranked player, Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (103.7). Beltran now ranks 21st in career Box-Toppers points among all batters since 1995.

Beltran has 4.0 Box-Toppers points on the season, 34th among AL batters.

Scoring—Happ earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Matz earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Altuve and Gonzalez each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Sunday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/24
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    7.0
    TOR 2, SEA 0
    J.A. Happ (W,13-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    4
    6
  

    
    6.2
    `CHW 5, DET 4
    Jose Quintana
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    BAT
    6.0
    HOU 13, LAA 3
    Jose Altuve, 2B
    5
    2
    3
    6
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    6.0
    NYM 3, MIA 0
    Steven Matz (W,8-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    
    5.2
    `OAK 3, TB 2
    Jesse Hahn
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    4
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    BAT
    4.0
    LAD 9, STL 6
    Adrian Gonzalez, 1B
    5
    2
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    ARI 9, CIN 8
    Yasmany Tomas, RF
    4
    3
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    PIT 5, PHI 4
    Matt Joyce, RF
    2
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    BAL 5, CLE 3
    Darren O'Day (W,3-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.1
    CHW 4, DET 3
    David Robertson (W,1-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    BOS 8, MIN 7
    Hanley Ramirez, DH
    4
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    `SD 10, WSH 6
    Carlos Villanueva
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    2
    1
    1
    0
    4
  

    
    2.0
    COL 7, ATL 2
    Nolan Arenado, 3B
    5
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    CHC 6, MIL 5
    Tommy La Stella, 2B
    3
    1
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    NYY 5, SF 2
    Carlos Beltran, DH
    4
    2
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    TEX 2, KC 1
    Delino DeShields, LF
    3
    1
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Matz, Steven 3516	pi sp	nym nl	10.4	13.9	13.9	13.9	6.9
Altuve, Jose 3007	2b	hou al	10.0	17.0	26.5	26.5	3.0
Happ, J.A. 2536	pi sp	tor al	9.0	22.1	37.5	45.5	-4.1
Quintana, Jose 3040	pi sp	chi al	7.7	13.7	32.5	32.5	1.7
Arenado, Nolan 3306	3b	col nl	5.5	14.0	15.5	15.5	-3.0
Robertson, David 2774	pi cp	chi al	5.0	13.0	25.0	26.0	-3.0
Beltran, Carlos 1194	rf dh	nyy al	4.0	7.5	24.9	102.9	0.5
Tomas, Yasmany 3489	lf rf	ari nl	3.5	7.0	7.0	7.0	0.0
Gonzalez, Adrian 2193	1b	lad nl	3.0	7.0	33.7	69.6	-1.0
Ramirez, Hanley 2119	1b dh ss	bos al	4.0	4.0	26.7	54.6	4.0
O’Day, Darren 2577	pi mr cp	bal al	3.0	4.7	12.7	13.7	1.3
Joyce, Matt 2480	rf dh	pit nl	3.0	3.0	19.2	28.7	3.0
DeShields, Delino 3557	cf lf	tex al	2.0	6.5	6.5	6.5	-2.5
Hahn, Jesse 3354	pi sp	oak al	2.0	6.0	12.7	12.7	-2.0
Villanueva, Carlos 2241	pi mr	sd nl	2.0	5.7	16.7	30.4	-1.7
LaStella, Tommy 3367	3b 2b	chi nl	2.0	2.0	4.0	4.0	2.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Nationals' Max Scherzer tops players for Saturday, July 23, ranks 3rd in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank July 24, 2016

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, maintaining his third-place spot in season player rankings.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 23:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Saturday, Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto maintained his fourth-place spot in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Scherzer struck out 10 over seven innings, allowing two runs, four hits and no walks, in the 3-2 win over the Padres. Scherzer did not earn the win, picking up a no decision, because he exited with the game tied.

Scherzer earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 16.0 for the season, maintaining his spot in third place in season player rankings. He also ranks third among National League pitchers, behind Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers (20.0) and Jose Fernandez of the Marlins (16.4).

Scherzer also now has 122.0 Box-Toppers points for his career, 38th-most since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 37th-ranked player Gary Sheffield (124.1).

American League Player of the Day—Orioles pitcher Kevin Gausman pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out seven, in the 5-2 win over the Indians. Gausman also allowed four hits and walked three.

National League Batter of the Day—Trevor Story of the Rockies hit two home runs and went 4-for-4, scoring three times and driving in five, in the 8-4 win over the Braves.

American League Batter of the Day—Nelson Cruz of the Mariners hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the 14-5 win over the Blue Jays. Cruz went 2-for-5, driving in seven total runs.

Rankings—Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto maintained his fourth-place spot in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Cueto (6IP 6H R BB 9K ND in the 2-1, 12-inning win over the Yankees) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 14.4 for the season. Cueto also ranks fourth among NL pitchers.

Debut—Andrew Toles of the Dodgers made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Toles (2B 3-4 2R in the 7-2 win over the Cardinals) made his Major League debut July 8 and was playing in his 10th career game. He is the 3,692nd player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Scherzer earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Gausman earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Story and Cruz each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/23
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    `WSH 3, SD 2
    Max Scherzer
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    2
    2
    0
    10
  

    BAT
    8.0
    COL 8, ATL 4
    Trevor Story, SS
    4
    3
    4
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    AL
    7.0
    BAL 5, CLE 2
    Kevin Gausman (W,2-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    3
    7
  

    
    7.0
    `SF 2, NYY 1 (12)
    Johnny Cueto
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    6
    1
    0
    1
    9
  

    BAT
    6.0
    SEA 14, TOR 5
    Nelson Cruz, DH
    5
    2
    2
    7
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    MIL 6, CHC 1
    Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF
    3
    2
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    HOU 7, LAA 2
    Evan Gattis, C
    3
    2
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.2
    CIN 6, ARI 1
    Michael Lorenzen (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    4.0
    MIN 11, BOS 9
    Eddie Rosario, LF
    4
    3
    4
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    TEX 7, KC 4
    Nomar Mazara, RF
    4
    2
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    MIA 7, NYM 2
    Giancarlo Stanton, RF
    5
    1
    4
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    PIT 7, PHI 4
    Mark Melancon (S,29)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    1.0
    LAD 7, STL 2
    Andrew Toles, RF
    4
    2
    3
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    OAK 4, TB 3
    Jake Smolinski, RF
    4
    1
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0	37.0	101.6	122.0	-5.0
Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4	27.2	78.4	97.8	1.6
Story, Trevor 3607	ss	col nl	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5
Stanton, Giancarlo 2737	rf	fla nl	5.5	11.0	32.7	38.2	0.0
Cruz, Nelson Ramon 2224	dh	sea al	4.5	6.5	32.2	51.7	2.5
Gausman, Kevin 3191	pi sp	bal al	4.4	10.1	17.8	17.8	-1.3
Mazara, Nomar 3614	rf	tex al	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5
Melancon, Mark 2792	pi cp	pit nl	2.0	9.0	22.0	23.0	-5.0
Gattis, Evan 3179	ca dh	hou al	2.0	6.0	8.0	8.0	-2.0
Rosario, Eddie 3542	lf	min al	2.0	3.5	3.5	3.5	0.5
Nieuwenhuis, Kirk 3022	cf	mil nl	1.0	5.0	12.5	12.5	-3.0
Lorenzen, Michael 3479	pi mr	cin nl	1.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	0.0
Smolinski, Jake 3424	rf	oak al	1.0	1.0	3.5	3.5	1.0
Toles, Andrew 3692	rf	lad nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Phillies' Zach Eflin tops players for Friday, July 22; Mariners' Paxton tops AL players

Shawn Plank July 23, 2016

Phillies pitcher Zach Eflin is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Eflin pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout, striking out six and walking none, in the 4-0 win over the Pirates.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 22:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	14.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

American League Player of the Day—Mariners pitcher James Paxton struck out nine over seven innings, allowing one run, three hits and one walk, in the 2-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Paxton had a Box-Toppers game score of +10.0, tied with Athletics pitcher Sean Manaea, who was Player of the Game in the 1-0, 13-inning win over the Blue Jays. But Paxton edged Manaea to earn AL Player of the Day because he earned the win in his game, while Manaea picked up a no decision (8IP 5H 0R 7K ND).

National League Batter of the Day—Dexter Fowler of the Cubs homered, doubled and went 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 5-2 win over the Brewers.

American League Batter of the Day—Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers hit two doubles and went 4-for-4, scoring once and driving in two runs, in the 7-5 win over the White Sox.

Cabrera earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day, giving him 138.4 for his career, regaining the 26th place spot among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He passes Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels (138.3) on the “all-time” list. Hamels had passed Cabrera on July 17 when he earned Player of the Day. Cabrera now trails 25th-ranked player Andy Pettitte (138.5). Cabrera again ranks 10th among active players in career Box-Toppers points.

Cabrera has 5.5 points on the season, more than the 4.7 points he earned in 2015, which was his lowest total since his 2003 rookie season. Cabrera’s 5.5 points ranks 15th among AL batters this season.

Notable—Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has the most season Box-Toppers points among the 15 who earned Player of the Game honors Friday.

Tanaka (6IP 4H 0R 2BB 4K ND in the 3-2 win over the Giants) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 8.7 for the season, 20th among all players and eighth among AL pitchers.

Scoring—Eflin earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Paxton earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Fowler and Cabrera each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/22
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    PHI 4, PIT 0
    Zach Eflin (W,3-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    AL
    10.0
    SEA 2, TOR 1
    James Paxton (W,3-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    9
  

    
    10.0
    `OAK 1, TB 0 (13)
    Sean Manaea
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    9.0
    MIN 2, BOS 1
    Kyle Gibson (W,3-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    
    8.0
    HOU 2, LAA 1
    Lance McCullers (W,5-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    1
    1
    4
    10
  

    
    6.0
    COL 4, ATL 3
    Jon Gray (W,6-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    1
    8
  

    
    4.2
    `STL 4, LAD 3 (16)
    Tyler Lyons
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.2
    1
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    BAT
    4.0
    CHC 5, MIL 2
    Dexter Fowler, CF
    4
    2
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    SD 5, WSH 3
    Matt Kemp, RF
    4
    2
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    `NYY 3, SF 2
    Masahiro Tanaka
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    
    4.0
    BAL 5, CLE 1
    Dylan Bundy (W,3-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    5
    1
    0
    0
    5
  

    BAT
    3.0
    DET 7, CHW 5
    Miguel Cabrera, 1B
    4
    1
    4
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    CIN 6, ARI 2
    Joey Votto, 1B
    3
    2
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    NYM 5, MIA 3
    James Loney, PH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.2
    KC 3, TEX 1
    Danny Duffy (W,6-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    4
    1
    1
    2
    4
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Tanaka, Masahiro 3305	pi sp	nyy al	8.7	16.7	29.4	29.4	0.7
Duffy, Danny 2915	pi sp	kc al	6.7	10.7	25.7	25.7	2.7
Votto, Joey 2366	1b	cin nl	5.5	10.5	27.2	59.2	0.5
Cabrera, Miguel 1776	1b	det al	5.5	10.2	58.8	138.4	0.8
McCullers, Lance 3488	pi sp	hou al	4.4	11.1	11.1	11.1	-2.3
Kemp, Matt 2151	rf	sd nl	4.0	9.5	34.0	55.6	-1.5
Eflin, Zach 3679	pi sp	phi nl	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Manaea, Sean 3637	pi sp	oak al	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Gibson, Kyle 3312	pi sp	min al	3.0	11.0	17.0	17.0	-5.0
Gray, Jon 3634	pi sp	col nl	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Loney, James 2206	1b ph	nym nl	2.0	2.0	13.0	34.4	2.0
Bundy, Dylan 3655	pi mr sp	bal al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Paxton, James 3280	pi sp	sea al	1.7	2.7	8.4	8.4	0.7
Fowler, Dexter 2698	cf	chi nl	1.5	4.0	17.0	18.0	-1.0
Lyons, Tyler 3178	pi mr sp	stl nl	1.0	4.0	6.0	6.0	-2.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

A look at Box-Toppers All-Stars: Top players by position & league for July 21

Shawn Plank July 22, 2016

11 AL players and seven NL players are leaders in Box-Toppers points for their position for both 2016 and 2015-16.

Despite not earning a Box-Toppers points in a month, Clayton Kershaw still leads player rankings

Shawn Plank July 22, 2016

Kershaw, on disabled list since late June with return date uncertain, has not earned Box-Toppers points since June 20, but still holds lead in player rankings.

Boston Red Sox rise to top Box-Toppers team rankings, ending Chicago Cubs' 3-month lead

Shawn Plank July 22, 2016

Red Sox rise largely on the strength of acquiring Drew Pomeranz from the Padres. Cubs fall after three-month reign atop team rankings, but still lead NL teams.

Pirates' Francisco Liriano tops players for Thursday, July 21; Red Sox' Wright tops AL players

Shawn Plank July 22, 2016

Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and becomes the 73rd player since 1995 with 100 or more Box-Toppers points.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 21:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	14.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Liriano struck out 13 over 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, four hits and no walks, in the 5-3 win over the Brewers.

Liriano earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 101.2 for his career, rising to 69th place among all players since 1995, passing four players on the “all-time” list—Larry Walker (100.1), Jeff Bagwell (100.4), Paul Konerko (100.7) and Jason Schmidt (101.2). Liriano now trails 68th-ranked player Tim Wakefield (101.4). Liriano has 6.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, 25th among NL pitchers.

American League Player of the Day—Red Sox pitcher Steven Wright struck out nine over eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned), four hits and one walk, in the 13-2 win over the Twins.

National League Batter of the Day—Justin Turner of the Dodgers hit two home runs and went 2-for-3, driving in five runs, in the 6-3 win over the Nationals.

American League Batter of the Day—Corey Dickerson of the Rays homered and went 2-for-3, driving in three runs, in the 7-3 win over the Athletics.

Notable—Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman had the most season Box-Toppers points among the nine who earned Player of the Game honors Thursday.

Tillman (7IP 4H R 2BB 7K W in the 401 win over the Yankees) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 7.0 for the season, 45th among all players and 16th among AL pitchers.

Scoring—Liriano earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Wright earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Turner and Dickerson each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/21
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.2
    PIT 5, MIL 3
    Francisco Liriano (W,6-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    4
    3
    2
    0
    13
  

    AL
    9.0
    BOS 13, MIN 2
    Steven Wright (W,12-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    2
    1
    1
    9
  

    BAT
    6.0
    LAD 6, WSH 3
    Justin Turner, 3B
    3
    2
    2
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    MIA 9, PHI 3
    Tom Koehler (W,7-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    3
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    6.0
    BAL 4, NYY 1
    Chris Tillman (W,14-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    7
  

    BAT
    3.0
    TB 7, OAK 3
    Corey Dickerson, DH
    3
    1
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    STL 6, SD 5
    Stephen Piscotty, PH-1B-RF
    2
    1
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    COL 7, ATL 3
    Carlos Gonzalez, RF
    3
    1
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.2
    DET 2, CHW 1 (7)
    Shane Greene (S,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Tillman, Chris 2754	pi sp	bal al	7.0	11.7	40.8	42.8	2.3
Wright, Steven 3224	pi sp	bos al	6.7	10.4	11.4	11.4	3.0
Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	6.0	20.9	61.4	101.2	-8.9
Gonzalez, Carlos 2460	rf	col nl	4.5	16.0	44.7	57.7	-7.0
Piscotty, Stephen 3570	rf	stl nl	4.0	8.2	8.2	8.2	-0.2
Dickerson, Corey 3222	lf dh	tb al	3.5	6.5	15.5	15.5	0.5
Koehler, Tom 3159	pi sp	fla nl	3.0	7.0	15.0	15.0	-1.0
Turner, Justin 2865	3b 2b	lad nl	2.5	6.5	12.0	12.0	-1.5
Greene, Shane 3381	pi sp	det al	2.0	5.0	12.0	12.0	-1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Phillies' Jeremy Hellickson tops players for Wednesday, July 20; Indians' Carrasco tops AL players

Shawn Plank July 21, 2016

Phillies pitcher Jeremy Hellickson is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 20:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	14.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Hellickson struck out eight over eight innings, allowing one run, five hits and no walks, in the 4-1 win over the Marlins.

American League Player of the Day—Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit, two walks and striking out six, in the 11-4 win over the Royals.

Carrasco earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 8.4 for the season, most of any of the 16 who earned Player of the Game honors Wednesday. Carrasco ranks 26th in Box-Toppers season player rankings, 10th among AL pitchers.

Both Hellickson and Carrasco had Box-Toppers game scores Wednesday of +9.0, but Hellickson won overall Player of the Day on a tiebreaker because he had more innings pitched—eight vs. six.

American League Batter of the Day—Hanley Ramirez of the Red Sox hit three home runs and went 3-for-4, driving in six runs, in the 11-7 win over the Giants.

National League Batter of the Day—Jedd Gyorko of the Cardinals hit two home runs and went 3-for-4, driving in three runs, in the 3-2 win over the Padres.

Debüts—Two players made their Box-Toppers debut Wednesday, the first time in their career they earned Player of the Game honors:

Mariners pitcher Edwin Diaz (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K ND in the 6-5, 11-inning win over the White Sox) made his Major League debut June 6 and was playing in his 20th career game. He is the 3,690th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Jose Peraza of the Reds (2-4 R 2BI in the 6-3 win over the Braves) made his Major League debut Aug. 10, 2015, and was playing in his 37th career game. He is the 3,691st player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Hellickson earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Carrasco earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Ramirez and Gyorko each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/20
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    PHI 4, MIA 1
    Jeremy Hellickson (W,7-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    1
    1
    0
    8
  

    AL
    9.0
    CLE 11, KC 4
    Carlos Carrasco (W,7-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    BAT
    8.0
    BOS 11, SF 7
    Hanley Ramirez, 1B
    4
    3
    3
    6
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    7.0
    TB 11, COL 3
    Chris Archer (W,5-13)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    2
    2
    2
    11
  

    
    7.0
    NYY 5, BAL 0
    Michael Pineda (W,4-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    2
    8
  

    
    6.0
    HOU 7, OAK 0
    Doug Fister (W,10-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    5
  

    
    5.1
    CHC 6, NYM 2
    Kyle Hendricks (W,9-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    7
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    
    5.0
    WSH 8, LAD 1
    Gio Gonzalez (W,6-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    STL 3, SD 2
    Jedd Gyorko, 3B
    4
    2
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    TOR 10, ARI 4
    Marcus Stroman (W,8-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    8
    1
    1
    0
    6
  

    
    4.0
    `SEA 6, CHW 5 (11)
    Edwin Diaz
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    STL 4, SD 2
    Carlos Martinez (W,9-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    2
    2
    1
    5
  

    
    2.0
    MIL 9, PIT 5
    Jonathan Lucroy, C
    3
    1
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    LAA 7, TEX 4
    Jefry Marte, 1B
    3
    1
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    CIN 6, ATL 3
    Jose Peraza, LF
    4
    1
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    MIN 4, DET 1
    Danny Santana, DH
    0
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Carrasco, Carlos 2885	pi sp	cle al	8.4	26.4	42.5	42.5	-9.6
Hellickson, Jeremy 2778	pi sp	phi nl	7.4	12.4	36.1	39.1	2.4
Hendricks, Kyle 3386	pi sp	chi nl	7.0	16.7	21.7	21.7	-2.7
Martinez, Carlos 3371	pi sp	stl nl	5.7	19.4	20.4	20.4	-8.0
Archer, Chris 3194	pi sp	tb al	5.0	21.0	45.1	45.1	-11.0
Stroman, Marcus 3327	pi sp	tor al	4.7	7.4	21.1	21.1	2.0
Pineda, Michael 2841	pi sp	nyy al	4.0	14.7	32.1	32.1	-6.7
Gonzalez, Gio 2626	pi sp	dc nl	3.0	12.7	69.8	83.5	-6.7
Lucroy, Jonathan 2744	ca	mil nl	3.0	4.7	23.6	24.6	1.3
Ramirez, Hanley 2119	1b ss	bos al	3.0	3.0	25.7	53.6	3.0
Fister, Doug 2688	pi sp	hou al	2.0	4.0	49.5	53.2	0.0
Gyorko, Jedd 3164	3b 2b	stl nl	1.5	5.0	14.2	14.2	-2.0
Marte, Jefry 3529	1b	ana al	1.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	0.0
Santana, Danny 3350	dh cf	min al	1.0	1.0	4.5	4.5	1.0
Diaz, Edwin 3690	pi mr	sea al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
Peraza, Jose 3691	lf	cin nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Rays' Blake Snell tops players for Tuesday, July 19; Mets' Syndergaard rises to 9th in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 20, 2016

Rays pitcher Blake Snell is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, making his Box-Toppers debut.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 18:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	14.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0
10	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Tuesday, Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Snell pitched six scoreless innings, striking out nine and allowing one hit and three walks, in the 10-1 win over the Rockies.

This was Snell’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Snell made his Major League debut April 23 and was playing in his seventh career game. He is the 3,688th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

National League Player of the Day—Dodgers pitcher Scott Kazmir struck out eight over seven innings, allowing one run, four hits and no walks, in the 8-4 win over the Nationals.

Kazmir earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 105.1 for his career, rising to 61st place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Tuesday, he passes two players on the “all-time” list—Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner (103.7) and Jamie Moyer (104.0). Kazmir now trails 60th-ranked player Aramis Ramirez (105.8). Kazmir has 8.7 Box-Toppers points for the season, 12th among NL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Albert Pujols of the Angels hit two three-run home runs, going 3-for-3, in the 8-6 win over the Rangers.

Pujols earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day, giving him 179.3 for his career, the same total as Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who ranks sixth among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. While Pujols and Kershaw are now tied in career points, Kershaw still holds the edge and is ranked ahead of Pujols because he has more Box-Toppers points in 2016—20.0 vs. 5.0. Pujols maintains his rank of seventh place in career points since 1995 (see the updated list of the “all-time” top 20 players on the home page). Pujols’ 5.0 Box-Toppers points for the season puts him at 18th place among AL batters.

National League Batter of the Day—There is no separate NL Batter of the Day for Tuesday because no NL batter earned Player of the Game honors.

Rankings—Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday.

Syndergaard (5.2IP 7H R 2BB 8K ND in the 2-1 win over the Cubs) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.0 for the season. He ranks seventh among NL pitchers.

Debut—Braves closing pitcher Mauricio Cabrera made his Box-Toppers debut Tuesday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Cabrera (1.2IP H 0R 0BB 2K W in the 5-4, 11-inning win over the Reds) made his Major League debut June 27 and was playing in his 10th career game. He is the 3,689th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Snell earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Kazmir earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Pujols earns 1.5 points for being AL Batter of the Day. All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/19
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    TB 10, COL 1
    Blake Snell (W,2-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    3
    9
  

    NL
    9.0
    LAD 8, WSH 4
    Scott Kazmir (W,8-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    0
    8
  

    BAT
    8.0
    LAA 8, TEX 6
    Albert Pujols, DH
    3
    2
    3
    6
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    NYY 7, BAL 1
    Starlin Castro, 2B
    4
    2
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    TOR 5, ARI 1
    Aaron Sanchez (W,10-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    0
    5
  

    
    3.2
    `NYM 2, CHC 1
    Noah Syndergaard
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    7
    1
    0
    2
    8
  

    
    3.2
    `MIA 2, PHI 1 (10)
    Jose Urena
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    4
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    3.1
    BOS 4, SF 0
    Rick Porcello (W,12-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    4
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    3.0
    CLE 7, KC 3
    Francisco Lindor, SS
    4
    3
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.2
    ATL 5, CIN 4 (11)
    Mauricio Cabrera (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.1
    MIN 6, DET 2
    Tommy Milone (W,3-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.1
    4
    2
    2
    2
    4
  

    
    2.0
    CHW 6, SEA 1
    Todd Frazier, 3B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    `PIT 3, MIL 2
    Jameson Taillon
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    0
    3
  

    
    0.0
    OAK 4, HOU 3 (10)
    Ryon Healy, 3B
    4
    0
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0	21.4	21.4	21.4	0.6
Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	lad nl	8.7	21.4	49.3	105.1	-4.0
Sanchez, Aaron 3392	pi sp	tor al	6.7	8.7	10.7	10.7	4.7
Frazier, Todd 2929	3b	chi al	5.2	14.1	28.1	28.1	-3.7
Pujols, Albert 1438	1b dh	ana al	5.0	12.0	42.0	179.3	-2.0
Porcello, Rick 2573	pi sp	bos al	5.0	9.0	30.7	39.7	1.0
Castro, Starlin 2767	ss 2b	nyy al	4.0	8.5	21.5	22.5	-0.5
Lindor, Francisco 3586	ss	cle al	3.5	4.5	4.5	4.5	2.5
Taillon, Jameson 3658	pi sp	pit nl	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Healy, Ryon 3685	3b	oak al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Snell, Blake 3688	pi sp	tb al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Milone, Tommy 2954	pi sp	min al	1.0	7.7	25.1	25.1	-5.7
Urena, Jose 3492	pi sp	fla nl	1.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	0.0
Cabrera, Mauricio 3689	pi cp	atl nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Marlins' Jose Fernandez tops players for Monday, July 18, maintains 2nd place in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 19, 2016

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, maintaining his rank of second place in season player rankings.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 18:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	14.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7
10	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Fernandez struck out 14 over 6 1/3 innings, allowing two runs, four hits and two walks, in the 3-2, 11-inning win over the Phillies. Fernandez picked up a no decision and did not earn the win because the Marlins were trailing when he exited the game.

Fernandez earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 16.4 for the season. He ranks second, 3.6 points (and at least two more stellar starts) behind Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (20.0 Box-Toppers points), who went on the disabled list with a herniated disk in late June. Kershaw’s return date is uncertain.

American League Player of the Day—Tigers pitcher Matt Boyd pitched six scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing three hits and one walk, in the 1-0 win over the Twins.

American League Batter of the Day—Jarrod Dyson of the Royals hit a grand slam and tripled, going 2-for-3, in the 7-3 win over the Indians.

National League Batter of the Day—Joey Votto of the Reds hit a two-run homer and went 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 8-2 win over the Braves.

Notable—Cubs pitcher Jon Lester became the 15th player this season with 10 or more Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors Monday.

Lester (7.2IP 4H R 3BB 3K W in the 5-1 win over the Mets) now has 10.7 Box-Toppers points on the season, 11th among all players and eighth among NL pitchers. This is the eighth season in which Lester has earned 10 or more Box-Toppers points, the fourth consecutive season.

Lester now has 131.8 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his rank of 29th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 28th-place player Jason Giambi (133.4.). Lester ranks 12th among active players in career Box-Toppers points.

Scoring—Fernandez earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Boyd earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Dyson and Votto each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Monday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/18
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.1
    `MIA 3, PHI 2 (11)
    Jose Fernandez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    4
    2
    2
    2
    14
  

    
    9.0
    STL 10, SD 2
    Mike Leake (W,7-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    6
    1
    1
    0
    11
  

    AL
    9.0
    DET 1, MIN 0
    Matt Boyd (W,1-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    
    5.0
    `LAA 9, TEX 5
    Jhoulys Chacin
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    BAT
    4.0
    KC 7, CLE 3
    Jarrod Dyson, CF
    3
    1
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    4.0
    CIN 8, ATL 2
    Joey Votto, 1B
    3
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    SEA 4, CHW 3
    Adam Lind, PH
    1
    1
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    COL 7, TB 4
    Trevor Story, SS
    3
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    OAK 7, HOU 4
    Yonder Alonso, 1B
    4
    1
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.2
    CHC 5, NYM 1
    Jon Lester (W,10-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    4
    1
    1
    3
    3
  

    
    1.0
    NYY 2, BAL 1
    Ivan Nova (W,7-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    1
    1
    3
    4
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4	21.1	47.1	47.1	11.7
Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	10.7	22.7	68.9	131.8	-1.3
Story, Trevor 3607	ss	col nl	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Votto, Joey 2366	1b	cin nl	4.5	9.5	26.2	58.2	-0.5
Leake, Mike 2709	pi sp	stl nl	4.0	14.0	39.1	43.6	-6.0
Nova, Ivan 2796	pi sp	nyy al	3.0	4.0	25.1	26.1	2.0
Chacin, Jhoulys 2711	pi sp mr	ana al	3.0	3.0	17.4	25.1	3.0
Lind, Adam 2238	1b ph	sea al	2.7	9.2	29.2	56.8	-3.8
Boyd, Matt 3550	pi sp	det al	2.7	3.7	3.7	3.7	1.7
Dyson, Jarrod 2813	cf	kc al	1.5	3.5	7.0	8.0	-0.5
Alonso, Yonder 2945	1b	oak al	1.0	2.5	12.0	12.0	-0.5

What are those numbers after players' names?

Cole Hamels of the Rangers rises to 10th place among active players in career Box-Toppers points, passing Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (136.9).

Mets' Jacob deGrom tops players for Sunday, July 17; Rangers' Hamels rises to 6th in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 18, 2016

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 17:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	14.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	14.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
8	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
9	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7
10	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	10.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Sunday, Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels rises to sixth in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—deGrom pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout, striking out seven and walking one, in the 5-0 win over the Phillies.

American League Player of the Day—Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels allowed one run over eight innings, striking out seven and allowing four hits and no walks, in the 4-1 win over the Cubs.

Hamels earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being American League Player of the Day, giving him 12.1 for the season and rising to sixth in player rankings, second among AL pitchers, behind Corey Kluber of the Indians (12.5).

Hamels also rises to 26th place in career Box-Toppers points among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. Hamels now has 138.3 career points, passing Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (136.9) on the “all-time” list. Hamels now trails 25th-place player Andy Pettitte (138.5). Hamels now also ranks 10th among active players in career points.

American League Batter of the Day—Albert Pujols of the Angels hit a pair of two-run homers an went 2-for-3, in the 8-1 win over the White Sox.

Pujols now has 177.8 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his sixth-place rank among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. (See the updated top 20 rankings on the home page.) He trails Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (179.3). He remains in second among all batters since 1995, trailing Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees (187.0). Pujols has 3.5 Box-Toppers points for the season, 35th among AL batters.

National League Batter of the Day—Christian Bethncourt of the Padres homered and went 2-for-4, scoring twice, in the 5-3 win over the Giants.

Streak—Tigers closing pitcher Francisco Rodriguez has now earned Box-Toppers points in 14 straight seasons after earning his first Player of the Game honors of the year Sunday.

Rodriguez (1IP 0H 0R 0BB K W in the 4-2 win over the Royals) earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2003 with the Angels and has 61.4 career points, most among active closing pitchers and 11th among all closing pitchers since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. His best years were 2005 and 2008 with the Angels when he had 10.0 Box-Toppers points each season—he was second among AL closers in 2005 and third in 2008. Rodriguez had 1.0 Box-Toppers point in 2015 with the Brewers.

Debut—Pirates pitcher Chad Kuhl made his Box-Toppers debut Sunday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Kuhl (6IP H 0R 0BB 5K ND in the 2-1, 18-inning win over the Nationals) made his Major League debut June 26 and was playing in his fourth career game. He is the 3,687th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—deGrom earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Hamels earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Pujols and Bethancourt each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Sunday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/17
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    14.0
    NYM 5/PHI 0
    Jacob deGrom (W,6-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    AL
    10.0
    TEX 4/CHC 1
    Cole Hamels (W,10-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    1
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    10.0
    `PIT 2/DC 1
    Chad Kuhl
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    
    8.0
    ARI 6/LAD 5
    Robbie Ray (W,5-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    
    8.0
    HOU 8/SEA 1
    Collin McHugh (W,6-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    4
    10
  

    
    8.0
    `ATL 1/COL 0
    Julio Teheran
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    7.0
    NYY 3/BOS 1
    Masahiro Tanaka (W,7-2) 
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    
    7.0
    `CIN 1/MIL 0
    Dan Straily
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    BAT
    5.0
    LAA 8/CHW 1
    Albert Pujols, DH
    3
    2
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.2
    MIA 6/STL 3
    Kyle Barraclough (W,5-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    TB 5/BAL 2
    Oswaldo Arcia, LF
    1
    1
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    TOR 5/OAK 3
    Jason Grilli (W,4-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    CLE 6/MIN 1
    Josh Tomlin (W,10-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    6
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    
    2.0
    DET 4/KC 2
    Francisco Rodriguez (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    BAT
    1.0
    SD 5/SF 3
    Christian Bethancourt, C
    4
    2
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	12.1	27.5	79.1	138.3	-3.3
Tanaka, Masahiro 3305	pi sp	nyy al	7.7	15.7	28.4	28.4	-0.3
deGrom, Jacob 3343	pi sp	nym nl	6.0	28.4	41.4	41.4	-16.4
Teheran, Julio 3176	pi sp	atl nl	6.0	13.7	41.8	41.8	-1.7
McHugh, Collin 3316	pi sp	hou al	5.0	14.7	26.5	26.5	-4.7
Tomlin, Josh 2771	pi sp	cle al	5.0	9.7	22.4	24.4	0.3
Ray, Robbie 3502	pi sp	ari nl	3.7	7.7	7.7	7.7	-0.3
Pujols, Albert 1438	1b dh	ana al	3.5	10.5	40.5	177.8	-3.5
Bethancourt, Christian 3407	ca ph	sd nl	3.0	4.0	5.0	5.0	2.0
Grilli, Jason 2209	pi mr cp	tor al	1.0	6.0	16.7	25.4	-4.0
Rodriguez, Francisco 1707	pi cp	det al	1.0	2.0	15.0	61.4	0.0
Barraclough, Kyle 3583	pi mr	fla nl	1.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	0.0
Arcia, Oswaldo 3166	lf	tb al	1.0	1.0	8.0	8.0	1.0
Straily, Dan 3080	pi sp	cin nl	1.0	1.0	11.7	11.7	1.0
Kuhl, Chad 3687	pi sp	pit nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Angels' Matt Shoemaker tops players for Saturday, July 16; Cardinals' Wainwright tops NL players

Shawn Plank July 17, 2016

Angels pitcher Matt Shoemaker is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 16:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	14.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	14.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	12.5
6	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	11.4
7	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
8	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7
9	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	10.7
10	Salazar, Danny 3223	pi sp	cle al	10.5

What are those numbers after players' names?

Shoemaker pitched a complete-game shutout, striking out 13 and allowing six hits and no walks, in the 1-0 win over the White Sox.

National League Player of the Day—Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout, allowing two walks and striking out five, in the 5-0 win over the Marlins.

Wainwright earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 109.0 for his career, rising to 54th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Saturday, Wainwright passes three players on the “all-time” list—Lance Berkman (108.1), Kevin Millwood (108.3) and Billy Wagner (108.7). Wainwright now trails 53rd-place player Jeff Kent (109.7). Wainwright has 7.2 Box-Toppers points on the season, 14th among NL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Sandy Leon of the Red Sox hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 5-2 win over the Yankees.

National League Batter of the Day—Ryan Schimpf of the Padres homered, tripled and went 2-for-3, driving in two runs, in the 7-6, 10-inning win over the Giants.

This was Schimpf’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Schimpf made his Major League debut June 14 and was playing in his 23rd career game. He is the 3,686th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Notable—Nationals pitcher Tanner Roark has the most season Box-Toppers points of any of the 15 who earned Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Roark (8IP 5H 0R BB 5K W in the 6-0 win over the Pirates) has 8.7 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranking 21st among all players, 13th among NL pitchers.

Debut—Ryon Healy of the Athletics made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday,the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Healy (three-run HR 2-3 3BI in the 5-4 win over the Blue Jays) made his Major League debut July 15 and was playing in his second career game. He is the 3,685th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Shoemaker earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Wainwright earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Leon and Schimpf each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/16
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    16.0
    LAA 1/CHW 0
    Matt Shoemaker (W,5-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    6
    0
    0
    0
    13
  

    
    12.0
    SEA 1/HOU 0
    Hisashi Iwakuma (W,10-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    8
  

    NL
    9.0
    STL 5/MIA 0
    Adam Wainwright (W,9-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    3
    0
    0
    2
    5
  

    
    7.0
    DC 6/PIT 0
    Tanner Roark (W,9-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    7.0
    CHC 3/TEX 1
    Jason Hammel (W,8-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    
    6.0
    MIL 9/CIN 1
    Jimmy Nelson (W,6-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    BAT
    3.0
    BOS 5/NYY 2
    Sandy Leon, C
    4
    1
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    OAK 5/TOR 4
    Ryon Healy, 3B
    3
    1
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    BAL 2/TB 1
    Zach Britton (S,29)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    2.0
    SD 7/SF 6
    Ryan Schimpf, 2B
    3
    1
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    `MIN 5/CLE 4
    Fernando Abad
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    PHI 4/NYM 2
    Jeanmar Gomez (S,25)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    COL 4/ATL 3
    Carlos Estevez (S,5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    `ARI 2/LAD 1
    Tyler Clippard
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
  

    
    0.0
    KC 8/DET 4
    Eric Hosmer, 1B
    4
    1
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Roark, Tanner 3261	pi sp	dc nl	8.7	9.7	24.7	24.7	7.7
Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	7.2	10.2	58.3	109.0	4.2
Hammel, Jason 2235	pi sp	chi nl	6.0	15.7	39.1	52.2	-3.7
Shoemaker, Matt 3290	pi sp	ana al	6.0	11.7	24.4	24.4	0.3
Hosmer, Eric 2886	1b	kc al	4.0	13.0	26.5	26.5	-5.0
Nelson, Jimmy 3299	pi sp	mil nl	3.0	11.4	13.4	13.4	-5.4
Clippard, Tyler 2291	pi mr	ari nl	3.0	4.0	19.0	30.4	2.0
Gomez, Jeanmar 2759	pi cp	phi nl	3.0	3.0	8.0	10.0	3.0
Leon, Sandy 3676	ca	bos al	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Iwakuma, Hisashi 3048	pi sp	sea al	2.0	15.1	50.2	50.2	-11.1
Britton, Zachary 2835	pi cp	bal al	2.0	10.7	30.1	30.1	-6.7
Abad, Fernando 3653	pi mr	min al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Estevez, Carlos 3641	pi mr cp	col nl	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Schimpf, Ryan 3686	3b	sd nl	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5
Healy, Ryon 3685	3b	oak al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

All-time leaders

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s top players

Box-Toppers

Tracking who most helps their teams win the most games, based on box score stats. A method to measure & compare baseball's top players.