Orioles' Miguel Gonzalez (7IP R 10K) tops players for Tuesday, April 14

Shawn Plank April 15, 2015

Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez is Tuesday’s Player of the Day.

Gonzalez struck out 10 over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 4-3 win over the Yankees.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of April 14.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	oak al	3.7
2	Harvey, Matt 3075	pi sp	nym nl	2.7
3	Stanton, Giancarlo 2737	rf	fla nl	2.5
4	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	2.0
5	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	2.0
6	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	2.0
7	Odorizzi, Jake 3291	pi sp	tb al	2.0
8	Gonzalez, Miguel 3062	pi sp	bal al	2.0
9	Greene, Shane 3381	pi sp	det al	2.0
10	Wilson, C.J. 2074	pi sp	ana al	2.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

National League Player of the Day—Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani pitched seven shutout innings and struck out five in the 3-2 win over the Cubs. DeSclafani was one of four players to make his Box-Toppers debut Tuesday, the first time they earned Player of the Game honors. DeSclafani made his Major League debut May 14, 2014, and was playing in his 15th career game. He is the 3,441st player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

National League Batter of the Day—Giancarlo Stanton of the Marlins drove in four runs, scored twice and went 3-for-3 with a double in the 8-2 win over the Braves. Stanton earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL Batter of the Day, giving him 2.5 for the season and rising to third place in player rankings.

American League Batter of the Day—Robinson Chirinos of the Rangers homered, doubled and drove in five runs in the 8-2 win over the Angels.

Notable—Mets pitcher Matt Harvey rose to second place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors (6IP 3R 8K W in the 6-5 win over the Phillies). Harvey earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 2.7 for the season.

Debuts—Four players made their Box-Toppers debut Tuesday, the first time they earned Player of the Game honors. Besides DeSclafani, who earned NL Player of the Day honors, the other three are:

Alex Guerrero of the Dodgers (two-run pinch-hit HR in 6-5 win over the Mariners) made his Major League debut March 22, 2014, and was playing in his 15th career game. He is the 3,442nd player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Rays pitcher Steve Geltz (1.1IP 0R W in middle relief in the 3-2 win over the Blue Jays) made his Major League debut Aug. 16, 2012, and was playing in his 17th career game. He is the 3,443rd player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Athletics pitcher Kendall Graveman (5.1IP 0R W in the 4-0 win over the Astros) made his Major League debut Sept. 5, 2014, and was playing in his seventh career game. He is the 3,444th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Gonzalez earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and DeSclafani earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Stanton and Chirinos each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers 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.

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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/14
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.0
    Orioles
    Miguel Gonzalez (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    10
  

    
    8.0
    Tigers
    Shane Greene (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    NL
    8.0
    Reds
    Anthony DeSclafani (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    5
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Marlins
    Giancarlo Stanton   RF
    3
    2
    3
    4
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    White Sox
    Jose Quintana (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    0
    2
    6
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Rangers
    Robinson Chirinos   C
    4
    2
    2
    5
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Padres
    Odrisamer Despaigne (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    1
    1
    2
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Rockies
    Adam Ottavino (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.1
    Red Sox
    Edward Mujica (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Dodgers
    Alex Guerrero   PH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Mets
    Matt Harvey (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    3
    3
    0
    8
  

    
    1.1
    Rays
    Steve Geltz (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
  

    
    0.1
    Athletics
    Kendall Graveman (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    4
    0
    0
    4
    3
  

Pirates' Cole tops players for Monday, April 13; Athletics' Kazmir takes Box-Toppers points lead

Shawn Plank April 14, 2015

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole is Monday’s Player of the Day, while Athletics pitcher Scott Kazmir took the season lead in Box-Toppers points.

Cole struck out eight over six innings, allowing one run and three hits, in the 5-4 win over the Tigers to earn Player of the Day honors.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of April 13.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	oak al	3.7
2	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	2.0
3	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	2.0
4	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	2.0
5	Odorizzi, Jake 3291	pi sp	tb al	2.0
6	Wilson, C.J. 2074	pi sp	ana al	2.0
7	Cole, Gerrit 3232	pi sp	pit nl	2.0
8	Bauer, Trevor 3065	pi sp	cle al	2.0
9	Street, Huston 1979	pi cp	ana al	2.0
10	Pomeranz, Drew 3061	pi sp	oak al	2.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

American League Player of the Day—Kazmir earned 1.7 Box-Toppers points as AL Player of the Day, giving him 3.7 for the season, the most of any player this season. Kazmir struck out eight over six innings, allowing one run and three hits, in the 8-1 win over the Astros. Kazmir was one of three players Monday who were the first this season to earn Player of the Game honors for the second time. The others were Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi (8IP R 3K W in the 2-1 win over the Blue Jays) and Huston Street (1IP 0R 2K Sv in the 6-3 win over the Rangers). Both Odorizzi and Street have 2.0 Box-Toppers points for the season.

National League Batter of the Day—Jorge Soler of the Cubs hit two two-run homers and went 3-for-5 with three runs in the 7-6 win over the Reds.

American League Batter of the Day—Stephen Drew of the Yankees hit a pinch-hit, go-ahead grand slam in the 6-5 win over the Orioles.

Streak—Nick Markakis of the Braves has now earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point for 10 straight seasons. Markakis (1-2 BI) was Player of the Game in the 3-2 win over the Marlins to earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point. He began his 10-season streak in 2006, when he earned his first Box-Toppers point with the Orioles. His best year was 2009 with the Orioles when he earned 7.7 Box-Toppers points, ranking fifth among AL outfielders. In 2014, he had 3.0 points with the Orioles. Markakis has 38.6 career Box-Toppers points, which ranks him 14th among active outfielders currently in the NL.

Debut—Dodgers pitcher Yimi Garcia made his Box-Toppers debut Monday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Garcia (1IP 0R 2K W in the 6-5 win over the Mariners) made his Major League debut Sept. 1, 2014, and was playing in his 12th career game. He is the 3,440th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995. He is the only player in the Box-Toppers database named "Yimi."

Scoring—Cole earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Kazmir earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day. Soler and Drew each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/13
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    7.0
    Pirates
    Gerrit Cole (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    AL
    6.0
    Athletics
    Scott Kazmir (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    3
    8
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Cubs
    Jorge Soler   RF
    5
    3
    3
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Yankees
    Stephen Drew   PH, 2B
    1
    1
    1
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Dbacks
    Ender Inciarte   CF, RF
    5
    2
    3
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Red Sox
    Mookie Betts   CF
    4
    2
    2
    4
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Rays
    Jake Odorizzi (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    1
    1
    3
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Angels
    Huston Street (S, 3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Rockies
    Rafael Betancourt (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Dodgers
    Yimi Garcia (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Royals
    Eric Hosmer   1B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.1
    Mets
    Jacob deGrom (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    7
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    1.0
    Brewers
    Carlos Gomez   CF
    4
    2
    2
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    Braves
    Nick Markakis   RF
    2
    0
    1
    1
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

Dodgers' Zack Greinke (7IP 0R 7K) tops players for Sunday, April 12

Shawn Plank April 13, 2015

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke is Sunday’s Player of the Day.

Greinke pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out seven in the 7-4 win over the Diamondbacks.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of April 12.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	2.0
2	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	2.0
3	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	2.0
4	Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	oak al	2.0
5	Wilson, C.J. 2074	pi sp	ana al	2.0
6	Bauer, Trevor 3065	pi sp	cle al	2.0
7	Pomeranz, Drew 3061	pi sp	oak al	2.0
8	Jimenez, Ubaldo 2349	pi sp	bal al	2.0
9	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	cin nl	1.7
10	Cabrera, Miguel 1776	1b	det al	1.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Greinke earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 127.7 for his career, moving to 29th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers record keeping began. He passes Mariano Rivera (126.4) and Roy Oswalt (127.2) on the “all-time” list.

American League Player of the Day—Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers hit two home runs and a double and went 4-for-4 with three runs and four RBIs in the 8-5 win over the Indians.

Cabrera earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 129.9 for his career, moving to 26th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers record keeping began. He passes Vladimir Guerrero (128.3) and Trevor Hoffman (129.4) on the “all-time” list.

Cabrera has now also scored at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point for 13 straight seasons. He scored his first points in 2003 with the Marlins. His best season was 2013 with the Tigers, when he led all AL batters with 16.9. He had 12.5 Box-Toppers points in 2014, second among AL batters.

National League Batter of the Day—Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-5, scoring twice and driving in four, in the 10-2 win over the Brewers.

A-Rod—Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees earned Player of the Game honors for the first time since his season long suspension and his first since Sept. 20, 2013. Rodriguez hit a three-run double and drove in four total runs in the 14-4 win over the Red Sox. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 180.3 for his career. He leads all batters in Box-Toppers points since 1995, when record keeping began—second place is Albert Pujols (167.3).

Debut—Cubs pitcher Neil Ramirez made his Box-Toppers debut Sunday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. This was Ramirez’ 54th career game—he made his Major League debut April 25, 2014. Ramirez (0.2IP 0R 2K W in the 6-5 win over the Rockies) is the 3,439th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Greinke earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Cabrera earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day. McCutchen earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/12
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    Dodgers
    Zack Greinke (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    AL
    7.0
    Tigers
    Miguel Cabrera   1B
    4
    3
    4
    4
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    Rays
    Nathan Karns (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    2
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    6.0
    White Sox
    Chris Sale (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    8
  

    
    5.0
    Astros
    Will Harris (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Yankees
    Alex Rodriguez   DH
    2
    1
    1
    4
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    `Cardinals
    Carlos Martinez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    2
    2
    2
    8
  

    
    4.0
    `Nationals
    Max Scherzer
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    6
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Pirates
    Andrew McCutchen   CF
    5
    2
    2
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Mariners
    Rickie Weeks   PH, DH
    2
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    `Mets
    Jerry Blevins (H, 2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    Royals
    Yordano Ventura (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    4
    2
    2
    2
    7
  

    
    2.2
    Blue Jays
    Aaron Loup (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.2
    Cubs
    Neil Ramirez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Padres
    Wil Nieves   C
    4
    1
    1
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Orioles' Ubaldo Jimenez (7IP 0R H 8K) tops players for Saturday, April 11

Shawn Plank April 12, 2015

Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is Saturday’s Player of the Day.

Jimenez pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out eight, in the 7-1 win over the Blue Jays.

National League Player of the Day—Brewers pitcher Jimmy Nelson pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out nine, in the 6-0 win over the Pirates.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of April 11.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	2.0
2	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	2.0
3	Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	oak al	2.0
4	Wilson, C.J. 2074	pi sp	ana al	2.0
5	Bauer, Trevor 3065	pi sp	cle al	2.0
6	Pomeranz, Drew 3061	pi sp	oak al	2.0
7	Jimenez, Ubaldo 2349	pi sp	bal al	2.0
8	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	cin nl	1.7
9	Harang, Aaron 1599	pi sp	phi nl	1.7
10	Peralta, David 3370	lf	ari nl	1.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

American League Batter of the Day—Ian Kinsler of the Tigers went 4-for-5, scored three times and drove in two runs, in the 9-6 win over the Indians.

National League Batter of the Day—Dexter Fowler of the Cubs hit two triples, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 9-5 win over the Rockies.

Debut—Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. It was also his Major League debut. Bradley (6IP H 0R 6K in the 6-0 win over the Dodgers) is the 3,438th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Kershaw—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, last year’s overall leader in Box-Toppers points with 31.5, has yet to earn his first Box-Toppers points of the season after two starts. Only once last season did Kershaw have two straight starts when he failed to win Player of the Game honors and earn Box-Toppers points (May 11 and May 17). Saturday he gave up 10 hits and six runs (five earned) over 6 1/3 innings, striking out five, and picking up the loss in the 6-0 loss to the Diamondbacks.

Scoring—Jimenez earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Nelson earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Kinsler and Fowler each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    411
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    13.0
    Orioles
    Ubaldo Jimenez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    8
  

    NL
    12.0
    Brewers
    Jimmy Nelson (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    9
  

    
    10.0
    Rays
    Chris Archer (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    8.0
    Padres
    James Shields (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    
    7.0
    Dbacks
    Archie Bradley (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    4
    6
  

    
    6.0
    `Phillies
    Cole Hamels
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Tigers
    Ian Kinsler   2B
    5
    3
    4
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    White Sox
    David Robertson (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.2
    Cardinals
    Trevor Rosenthal (S, 2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Cubs
    Dexter Fowler   CF
    3
    2
    2
    2
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Mariners
    Nelson Cruz   RF
    5
    1
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Royals
    Greg Holland (S, 3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Yankees
    Chris Young   CF
    4
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Braves
    Julio Teheran (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    3
    1
    4
    5
  

    
    0.0
    Rangers
    Rougned Odor   2B
    3
    1
    1
    1
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Athletics' Drew Pomeranz (7IP 0R 6K) tops players for Friday, April 10

Shawn Plank April 11, 2015

Athletics pitcher Drew Pomeranz is Friday’s Player of the Day.

Pomeranz pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six, in the 12-0 win over the Mariners.

National League Player of the Day—Padres pitcher Brandon Morrow pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out seven in the 1-0 win over the Giants. Morrow did not earn the win in the game because he exited with the score tied 0-0—the Padres scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of April 10.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	2.0
2	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	2.0
3	Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	oak al	2.0
4	Wilson, C.J. 2074	pi sp	ana al	2.0
5	Bauer, Trevor 3065	pi sp	cle al	2.0
6	Pomeranz, Drew 3061	pi sp	oak al	2.0
7	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	cin nl	1.7
8	Harang, Aaron 1599	pi sp	phi nl	1.7
9	Peralta, David 3370	lf	ari nl	1.7
10	Morrow, Brandon 2264	pi sp	sd nl	1.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

American League Batter of the Day—Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays went 3-for-3 with a double, drove in two and scored four times in the 12-5 win over the Orioles. Bautista has now scored at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point for 10 straight seasons. He scored his first Box-Toppers point in 2006 with the Pirates. His best year was 2010 with the Blue Jays when he had 15.2 Box-Toppers points, the most among AL batters. He had 6.5 points in 2014, ranked eighth among AL outfielders. For his career, he has 53.4 Box-Toppers points, which ranks third among active AL outfielders (behind Torii Hunter—107.9 and Carlos Beltran—95.4). He ranks 120th among all batters since 1995, when Box-Toppers record keeping began.

National League Batter of the Day—Joey Votto of the Reds hit two home runs and drove in four runs in the 5-4 win over the Cardinals.

Scoring—Pomeranz earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Morrow earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Bautista and Votto each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    410
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Athletics
    Drew Pomeranz (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    
    10.2
    Twins
    Tommy Milone (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    2
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    NL
    7.0
    `Padres
    Brandon Morrow
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    3
    7
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Blue Jays
    Jose Bautista   RF
    3
    4
    3
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Reds
    Joey Votto   1B
    3
    2
    2
    4
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    `Phillies
    Jerome Williams
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    
    4.0
    `Dbacks
    Andrew Chafin
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    3.0
    Marlins
    Giancarlo Stanton   RF
    3
    1
    2
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Astros
    Colby Rasmus   LF
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Braves
    Jim Johnson (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Royals
    Wade Davis (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    2.0
    Tigers
    Nick Castellanos   3B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Pirates
    Pedro Alvarez   1B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.1
    `Red Sox
    Wade Miley
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    4
    2
    2
    2
    6
  

    
    1.0
    Rockies
    DJ LeMahieu   2B
    4
    1
    3
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Indians' Trevor Bauer, with 6 no-hit innings, tops players for Thursday, April 9

Shawn Plank April 10, 2015

Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer is Thursday’s Player of the Day.

Bauer pitched six no-hit, shutout innings and struck out 11 in the 5-1 win over the Astros. The Indians bid for a combined no-hitter among four pitchers ended in the ninth inning when reliever Nick Hagadone gave up the only hit to the Astros, a home run by Jed Lowrie.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of April 9. As it is less than one week into the season, the sample size is pretty small and no player has earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors more than once. Five players are tied with 2.0 Box-Toppers points, each of them have been Player of the Day for each of the first five days of the season. Felix Hernandez is ranked first by virtue of having more Box-Toppers in 2014 than the other four—he had 20.8 in 2014, Adam Wainwright, ranked second, had 18.7.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	2.0
2	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	2.0
3	Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	oak al	2.0
4	Wilson, C.J. 2074	pi sp	ana al	2.0
5	Bauer, Trevor 3065	pi sp	cle al	2.0
6	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	cin nl	1.7
7	Harang, Aaron 1599	pi sp	phi nl	1.7
8	Peralta, David 3370	lf	ari nl	1.7
9	Harvey, Matt 3075	pi sp	nym nl	1.7
10	Encarnacion, Edwin 2098	dh 1b	tor al	1.5

What are those numbers after players' names?

National League Player of the Day—Mets pitcher Matt Harvey, in his first start since August 2013, pitched six scoreless innings and struck out nine in the 6-3 win over the Nationals. Harvey had 15.0 Box-Toppers points in 2013 before undergoing Tommy John surgery and ended that season ranked 10th among NL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays homered and went 2-for-4 in the 6-3 win over the Yankees.

National League Batter of the Day—There was no NL Batter of the Day Thursday because no NL batters earned Player of the Game honors.

Scoring—Bauer earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Harvey earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Encarnacion earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    409
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    Indians
    Trevor Bauer (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    0
    0
    0
    5
    11
  

    NL
    10.0
    Mets
    Matt Harvey (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    9
  

    
    7.0
    Tigers
    Shane Greene (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    1
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    6.0
    Royals
    Edinson Volquez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    6.0
    Rangers
    Nick Martinez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    5
  

    
    4.0
    Red Sox
    Justin Masterson (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    2
    2
    2
    7
  

    
    3.0
    Reds
    Aroldis Chapman (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    Giants
    George Kontos (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    1.0
    Blue Jays
    Edwin Encarnacion   DH
    4
    2
    2
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

Athletics' Scott Kazmir (7IP H 0R 10K) tops players for Wednesday, April 8

Shawn Plank April 9, 2015

Athletics pitcher Scott Kazmir is Wednesday’s Player of the Day.

Kazmir pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out 10, in the 10-0 win over the Rangers.

National League Player of the Day—Phillies pitcher Aaron Harang pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out eight, in the 4-2 win over the Red Sox.

National League Batter of the Day—Adrian Gonzalez of the Dodgers hit three home runs and drove in four in the 7-4 win over the Padres.

American League Batter of the Day—Lorenzo Cain of the Royals hit a two-run homer and went 3-for-4 in the 7-5 win over the White Sox.

Debut—Giants pitcher Chris Heston made his Box-Toppers debut Wednesday, marking the first time he earned Player of the Game honors. Heston struck out five over six innings in the 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks. Heston is the 3,437th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Streak—Angels closing pitcher Huston Street has now earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point for 11 straight seasons. Street was Player of the Game in the 5-3 win over the Mariners after allowing no runs and no hits and striking out one in the ninth inning. Street began his 11-year streak in 2005, scoring 4.0 Box-Toppers points that season with the Athletics. His best years were 2006 and 2008, also both with the A’s, when he scored 8.0. The fewest points he earned in a season prior to this year was 1.0 in 2013 with the Padres. He had 5.0 points in 2014 with both the Padres and the Angels. He has 47.0 career Box-Toppers points, ranking 22nd among closing pitchers since 1995.

Kazmir earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Harang earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Gonzalez and Cain each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers 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.

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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    408
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    14.0
    Athletics
    Scott Kazmir (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    0
    0
    2
    10
  

    
    12.1
    Indians
    Carlos Carrasco (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    3
    0
    0
    1
    10
  

    
    11.2
    Rays
    Jake Odorizzi (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    2
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    NL
    11.1
    Phillies
    Aaron Harang (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    2
    0
    0
    1
    8
  

    
    8.0
    Cubs
    Jake Arrieta (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    3
    7
  

    
    7.2
    Tigers
    Anibal Sanchez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    BAT
    7.0
    Dodgers
    Adrian Gonzalez   1B
    4
    3
    4
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Giants
    Chris Heston (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    2
    0
    2
    5
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Royals
    Lorenzo Cain   CF
    4
    2
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Nationals
    Jordan Zimmermann (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    0
    4
  

    
    3.0
    `Braves
    Shelby Miller
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    
    2.0
    Yankees
    Jacoby Ellsbury   CF
    2
    2
    2
    0
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Rockies
    Wilin Rosario   PH
    1
    1
    1
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Reds
    J.J. Hoover (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    Angels
    Huston Street (S, 2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

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

Angels' C.J. Wilson (8IP 0R) tops players for Tuesday, April 7

Shawn Plank April 8, 2015

Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson is Tuesday’s Player of the Day.

Wilson pitched eight shutout innings and allowed two hits in the 2-0 win over the Mariners.

David Peralta of the Diamondbacks is NL Player of the Day. Peralta hit a three-run homer in the 7-6 win over the Giants.

There was no AL Batter of the Day Tuesday because no AL batter earned Player of the Game honors.

Wilson earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Peralta earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    407
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    7.0
    Angels
    C.J. Wilson (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    NL
    4.0
    Dbacks
    David Peralta   LF
    2
    2
    1
    3
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Orioles
    Zach Britton (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Rangers
    Colby Lewis (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    4
  

    
    2.0
    Braves
    Freddie Freeman   1B
    5
    2
    3
    2
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Rangers
    Neftali Feliz (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Padres
    Derek Norris   C
    5
    2
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Rockies
    Nick Hundley   C
    4
    1
    3
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

Mariners' Felix Hernandez (7IP 10K) tops players in Monday, April 6's opening day

Shawn Plank April 7, 2015

Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez is Monday’s Player of the Day on baseball’s opening day of the season.

Hernandez struck out 10 over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 4-1 win over the Angels.

Hernandez had a Box-Toppers game score of +12, tied with Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz, who was Player of the Game in the 8-0 win over the Phillies. However, Hernandez won the tie-breaker to earn Player of the Day because he had more strikeouts than Buchholz (10 vs. nine).

Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto is National League Player of the Day. Cueto struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings in the 5-2 win over the Pirates. Cueto picked up a no-decision and did not earn the win because after he exited the game, the Pirates tied the score.

Cueto also had a Box-Toppers game score of +12, tied with Hernandez, but Hernandez beat Cueto on a tie-breaker to earn Player of the Day because he earned the win in his game, while Cueto earned a no-decision.

Nolan Arenado of the Rockies is NL Batter of the Day. Arenado homered, doubled and went 3-for-4 with four RBIs in the 10-0 win over the Brewers.

Alex Rios of the Royals is American League Batter of the Day. Rios homered, drove in three and went 3-for-4 in the 10-1 win over the White Sox.

Notables: Opening day often features baseball’s top aces, the top-of-the-rotation pitchers who were among Box-Toppers leaders in the previous season. Monday featured starts from last year’s top seven pitchers in Box-Toppers player rankings. However, only three earned Player of the Game honors. Here is how those seven players fared, listed in order of their 2014 Box-Toppers player ranking:

1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers—31.5 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

Monday—6IP 6H 3R 2BB 9K ND, Box-Toppers game score +1 in 6-3 win over Padres. (Jimmy Rollins, Box-Toppers game score +2 was Dodgers Player of the Game.)

2. Corey Kluber, Indians—25.8 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

Monday—7.1IP 3H 2R 2BB 7K L, Box-Toppers game score +5.1 in 2-0 loss to Astros. (Dallas Keuchel of Astros, Box-Toppers game score +5 was Player of the Game.)

3. Madison Bumgarner, Giants—22.6 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

Monday—7IP 6H R BB 3K W, Box-Toppers game score +1 in 5-4 win over Diamondbacks. (Angel Pagan, Box-Toppers game score +2 was Giants Player of the Game.)

4. Johnny Cueto, Reds—22.4 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

Monday—Cueto earned NL Player of the Day honors, see details above.

5. Max Scherzer, Nationals—22.1 Box-Toppers points in 2014 (with Tigers).

Monday—7.2 IP 4H 3R 2BB 8K L, Box-Toppers game score +6.2 in 3-1 loss to Mets. (Bartolo Colon of the Mets, Box-Toppers game score of +8.0 was Player of the Game.)

6. Felix Hernandez, Mariners—20.8 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

Monday—Hernandez earned overall Player of the Day honors, see details above.

7. David Price, Tigers—19.1 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

Monday—8.2 IP 5H 0R 5K W, Box-Toppers game score +8.2 in 4-0 win over Twins. (Price earned Player of the Game honors.)

Also notable: Devon Travis of the Blue Jays (HR 1-2 2R BI in the 6-1 win over the Yankees) made his Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors. Travis is the 3,436th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995. He is the first player to make his debut in the 2015 season.

Hernandez earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Cueto earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Arenado and Rios each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    406
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    Mariners
    Felix Hernandez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    1
    1
    1
    10
  

    
    12.0
    Red Sox
    Clay Buchholz (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    9
  

    NL
    12.0
    `Reds
    Johnny Cueto
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    10
  

    
    9.0
    Athletics
    Sonny Gray (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    8.2
    Tigers
    David Price (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.2
    5
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    
    8.0
    Mets
    Bartolo Colon (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    8
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Rockies
    Nolan Arenado   3B
    4
    3
    3
    4
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Astros
    Dallas Keuchel (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    3
    4
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Royals
    Alex Rios   RF
    4
    1
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Braves
    Jason Grilli (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Giants
    Angel Pagan   CF
    4
    1
    3
    2
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Dodgers
    Jimmy Rollins   SS
    4
    1
    2
    3
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Devon Travis   2B
    2
    2
    1
    1
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.2
    Orioles
    Chris Tillman (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    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.
  

A 2015 opening day introduction to Box-Toppers player tracking metric

Shawn Plank April 6, 2015

What’s the most important thing in baseball? Winning the game, right? But what baseball statistic provides the fan an indication of the player who most contributed to the win? It's not the "win," it's the Box-Toppers point.

Cards' Adam Wainwright (6IP 0R 6K) tops players in Sunday, April 5's opening night

Shawn Plank April 6, 2015

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright is Sunday’s Player of the Day on baseball’s opening night of the season.

Wainwright pitched six scoreless innings and struck out six in the 3-0 win over the Cubs.

Wainwright receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. And by virtue of the fact that this is the only game played so far in the Major League season, Wainwright leads all players in Box-Toppers points with 2.0.

However, Wainwright did lead all players in Box-Toppers points at several points in the 2014 season, as late as June 28, when he had 13.0. Wainwright finished 2014 with 18.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked eighth among all players and fourth among NL pitchers.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    405
    Score
    Team
    BATTERS
    AB
    R
    H
    RBI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  
    MLB
    7.0
    Cardinals
    Adam Wainwright (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    6

Tigers' Alfredo Simon (5IP 0R H) tops players for Saturday, April 4's final spring games

Shawn Plank April 5, 2015

Tigers pitcher Alfredo Simon is Saturday’s Player of the Day on the final day of spring training.

Simon pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one hit, in the 1-0 win over the Rays.

Phillies pitcher David Buchanan is National League Player of the Day. Buchanan pitched five scoreless innings and struck out four in the 6-4 win over the Pirates.

Mark Trumbo of the Diamondbacks is NL Batter of the Day. Trumbo hit a two-run homer and went 2-for-2 with three RBIs in the 4-2 win over the Cubs.

Chris Young of the Yankees is AL Batter of the Day. Young hit a two-run homer in the 4-3 win over the Nationals.

Box-Toppers points aren’t awarded for spring training games, but if this were the regular season, Simon would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Buchanan would earn 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Trumbo and Young would each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Fifteen spring training games were scheduled Saturday. Two games which ended in ties (Mets-Rangers and Angels-Dodgers) and two games that featured non-Major League teams (Marlins-Jacksonville and Padres-Diablos) are not included in Box-Toppers results.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    404
    Score
    Team
    BATTERS
    AB
    R
    H
    RBI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    7.0
    Tigers
    Alfredo Simon (W, 2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    6.0
    `Royals
    Jason Vargas
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    NL
    5.0
    Phillies
    David Buchanan (W, 3-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Dbacks
    Mark Trumbo   DH
    2
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Mariners
    James Gillheeney (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Giants
    Hunter Strickland (S, 2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Yankees
    Chris Young   CF
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Brewers
    Wirfin Obispo (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Josh Donaldson   3B
    3
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Red Sox
    Jemile Weeks   PR, 2B
    1
    1
    1
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Braves
    Alberto Callaspo   3B
    2
    1
    2
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Mets' Jacob deGrom (4IP 0R) tops players for Friday, April 3's spring games

Shawn Plank April 4, 2015

Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is Friday’s spring training Player of the Day.

DeGrom pitched four scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out four in the 5-0 win over the Rangers.

DeGrom had a Box-Toppers game score of +7.0, tied with Reds pitcher Jason Marquis, who was Player of the Game in the 2-0 win over the Blue Jays. But deGrom won the tiebreaker for Player of the Day because he earned the win in his game, while Marquis had a no-decision.

Royals pitcher Edinson Volquez is American League Player of the Day. Volquez pitched four scoreless innings and struck out seven in the 11-1 win over the Astros.

Scooter Gennett of the Brewers is NL Batter of the Day. Gennett doubled, went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs in the 6-3 win over the Indians.

Brandon Guyer of the Rays is AL Batter of the Day. Guyer hit a grand slam in the 11-5 win over the Tigers.

Box-Toppers points aren’t awarded for spring training games, but if this were the regular season, deGrom would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Volquez would earn 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day. Gennett and Guyer would each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Sixteen spring training games were scheduled Friday. Three games which included non-Major League teams (Marlins-Greensboro, White Sox-Charlotte and Cardinals-Memphis) are not included in Box-Toppers results.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    403
    Score
    Team
    BATTERS
    AB
    R
    H
    RBI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    7.0
    Mets
    Jacob deGrom (W, 4-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    
    7.0
    `Reds
    Jason Marquis
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    AL
    6.0
    Royals
    Edinson Volquez (W, 2-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    5.1
    Angels
    Andrew Heaney (W,1-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    0
    0
    0
    3
    3
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Brewers
    Scooter Gennett   2B
    3
    2
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Mariners
    J.A. Happ (W, 2-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    
    3.1
    `Phillies
    Jeanmar Gomez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Rays
    Brandon Guyer   CF
    3
    1
    1
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Nationals
    Mike Carp   1B
    2
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Orioles
    Ubaldo Jimenez (W, 3-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    2.0
    Twins
    Eduardo Escobar   3B
    4
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Giants
    Matt Cain (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    3
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    1.0
    Dbacks
    Mark Trumbo   RF
    3
    0
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Angels' Mike Morin (1IP 0R 3K Sv) tops players for Thursday, April 2's spring games

Shawn Plank April 3, 2015

Angels pitcher Mike Morin is Thursday’s spring training Player of the Day.

Morin struck out three in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save in the 3-2 win over the Dodgers.

Morin had a Box-Toppers game score of 4.0, the same score earned Thursday by Rays pitcher Nathan Karns, who was Player of the Game in the 10-1 win over the Phillies. Morin earned Player of the Day honors over Karns because he earned the save in the game while Karns had a no-decision.

Braves pitcher Andrew McKirahan is National League Player of the Day. McKirahan pitched a scoreless ninth inning and struck out two, earning the save, in the 6-5 win over the Orioles.

Luke Montz of the Red Sox is American League Batter of the Day. Montz homered and scored twice in the 8-5 win over the Twins.

Tuffy Gosewisch of the Diamondbacks is NL Batter of the Day. Gosewisch went 4-for-4 in the 10-2 win over the White Sox.

Box-Toppers points aren’t awarded for spring training games, but if this were the regular season, Morin would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and McKirahan would earn 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Montz and Gosewisch would each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Twelve spring training games were scheduled Thursday. One game which ended in a tie (Mets-Cardinals) and another game which featured a non-Major League team (Astros-Corpus Christi—for clarification, Corpus Christi is the non-Major League team) are not included in Box-Toppers results.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    402
    Score
    Team
    BATTERS
    AB
    R
    H
    RBI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    4.0
    Angels
    Mike Morin (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    `Rays
    Nathan Karns
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    6
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    
    3.1
    `Yankees
    Michael Pineda
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    6
    1
    1
    0
    6
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Red Sox
    Luke Montz   PR, DH
    1
    2
    1
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    3.0
    Braves
    Andrew McKirahan (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    `Padres
    Chris Rearick (H, 3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    `Tigers
    Alberto Cabrera (H, 2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Dbacks
    Tuffy Gosewisch   C
    4
    1
    4
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Indians
    Michael Brantley   LF
    4
    2
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Athletics
    Marcus Semien   SS
    3
    2
    2
    1
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Athletics' Jesse Chavez (6IP R 6K) tops players for Wednesday, April 1's spring games

Shawn Plank April 2, 2015

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez is Wednesday’s spring training Player of the Day.

Chavez allowed one run over six innings, striking out six, in the 4-1 win over the Angels.

Diamondbacks pitcher Archie Bradley is National League Player of the Day. Bradley pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit, in the 3-0 win over the Reds.

Dexter Fowler of the Cubs is NL Batter of the Day. Fowler homered, tripled, went 3-for-3, scored four runs and drove in two in the 11-7 win over the Brewers.

Jeremy Farrell of the White Sox is American League Batter of the Day. Farrell homered, doubled, went 4-for-5, scored three runs and drove in two in the 12-4 win over the Mariners.

Box-Toppers points aren’t awarded for spring training games, but if this were the regular season, Chavez would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Bradley would earn 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Fowler and Farrell would each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Sixteen spring training games were scheduled Wednesday. Three games which ended in a tie (Red Sox-Twins, Dodgers-Royals and Pirates-Orioles) are not included in Box-Toppers results.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    401
    Score
    Team
    BATTERS
    AB
    R
    H
    RBI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    7.0
    Athletics
    Jesse Chavez (W, 3-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    0
    1
    6
  

    NL
    7.0
    Dbacks
    Archie Bradley (W, 3-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Cubs
    Dexter Fowler   CF
    3
    4
    3
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    `Marlins
    Jarred Cosart
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    3
    4
  

    
    5.0
    Phillies
    Chase Utley   2B
    3
    2
    2
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    4.0
    White Sox
    Jeremy Farrell   DH
    5
    3
    4
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Rockies
    Troy Tulowitzki   SS
    5
    3
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Cardinals
    Carlos Martinez (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Padres
    Yangervis Solarte   3B
    4
    2
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Astros
    Pat Neshek (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    2.1
    Blue Jays
    Colt Hynes (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Rays
    James Loney   1B
    3
    1
    3
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Giants
    Matt Duffy   3B
    3
    1
    1
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Blue Jays' Rowdy Tellez (3R HR) tops players for Tuesday, March 31's spring games

Shawn Plank April 1, 2015

Rowdy Tellez of the Blue Jays, who hit a three-run homer, is Tuesday’s spring training Player of the Day.

Tellez also scored two runs in the 10-6 win over the Blue Jays.

Mets pitcher Jon Niese is Tuesday’s National League Player of the Day. Niese pitched six scoreless innings in the 2-0 win over the Nationals.

Jay Bruce of the Reds is NL Batter of the Day for Tuesday. Bruce hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-3 in the 10-4 win over the Brewers.

Box-Toppers points aren’t awarded for spring training games, but if this were the regular season, Tellez would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Niese would earn 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Bruce would earn 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL Batter of the Day. All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    331
    Score
    Team
    BATTERS
    AB
    R
    H
    RBI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    5.0
    Blue Jays
    Rowdy Tellez   1B
    1
    2
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    5.0
    Mets
    Jon Niese (W, 3-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    5.0
    `Dbacks
    Trevor Cahill
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Reds
    Jay Bruce   RF
    3
    2
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Pirates
    Francisco Cervelli   C
    3
    2
    2
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Giants
    Justin Maxwell   PH, RF
    3
    0
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Red Sox
    Blake Swihart   C
    3
    1
    2
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Indians
    Brandon Moss   RF
    3
    1
    2
    3
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Athletics
    Luke Carlin   C
    3
    2
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Cubs
    Matt Szczur   LF
    2
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Royals
    Jeremy Guthrie (W, 2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    6
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Tommy Milone (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    3.0
    `Astros
    Samuel Deduno (H, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    White Sox
    Jairo Asencio (S, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    Rays
    Everett Teaford (W, 2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.2
    3
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Marlins
    Steve Cishek (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

1. Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers—31.5 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

2. Corey Kluber, Indians—25.8 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

3. Madison Bumgarner, Giants—22.6 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

4. Johnny Cueto, Reds—22.4 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

5. Max Scherzer, Nationals—22.1 Box-Toppers points in 2014 (with Tigers).

6. Felix Hernandez, Mariners—20.8 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

7. David Price, Tigers—19.1 Box-Toppers points in 2014.

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

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.