Cardinals' PH Descalso tops players with walk-off run in 13-inning NLCS Game 1 win, Friday, Oct. 11

Pinch hitter Daniel Descalso, who singled and scored the walk-off run in the bottom of the 13th inning as the Cardinals won Game 1 of the National League Championship Series is Friday's Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Descalso only had a Box-Toppers game score of 1.0, but it was still more than his Cardinals teammates in the 3-2 win over the Dodgers, allowing the Cardinals to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. 

Descalso had 2.7 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 367th among all players. 

Coming Saturday: All four remaining playoff teams are in action Saturday in the league championship series. Here are pitching match-ups:

ALCS Game 1, Tigers at Red Sox

Tigers: Anibal Sanchez, 17.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked seventh overall (see the Top 10 Player ranking list on the home page)

Red Sox: Jon Lester, 12.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 34th overall

NLCS Game 2, Cardinals lead Dodgers 1-0

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw, 21.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked first overall (see the Top 10 Player ranking list on the home page)

Cardinals: Michael Wacha, 3.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 361st overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1011	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	1.0	Cardinals	Daniel Descalso PH	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0		0.0	0	0	0	0	0

ALCS Preview: Tigers, with 3 best AL players in Box-Toppers rankings, may have slight edge on Red Sox

The American League Championship Series beginning Saturday features Box-Toppers' top-ranked AL teams and Box-Toppers' three best AL players—who all happen to be Detroit Tigers.

The Tigers may have a slight edge over the Boston Red Sox as they prepare to face off in the best-of-seven series beginning in Boston.

The Tigers were No. 1 in Box-Toppers Team Rankings at the close of the season with 123.4 Box-Toppers points. The Red Sox ranked fourth overall (second in the AL) with 121.7 points. However, the Red Sox had the better actual winning percentage (.599 vs. .574), giving them home-field advantage for the series. The Red Sox were tied for the best win-loss record in baseball. The Tigers had the sixth-best record—third in the AL, behind the Red Sox and Athletics.

The Tigers beat the Athletics in the American League Division series, three games to two. The Athletics had 115.3 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranked eighth overall. The Red Sox beat the Rays in their ALDS, three games to one. The Rays had 119.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked fifth.

The Tigers have the top three AL players in Box-Toppers points for the season:

• Pitcher Max Scherzer has 18.1 Box-Toppers points and is ranked fifth among all Major League players (see the Player Rankings Top 10 list on the home page).
• Pitcher Anibal Sanchez has 17.1 Box-Toppers points and is ranked seventh among all players.
• Third baseman Miguel Cabrera has 16.9 Box-Toppers points, leads among all Major League batters and is the only batter in the Player Rankings Top 10, in eighth place overall.

The Red Sox top player in Box-Toppers rankings is pitcher Jon Lester with 12.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 34th overall. Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz has 12.4 Box-Toppers points and is ranked 36th overall, fifth among all AL batters.

Below are position-by-position match-ups of each player likely in the starting line-up for both teams, along with the four most likely starting pitchers, the team's top closer and an extra pitcher. Also listed are each player's Box-Toppers points earned in 2013, along with their overall rank among players for the season.

If you simply add together the Box-Toppers points of these 15 key players from each team, the Tigers have 104 points and the Red Sox 97.2.

If you compare them position-by-position, the Tigers also have more players with higher Box-Toppers points totals. The Tigers have the edge in eight positions, the Red Sox in seven.

The Red Sox have more highly ranked batters than the Tigers. In a position-by-position match-up of the starting nine, the Red Sox have Box-Toppers-superior players in six positions, the Tigers in three (though one of the three is at third base, where Miguel Cabrera beats Will Middlebrooks 16.9 Box-Toppers points to 1.0).

The Tigers dominate pitching match-ups in each category except closer, where Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara has 6.0 Box-Toppers point while Tigers pitcher Joaquin Benoit has 1.0.

Coming Saturday: Here is the pitching match-up for Game 1 of the AL Championship Series:

ALCS Game 1, Tigers at Red Sox

Tigers: Anibal Sanchez, 17.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked seventh overall (see the Top 10 Player ranking list on the home page)

Red Sox: Jon Lester, 12.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 34th overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason.

AL Championship Series player comparisons 

Likely starting players for the Red Sox and Tigers listed by position with their Box-Toppers point total (BTP) for the 2013 regular season and their overall player rank among all players

	Red Sox	BTP	Rank		Tigers	BTP	Rank
1B	Mike Napoli	5.0	170		Prince Fielder	8.5	78
2B	Dustin Pedroia	3.5	286		Omar Infante	4.5	221
SS	Stephen Drew	6.0	143		Jhonny Peralta	3.0	347
3B	Will Middlebrooks	1.0	573		Miguel Cabrera	16.9	8
CA	Jarod Saltalamacchia	4.5	228		Alex Avila	3.0	334
CF	Jacob Ellsbury	5.5	161		Austin Jackson	1.0	576
LF	Jonny Gomes	6.0	156		Don Kelly	0.0	885
RF	Shane Victorino	4.5	224		Torii Hunter	4.0	248
DH	David Ortiz	12.4	36		Victor Martinez	4.2	235
SP	Jon Lester	12.7	34		Max Scherzer	18.1	5
SP	Clay Buchholz	11.1	41		Anibal Sanchez	17.1	7
SP	Jake Peavy	8.0	84		Justin Verlander	10.0	53
SP	John Lackey	6.0	148		Doug Fister	6.7	113
CP	Koji Uehara	6.0	149		Joaquin Benoit	1.0	628
PI	Felix Doubront	5.0	179		Rick Porcello	6.0	139

NLCS Preview: Cardinals-Dodgers features 2 top-ranked NL Box-Toppers teams, top 3 overall players—Kershaw, Wainwright, Greinke

The National League Championship Series beginning Friday features the top two NL teams in Box-Toppers Team Rankings and the top three players in overall Box-Toppers points.

Game 1 of the best-of-seven series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers begins in St. Louis. The Dodgers just edged out the Cardinals as top NL team in Box-Toppers points for the season with 122.7 (second place overall, behind the Detroit Tigers). The Cardinals were in second in the NL (third overall) with 122.4. 

The Cardinals had the best actual winning percentage in the NL (.599). The Dodgers were in fourth (.568), behind the Cardinals, Braves and Pirates. 

The Cardinals prevailed over the Pirates in the National League Division Series. The Pirates had 115.6 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranked seventh overall. The Dodgers beat the Braves in their NLDS. The Braves had 111.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 11th overall. 

The NLCS between the Cardinals and Dodgers features the top three players in Box-Toppers Player Rankings for the season:

• Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has 21.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked first in player rankings.
• Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright has 20.2 points, ranked second. 
• Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke has 19.4 points, ranked third. 

In addition, Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn and Shelby Miller are both in the top 10 in Box-Toppers points among NL pitchers. Lynn ranks seventh with 16.1 points and Miller ranks ninth with 15.4. 

Below are position-by-position match-ups of each player likely in the starting line-up for both teams, along with the four most likely starting pitchers, the team's top closer and an extra pitcher. Also listed are each player's Box-Toppers points earned in 2013, along with their overall rank among players for the season.

If you simply add together the Box-Toppers points of these 14 key players from each team, the Cardinals have 103.7 points and the Dodgers 98.7.

If you compare them position-by-position, the Cardinals have more players with higher Box-Toppers points totals. The Cardinals have the edge in seven positions, the Dodgers in six and they tie in one position (both first basemen Matt Adams and Adrian Gonzalez have 5.0 Box-Toppers points).

In general, the Cardinals edge the Dodgers among batters, with more offensive players with higher Box-Toppers points—in fact, Hanley Ramirez is the only Dodger batter with a higher Box-Toppers point total (5.0) than his Cardinals shortstop counterpart Pete Kozma (2.5).

All three likely starting outfielders for the Dodgers have Box-Toppers point totals of 2.0 or less, meaning they were very rarely the key contributor to Dodgers wins. Carl Crawford was Player of the Game twice during the season earning 2.0 Box-Toppers points. Rookie sensation Yasiel Puig was NL Batter of the Day in his second career game June 4, earning 1.5 points, his only points of the season. And Skip Schumaker, though he appeared in 125 games, did not earn Player of the Game honors during the season, earning 0.0 Box-Toppers points.

To be fair, Dodgers pitchers were often the key contributor to the team's wins, with higher Box-Toppers game scores and earning Player of the Game honors. In fact, Dodgers pitchers have a slight edge over the Cardinals, with two of the three top overall players in Box-Toppers points (Kershaw and Greinke). The Dodgers' closer, Kenley Jansen has more Box-Toppers points than Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal (9.7 to 6.0).

So: The Dodgers have the overall higher Box-Toppers Team Ranking. The Cardinals have a better winning percentage. The Dodgers have a slight edge in pitching. The Cardinals have a seeming clear edge among batters. The Dodgers have the edge in the pitching match-up in Game 1. The Cardinals have home-field advantage. Baseball's best three players this season (by Box-Toppers measures) will be in action. It promises to be a great series. 

Coming Friday: Here is the pitching match-up for Game 1 of the NL Championship Series:

NLCS Game 1, Dodgers at Cardinals

Dodgers: Zack Greinke, 19.4 Box-Toppers points, ranked third overall (see the Top 10 Player ranking list on the home page)

Cardinals: Joe Kelly, 4.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 264th overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

NL Championship Series player comparisons 

Likely starting players for the Cardinals and Dodgers listed by position with their Box-Toppers point total (BTP) for the 2013 regular season and their overall player rank among all players

	Cardinals	BTP	Rank		Dodgers	BTP	Rank
1B	Matt Adams	5.0	198		Adrian Gonzalez	5.0	175
2B	Matt Carpenter	7.5	100		Mark Ellis	3.5	295
SS	Pete Kozma	2.5	408		Hanley Ramirez	5.0	177
3B	David Freese	5.5	154		Juan Uribe	3.0	323
CA	Yadier Molina	4.0	253		A.J. Ellis	2.5	387
CF	Jon Jay	5.5	162		Skip Schumaker	0.0	920
LF	Matt Holliday	6.5	121		Carl Crawford	2.0	450
RF	Carlos Beltran	2.5	378		Yasiel Puig	1.5	542
SP	Adam Wainwright	20.2	2		Clayton Kershaw	21.7	1
SP	Lance Lynn	16.1	11		Zack Greinke	19.4	3
SP	Joe Kelly	4.0	264		Hyun-Jin Ryu	9.7	61
SP	Michael Wacha	3.0	361		Ricky Nolasco	9.7	60
CP	Trevor Rosenthal	6.0	147		Kenley Jansen	9.7	59
PI	Shelby Miller	15.4	17		Chris Capuano	6.0	134

Justin Verlander (8IP 2H 0R 10K) leads Tigers to eliminate A's in ALDS, tops players for Thursday, Oct. 10

Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, who flirted with a no-hitter and led Detroit to win the American League Division Series over the Athletics, is Thursday's Player of the Day.

Verlander gave up only two hits, no runs and struck out 10 over eight innings in the 3-0 win over the Athletics. He did not give up his first hit until two out in the seventh inning.

The Tigers won the series over the Athletics three games to two to move onto the best-of-seven American League Championship Series against the Red Sox, beginning Saturday in Boston. The Tigers are the top-ranked team in Box-Toppers points with 123.4. The Athletics rank eighth with 115.3.

Verlander had 10.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 53rd overall. In 2012, he led all players in Box-Toppers points with 24.8.

The four remaining teams in the playoffs are also the four top teams in Box-Toppers Team Power Rankings: 

1. Tigers, 123.4 Box-Toppers points
2. Dodgers, 122.7 Box-Toppers points
3. Cardinals, 122.4 Box-Toppers points
4. Red Sox,  121.7 Box-Toppers points

The Cardinals will face the Dodgers beginning Friday in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series. 

Coming Friday: Check back Friday for a Box-Toppers preview of the NLCS. Find out how the starters from each team stack up against each other in Box-Toppers points. Who's the best left fielder? Carlos Beltran or Yasiel Puig? Which team has the best pitchers in terms of Box-Toppers points?

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1010	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	15.0	Tigers		0	0	0	0	0	0			Justin Verlander (W, 1-0)	8.0	2	0	0	1	10

Adam Wainwright leads Cardinals in NLDS series win, tops players for Wednesday, Oct. 9

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, who helped seal his team's berth in the National League Championship Series, is Wednesday's Player of the Day.

Wainwright gave up one run and pitched a complete game in the 6-1 win over the Pirates, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 NL Division Series win. 

This is the second time this postseason that Wainwright has earned Player of the Game honors. He was also Player of the Game in the Cardinals win in Game 1 of the series. Wainwright had 20.2 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranked second overall (see the Top 10 Player Ranking list on the home page).

The Cardinals will face the Dodgers beginning Friday in the best-of-seven NL Championship Series. 

Coming Thursday: The League Division Series conclude Thursday with Game 5 of the ALDS series between the Tigers and Athletics. The pitching match-ups are the same as in Game 2 of the series (won by the Athletics 1-0):

ALDS Game 5, Tigers at Athletics, series tied 2-2

Tigers: Justin Verlander, 10.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 53rd overall

Athletics: Sonny Gray, 4.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 272nd overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1009	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	4.0	Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Adam Wainwright (W, 2-0)	9.0	8	1	1	1	6

Red Sox' Craig Breslow tops players in Tuesday, Oct. 8's ALDS playoff games

Red Sox pitcher Craig Breslow is Player of the Day in Tuesday's two American League Division Series playoff games.

Breslow struck out four over 1 2/3 innings of middle relief in the 3-1 win over the Rays, as the Red Sox won the ALDS three games to one.  Breslow had 1.0 Box-Toppers point during the regular season, ranking 632nd overall.

The Boston Red Sox will face the winner of the Tigers-Athletics ALDS in the best-of-seven AL Championship Series beginning Saturday.

Jhonny Peralta of the Tigers earned Player of the Game honors in the other ALDS game. Peralta homered, drove in three runs and went 2-for-3 in the 8-6 win over the Athletics to tie that ALDS at 2-2. Peralta had 3.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 347th overall. He was suspended for the final 50 games of the regular season for violating baseball's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Coming Wednesday: One National League Division Series continues Wednesday with the decisive game five, featuring two starting pitchers who have both earned Player of the Game honors already in the series. The pitching match-up:

NLDS Game 5, Pirates at Cardinals, series tied 2-2

Pirates: Gerrit Cole, 4.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 211th overall. Cole was also Player of the Game in the Pirates win in Game 2 of the series.

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright, 20.2 Box-Toppers points, ranked second overall (see the Top 10 Player Ranking list on the home page). Wainwright was also Player of the Game in the Cardinals win in Game 1 of the series.

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1008	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	4.2	Red Sox		0	0	0	0	0	0			Craig Breslow (W, 1-0)	1.2	1	0	0	0	4
BAT	3.0	Tigers	Jhonny Peralta LF	3	1	2	3	0	0				0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Cards' Michael Wacha tops players in Monday, Oct. 7's playoff games

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha is Monday's Player of the Day among the four League Division Series playoff games.

Wacha gave up only one hit—a solo home run—over 7 1/3 innings and struck out nine in the 2-1 win over the Pirates to tie the National League Division series 2-2. Wacha had a no-hitter going into the eighth inning when he gave up the home run to Pedro Alvarez. 

Wacha had 3.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 361st overall. However, he didn't make his Box-Toppers debut until Sept. 8 (the first time he earned Player of the Game honors) and on Sept. 24, he was Box-Toppers Player of the Day, when he was one out away from a no-hitter against the Nationals.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw earned Player of the Game honors in the other NLDS game. Kershaw, Box-Toppers 2013 Player of the Season, had not been scheduled to start Monday but opted to make his first career start on short rest (he last started Thursday, Oct. 3). He pitched six innings and struck out six in the 4-3 win to eliminate the Braves in the NLDS series 3-1. Kershaw earned a no-decision because he left with the game tied 2-2.

Kershaw had 21.7 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, the most of any player. The Dodgers advance to the best-of-seven NL Championship Series against either the Pirates or the Cardinals beginning Friday. 

Jose Lobaton of the Rays is American League Player of the Day. Lobaton hit a walk-off homer in the 5-4 win over the Red Sox. The Rays trail the series 2-1 but force a Game Four. Lobaton had 3.5 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 299th overall.

Coco Crisp of the Athletics is Player of the Game in the other ALDS game. Crisp was 3-for-4 in the 6-3 win over the Tigers. The Athletics lead the series 2-1. Crisp had 4.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranking 255th overall.

 Coming Tuesday: Both American League Division Series continue Tuesday. Here are the pitching match-ups:

ALDS Game 4, Athletics lead Tigers 2-1

Athletics: Dan Straily, 7.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 96th overall

Tigers: Doug Fister, 6.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 113th overall

ALDS Game 4, Red Sox lead Rays 2-1

Red Sox: Jake Peavy, 8.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 84th overall

Rays: Jeremy Hellickson, 6.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 136th overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1007	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	11.1	Cardinals		0	0	0	0	0	0			Michael Wacha (W, 1-0)	7.1	1	1	1	2	9
	6.0	`Dodgers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Clayton Kershaw	6.0	3	2	0	1	6
AL	2.0	Rays	Jose Lobaton C	1	1	1	1	0	0				0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Athletics	Coco Crisp CF	4	1	3	1	0	0				0.0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Dodgers' Hanley Ramirez tops players in Sunday, Oct. 6's NLDS games

Hanley Ramirez of the Dodgers is Sunday's Player of the Day in the two National League Division Series playoff games. 

Ramirez scored three runs and went 3-for-4 in the 13-6 win over the Braves to take a 2-1 series lead for the Dodgers. Ramirez had 5.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 177th overall, second among all NL shortstops. 

Marlon Byrd of the Pirates is Sunday's other Player of the Game. Byrd drove in two runs and went 2-for-3 in the 5-3 win over the Cardinals to take a 2-1 series lead for the Pirates. Byrd had 5.5 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 164th overall. 

 Coming Monday: All four League Division Series continue Monday. Three of the four series could be decided. Here are the pitching match-ups:

ALDS Game 3, Athletics at Tigers, series tied 1-1

Athletics: Jarrod Parker, 6.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 138th overall

Tigers: Anibal Sanchez, 17.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked seventh overall (see the top 10 Player Rankings list on the home page)

NLDS Game 4, Pirates lead Cardinals 2-1

Cardinals: Michael Wacha, 3.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 361st overall

Pirates: Charlie Morton, 3.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 344th overall

ALDS Game 3, Red Sox lead Rays 2-0

Red Sox: Clay Buchholz, 11.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked 41st overall

Rays: Alex Cobb, 9.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 58th overall

NLDS Game 4, Dodgers lead Braves 2-1

Braves: Freddy Garcia, 1.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 509th overall

Dodgers: Ricky Nolasco, 9.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 60th overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league, 1.5 for top batter in each league and 1.0 for the top player in each of the other games. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1006	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	4.0	Dodgers	Hanley Ramirez SS	4	3	3	2	1	0				0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Pirates	Marlon Byrd RF	3	1	2	2	1	0				0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Pirates' Sonny Gray tops players in Saturday, Oct. 5's ALDS games

Athletics pitcher Sonny Gray is Saturday's Player of the Day in the two American League Division Series playoff games. 

Gray pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out nine in the 1-0 win over the Tigers to tie the series at 1-1. Gray picked up a no decision because he left the game in a scoreless tie after eight innings, but the Athletics scored on Stephen Vogt's bases-loaded walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth. 

Gray had 4.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranked 272nd overall.

Jacob Ellsbury of the Red Sox is Saturday's other Player of the Game. Ellsbury scored three runs and went 3-for-4 in the 7-4 win over the Rays, to lead that series 2-0.  Ellsbury had 5.5 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranked 161st overall.

 Coming Sunday: The two NLDS series continue Sunday. Here are the pitching match-ups:

NLDS Game 3, Cardinals at Pirates, series tied 1-1

Cardinals: Joe Kelly, 4.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 264th overall

Pirates: Francisco Liriano, 16.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked ninth overall (see the top 10 Player Rankings list on the home page)

NLDS Game 3, Braves at Dodgers, series tied 1-1

Braves: Julio Teheran, 13.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 23rd overall

Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu, 9.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 61st overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league and 1.5 for top batter in each league. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1005	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	11.0	`Athletics	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Sonny Gray	8.0	4	0	0	2	9
BAT	3.0	Red Sox	Jacoby Ellsbury CF	4	3	3	1	0	1	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Tigers' Max Scherzer tops players in Friday, Oct 4's playoff games

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer, who led American League players in regular season Box-Toppers points, is Friday's Player of the Day in the four division series playoff games.

Scherzer struck out 11 over seven innings in the 3-2 win over the Athletics, as the Tigers lead the AL Division Series best-of-five, 1-0. 

Scherzer had 18.1 Box-Toppers points for the season, the most of any AL player, ranking fifth overall (see the top 10 Player Ranking list on the home page). 

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole was National League Player of the Day. Cole gave up one run over six innings in the 7-1 win over the Cardinals to tie the NLDS series at 1-1.  Cole had 4.7 Box-Toppers points in 2013, ranking 211th overall.

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester was Player of the Game in the 12-2 win over the Rays, leading the Red Sox to an ALDS series lead of 1-0. Lester struck out seven over 7 2/3 innings.  Lester had 12.7 Box-Toppers points in 2013, ranking 34th overall.

Braves pitcher Craig Kimbrel was Player of the Game in the 4-3 win over the Dodgers, leading the Braves to tie the NLDS series at 1-1. Kimbrel struck out two over 1 1/3 innings and picked up the save. Kimbrel had 12.7 Box-Toppers points in 2013, ranking 31st overall.

Coming Saturday: The two ALDS series continue Saturday. Here are the pitching match-ups:

ALDS Game 2, Red Sox lead Rays 1-0

Rays: David Price, 7.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 92nd overall

Red Sox: John Lackey, 6.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 148th overall

ALDS Game 2, Tigers lead Athletics 1-0

Tigers: Justin Verlander, 10.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 53rd overall

Athletics: Sonny Gray, 4.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 272nd overall

In regular season games, 2.0 Box-Toppers points are awarded for Player of the Day, 1.7 for top player in the opposite league and 1.5 for top batter in each league. However, no Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason. 

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1004	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	9.0	Tigers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Max Scherzer (W, 1-0)	7.0	3	2	2	2	11
NL	6.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Gerrit Cole (W, 1-0)	6.0	2	1	1	1	5
	4.2	Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Jon Lester (W, 1-0)	7.2	3	2	2	3	7
	1.1	Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Craig Kimbrel (S, 1)	1.1	0	0	0	2	2

Dodgers' Kershaw, Cards' Wainwright top players in Thursday, Oct. 3 NLDS games

The top two players in Box-Toppers Player Rankings were the top players in Thursday's opening round of the National League Division Series.

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, the leader in regular season Box-Toppers points, edged out Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, in second place on the list, to earn Thursday's Player of the Day honors. (See the player rankings top 10 list for 2013 on the home page.)

Kershaw struck out 12 over seven innings and allowed one run in the 6-1 win over the Braves. The Dodgers lead the Braves in the best-of-five series 1-0.  Game 2 is Friday in Atlanta.

Wainwright was Player of the Game in the 9-1 win over the Pirates. He struck out nine over seven innings and allowed one run. The Cardinals lead in the best-of-five series 1-0. Game 2 is Friday in St. Louis.

Kershaw and Wainwight had identical Box-Toppers game scores of 11.0, but Kershaw was given the nod as Player of the Day because he had more strikeouts (12 vs. nine). 

Kershaw led Box-Toppers Player Rankings for the season with 21.7 Box-Toppers points. Wainwright was second with 20.2. They are the only two players in 2013 with more than 20.0 Box-Toppers points.  No Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason.

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1003	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	11.0	Dodgers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Clayton Kershaw (W, 1-0)	7.0	3	1	1	3	12
	11.0	Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Adam Wainwright (W, 1-0)	7.0	3	1	1	0	9

Rays' Alex Cobb tops players in AL Wild Card Game Wednesday, Oct. 2

Alex Cobb is Box-Toppers top player in the Rays American League Wild Card Game win Wednesday over the Indians.

Cobb pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the 4-0 win to earn Player of the Day honors in the only game played Wednesday.  The Rays, by winning the one-game playoff, now face the Red Sox in the best-of-five AL Divisional Series beginning Friday in Boston.

Cobb finished 58th in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season with 9.7 Box-Toppers points. No Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason.

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1002	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	2.2	Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Alex Cobb (W, 1-0)	6.2	8	0	0	1	5

Pirates' Francisco Liriano tops players in NL Wild Card win Tuesday, Oct. 1

Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano, who led his team to a National League Wild Card Game win over the Reds, is Tuesday's Player of the Day.

Liriano gave up one run over seven innings in the 6-2 win over the Reds. The Pirates, by winning the one-game playoff, will face the Cardinals in the best-of-five NL Divisional Series beginning Thursday in St. Louis.

Liriano finished ninth in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season with 16.7 Box-Toppers points (see the top 10 list on the home page). He was sixth among NL pitchers and was the season leader in Box-Toppers points among Pirates players. No Box-Toppers points are awarded during the postseason.

Top player from each game 

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1001	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	5.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Francisco Liriano (W, 1-0)	7.0	4	1	1	1	5

Evan Longoria, top player for Monday, Sept. 30, leads Rays in extra, tie-breaker game

Evan Longoria of the Rays is Monday's Player of the Day, leading his team into the playoffs in the regular season's final game, a tie-breaker against the Rangers.

Longoria hit a two-run homer and went 3-for-4 in the 5-2 win over the Rangers.

The Rays and the Rangers were tied for the American League's second wild-card spot with 91 wins, necessitating the extra, 163rd game played in Arlington, Texas. By winning, the Rays will face the AL's top wild card team, the Indians, in a one-game playoff Wednesday in Cleveland. The winner of that game will face the AL East champion Red Sox in the best-of-five AL Division Series beginning Friday in Boston. 

Longoria scored 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, the final points awarded for the 2013 season. It gives him 5.5 Box-Toppers points for the season, putting him in 159th place on Box-Toppers player rankings. 

The postseason officially begins Tuesday with the National League one-game Wild Card playoff with the Reds visiting the Pirates. The winner faces the NL Central champion Cardinals in the best-of-five NL Division Series beginning Thursday in St. Louis. While Box-Toppers points won't be awarded during the playoffs, Box-Toppers will still track Players of the Game for each postseason game.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

930	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	3.0	Rays	Evan Longoria 3B	4	2	3	2	1	1				0.0	0	0	0	0	0