Detroit Tigers take Box-Toppers power rankings lead back from Los Angeles Dodgers

The Detroit Tigers have retaken the top spot in Box-Toppers power rankings, passing the leader for the previous two weeks, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

In this, the penultimate (and also next-to-last) look at team power rankings before the end of the season, Tigers players have accumulated 118.9 Box-Toppers points. They were the hottest team in the American League during the past week, picking up 6.2 Box-Toppers points. In addition, the three top AL players in Box-Toppers points are Tigers: 

• Pitcher Max Scherzer has 17.1 Box-Toppers points, leads all AL players and is in sixth place overall in player rankings.
• Pitcher Anibal Sanchez has 17.1 points and is in seventh place overall in player rankings.
• Third baseman Miguel Cabrera has 16.9 points, leads all AL batters and is in eight place overall in player rankings. 

This marks a return to the top spot for the Tigers. They were in first in Box-Toppers rankings for four straight weeks, the last time Aug. 29, before losing the top spot to the surging Dodgers the past two weeks.

The Dodgers remain the top National League team with 117.7 Box-Toppers points, though they only scored 2.5 over the past week, falling from first to second place overall.

The hottest team of the past week, the San Diego Padres, picked up 7.7 Box-Toppers points and now have 79.3 points, in 22nd place overall. 

Several teams contending for playoff berths had relatively bad weeks. The New York Yankees picked up only 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving them 96.7 in 14th place overall. The Texas Rangers picked up only 2.0 Box-Toppers points, giving them 104.0, slipping from eighth to 10th in rankings. The Atlanta Braves also picked up only 2.0 Box-Toppers points, giving them 101.5, slipping from 10th to 11th place. 

The team with the best actual winning percentage, the Boston Red Sox (.604), maintained their spot in third place in Box-Toppers power rankings and are 1.7 points behind the Tigers, within striking distance of catching them during the upcoming final week of the season.

The Braves have the best actual record in the NL (.592), but are in 11th place in Box-Toppers rankings, behind four other NL teams. 

The Box-Toppers-power-rankings-leader Tigers are tied for the fourth-best record in baseball (.582). 

The St. Louis Cardinals, who led Box-Toppers team power rankings much of the season, remain in fourth place overall and second in the NL, with 113.4 Box-Toppers points. They are 4.3 points behind the NL-leading Dodgers, giving them an outside chance to take the NL lead during the final week of the season.

Top 10 teams

Through Thursday, Sept. 19

919	Top 10 Teams	BTP	BTP/wk	Last week rank
1	Tigers	118.9	6.2	2
2	Dodgers	117.7	2.5	1
3	Red Sox	117.2	5.5	3
4	Cardinals	113.4	5.0	4
5	Rays	109.1	5.0	7
6	Pirates	108.6	2.7	5
7	Reds	108.2	4.0	6
8	Athletics	107.1	5.7	9
9	Indians	104.9	5.5	11
10	Rangers	104.0	2.0	8

BTP: Box-Toppers points total. Accumulated points of all players on team in 2013 season.

BTP/wk: Box-Toppers points for the team for the past week, through games on Thursday.

Red Sox' John Lackey (CG 2H) tops players for Thursday, Sept. 19

Red Sox pitcher John Lackey is Thursday's Player of the Day. Lackey, who gave up his first hit in the seventh inning, pitched a complete-game two-hitter, striking out eight, in the 3-1 win over the Orioles, clinching a playoff spot for Boston.

Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole is National League Player of the Day. Cole struck out 12 over six innings in the 10-1 win over the Padres. 

Hanley Ramirez of the Dodgers is NL Batter of the Day. Ramirez homered twice, drove in four runs and went 4-for-5 in the 7-6 win over the Diamondbacks, as Los Angeles won the NL West title. 

Prince Fielder of the Tigers is American League Batter of the Day. Fielder went 3-for-4 in the 5-4 win over the Mariners.

Notables: Two other players who earned Player of the Game honors Thursday are among the top 25 in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season: 

• Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner rises to 13th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (7IP 1R 10K W in the 2-1 win vs. Mets), giving him 15.7 for the season.
• Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez rises to 25th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (7IP 1R 9K ND in 2-1 win vs. Astros), giving him 12.8 for the season.

Coming Friday: Two pitchers among the top 10 in Box-Toppers player rankings (see the list on the home page) are scheduled to start Friday:

• Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer starts against the White Sox. Scherzer has 17.1 Box-Toppers points, is in sixth place overall and leads all AL players.
• Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano starts against the Reds. Liriano has 16.7 Box-Toppers points and is in ninth place overall.

Neither Scherzer nor Liriano is in position Friday to take the outright lead in Box-Toppers points (held by Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright with 19.2) since the most they could earn is 2.0 Box-Toppers points.

Lackey receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Cole receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Ramirez and Fielder each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Thursday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

919	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	11.0	Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			John Lackey (W, 10-12)	9.0	2	1	1	2	8
NL	9.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Gerrit Cole (W, 9-7)	6.0	4	1	1	3	12
	8.0	Giants	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Madison Bumgarner (W, 13-9)	7.0	4	1	1	3	10
	8.0	`Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Ubaldo Jimenez	7.0	6	1	1	0	9
	7.0	Blue Jays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Todd Redmond (W, 4-2)	7.0	4	1	1	1	7
	6.0	Cubs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Jake Arrieta (W, 3-2)	7.0	3	1	1	1	5
BAT	5.0	Dodgers	Hanley Ramirez SS	5	2	4	4	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	5.0	`Rockies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Wilton Lopez	2.0	0	0	0	0	3
	3.0	Nationals	Bryce Harper LF	4	1	3	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
BAT	2.0	Tigers	Prince Fielder 1B	4	2	3	1	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Athletics	Coco Crisp CF	4	2	2	2	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Rangers	Elvis Andrus SS	6	2	2	3	0	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.

Cardinals' Adam Wainwright takes Box-Toppers points lead (with his bat); Mariners' Iwakuma tops players for Wednesday, Sept. 18

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright takes the lead Wednesday among players in Box-Toppers points for the season—but he does it with his bat. 

Wainwright is Wednesday's National League Batter of the Day, earning 1.5 Box-Toppers points, giving him 19.2 for the season. He passes previous Box-Toppers leader, Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (19.0), who had led since Sept. 6. Wainwright, who rises from fourth to first place in Box-Toppers player rankings (see the updated top 10 list on the home page), leads for the first time this season.

Wainwright went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs in the 4-3 win over the Rockies. He is the sixth pitcher this season to earn Player of the Game honors for batting. 

Meanwhile, Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma is Wednesday's Player of the Day. Iwakuma pitched eight scoreless innings in the 8-0 win over the Tigers. Iwakuma earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 14.4 for the season, putting him in 17th place in player rankings.

Padres pitcher Tyson Ross is National League Player of the Day. Ross struck out seven over seven innings in the 3-2 win over the Pirates. Ross picked up a no-decision because he exited with the Padres trailing, but the team came back to take the lead in the top of the ninth. 

Alcides Escobar of the Royals is American League Batter of the Day. Escobar went 2-for-4, drove in two runs and stole home in the 7-2 win over the Indians. 

Notables: Two other players who earned Player of the Game honors Wednesday are among the top 40 in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season: 

• Braves closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel rises to 32nd place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (1IP 1K Sv in 5-2 win vs. Nationals), giving him 11.7 for the season.
• Rays pitcher Chris Archer rises to 34th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (6IP ND in 4-3 win vs. Rangers), giving him 11.7 for the season.

Iwakuma receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Ross receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Wainwright and Escobar each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Wednesday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

918	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	8.0	Mariners	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Hisashi Iwakuma (W, 13-6)	8.0	4	0	0	2	6
NL	7.0	`Padres	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tyson Ross	7.0	3	2	2	0	7
	6.0	Brewers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tyler Thornburg (W, 3-1)	6.0	2	0	0	2	4
	3.2	Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			David Huff (W, 3-1)	3.2	1	1	1	0	3
BAT	3.0	Cardinals	Adam Wainwright P	3	1	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	`Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Chris Archer	6.0	4	2	2	1	6
	3.0	`Angels	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Cory Rasmus	2.0	1	0	0	0	2
	3.0	Twins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Glen Perkins (S, 36)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	2.0	Reds	Billy Hamilton CF	4	2	3	1	2	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Mets	Zach Lutz PH	1	1	1	1	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Diamondbacks	Martin Prado 3B	1	1	1	1	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Craig Kimbrel (S, 48)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1
BAT	1.0	Royals	Alcides Escobar SS	4	1	2	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	0.0	Orioles	Matt Wieters C	5	1	2	2	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	0.0	Marlins	Giancarlo Stanton RF	4	1	1	2	1	2			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.

Nats' Roark tops players for Tuesday, Sept. 17, Tigers' Sanchez rises to 7th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Nationals pitcher Tanner Roark is Tuesday's Player of the Day, while Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez rises to seventh place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Roark pitched seven scoreless innings and gave up only two hits in the 4-0 win over the Braves.

Sanchez rises to seventh in Box-Toppers player rankings (see the updated top 10 list on the home page) after earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday. Sanchez (6.1IP 10K ND in 6-2 win vs. Mariners) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 17.1 for the season. He and teammate Max Scherzer both have 17.1 Box-Toppers points, but Scherzer holds the lead among AL players since he has more Box-Toppers points over the past two seasons (34.1 vs. 23.8).

Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey is American League Player of the Day. Dickey pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out eight in the 2-0 win over the Yankees. 

Matt Holliday of the Cardinals is National League Batter of the Day. Holliday homered, drove in three runs and went 4-for-4 in the 11-4 win over the Rockies. 

Alexi Casilla of the Orioles is AL Batter of the Day. Casilla scored the go-ahead run as a pinch runner in the ninth inning in the 3-2 win over the Red Sox. 

Notable: Two top pitchers in Box-Toppers player rankings were pitted against each other Tuesday, but neither picked up Box-Toppers points. Zack Greinke of the Dodgers and Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks, both in Box-Toppers player rankings top 10, were both in position to take over the points lead, but neither earned Player of the Game honors. Corbin (17.4 Box-Toppers points) left the game in the third inning after giving up six runs. His team lost. Greinke (18.4 Box-Toppers points), though he pitched six innings and struck out five, had a lower Box-Toppers game score than eventual Player of the Game Matt Kemp (4.0 vs. 0.0). Greinke remains in third place in Box-Toppers player rankings and Corbin remains in fifth.

Coming Wednesday: Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright has a chance to take the lead in Box-Toppers points. Wainwright is starting pitcher against the Rockies Wednesday. Wainwright has 17.7 Box-Toppers points and is in fourth place in player rankings. He trails points leader Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (19.0) by 1.3 Box-Toppers points. If he earns Player of the Day or NL Player of the Day honors, he would pass Fernandez. 

Roark receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Dickey receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Holliday and Casilla each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Tuesday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

917	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	10.0	Nationals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tanner Roark (W, 7-0)	7.0	2	0	0	1	6
AL	9.0	Blue Jays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			R.A. Dickey (W, 13-12)	7.0	4	0	0	2	8
	7.0	Reds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Mike Leake (W, 14-6)	8.0	5	0	0	2	6
BAT	5.0	Cardinals	Matt Holliday LF	4	2	4	3	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	5.0	Phillies	Chase Utley 2B	4	2	3	4	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	5.0	Giants	Angel Pagan CF	3	2	3	3	2	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.1	`Tigers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Anibal Sanchez	6.1	6	2	2	2	10
	4.0	Dodgers	Matt Kemp CF	4	1	4	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Rangers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Alexi Ogando (W, 7-4)	5.0	2	1	1	1	4
	4.0	Athletics	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Grant Balfour (W, 1-3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	3
	3.0	Padres	Jedd Gyorko 2B	5	2	3	3	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Brewers	Carlos Gomez CF	3	1	2	3	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	`Nationals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Dan Haren	6.0	3	1	1	2	4
	3.0	`White Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Nate Jones (H, 13)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	3.0	Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Chris Perez (S, 25)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
BAT	1.0	Orioles	Alexi Casilla PR, DH	0	1	0	0	0	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.

Padres' Andrew Cashner pitches 1-hitter, tops players for Monday, Sept. 16

Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner is Monday's Player of the Day. Cashner pitched a one-hit, complete game shutout, striking out seven in the 2-0 win over the Pirates. He gave up the one hit in the seventh inning.

White Sox pitcher Erik Johnson is American League Player of the Day. Johnson pitched six shutout innings and struck out eight in the 12-1 win over the Twins. This was Johnson's Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,284th player to make his Box-Toppers debut since record keeping began in 1995.  

Caleb Gindl of the Brewers is National League Batter of the Day. Gindl homered, drove in three runs, scored three runs and went 3-for-3 in the 6-1 win over the Cubs. This was Gindl's Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,285th player to make his Box-Toppers debut since record keeping began in 1995.

No American League batters earned Player of the Game honors Monday, so there is no AL Batter of the Day. 

Notable: Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee rises to 20th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Monday. Lee (8IP 14K W in 12-2 win vs. Marlins) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 13.4 for the season.

Coming Tuesday: Two of Box-Toppers top 10 pitchers face off. Zack Greinke of the Dodgers faces Patrick Corbin of the Diamondbacks. Greinke has 18.4 Box-Toppers points and is in third place in Box-Toppers standings (see the top 10 list on the home page), while Corbin has 17.4 and is in fifth. Both trail points leader Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (19.0) and either could pass him to take the points lead after Tuesday's game.

Cashner receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Johnson receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Gindl receives 1.5 for being NL Batter of the Day.

All of Monday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

916	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	15.0	Padres	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Andrew Cashner (W, 10-8)	9.0	1	0	0	0	7
	10.0	Phillies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Cliff Lee (W, 14-6)	8.0	8	2	2	0	14
AL	8.0	White Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Erik Johnson (W, 1-2)	6.0	4	0	0	2	8
	7.0	Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Alex Cobb (W, 9-3)	8.0	6	2	2	1	10
	7.0	Tigers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Rick Porcello (W, 13-8)	6.0	5	1	1	2	10
BAT	6.0	Brewers	Caleb Gindl LF	3	3	3	3	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	6.0	Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			James Shields (W, 12-9)	6.0	6	1	1	2	10
	4.0	Angels	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			C.J. Wilson (W, 17-6)	7.0	4	1	1	3	6
	4.0	Reds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Johnny Cueto (W, 5-2)	5.0	5	0	0	1	5
	2.0	Rockies	Charlie Blackmon CF, LF	4	1	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.1	Diamondbacks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Trevor Cahill (W, 7-10)	5.1	2	1	1	4	4

Padres' Burch Smith tops players for Sunday, Sept. 15, Tigers' Scherzer leads AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points

Padres pitcher Burch Smith is Sunday's Player of the Day, while Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer takes the Box-Toppers points lead among American League pitchers.

Smith pitched seven shutout innings and struck out 10 in the 4-0 win over the Braves. Smith gave up only three hits and didn't give up the first hit until the sixth inning. This was Smith's Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,281st player to make his Box-Toppers debut since record keeping began in 1995. 

Scherzer, American League Player of the Day, rises to sixth place in Box-Toppers player rankings (see the updated top 10 list on the home page) and now has more points than any other AL pitcher. Scherzer struck out 12 and gave up only one run over seven innings in the 3-2 win over the Royals. Scherzer, however picked up a no-decision because the Royals tied the game 2-2 in the eighth inning after he left—but the Tigers went ahead to stay 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth. So even though Scherzer again failed to pick up his 20th win of the season (he's 19-3), he is still the Box-Toppers Player of the Game—and AL Player of the Day.

Scherzer earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 17.1 for the season, passing previous AL pitching leader Justin Masterson of the Indians (16.4). Scherzer also becomes top overall AL player in Box-Toppers points, passing Tigers teammate Miguel Cabrera (16.9).

Wilson Ramos of the Nationals is National League Batter of the Day. Ramos drove in five runs and went 4-for-4 in the 11-2 win over the Phillies.

Matt Carson of the Indians is AL Batter of the Day. Carson homered, drove in two runs and went 3-for-3 in the 7-1 win over the White Sox. This was Carson's Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,282nd player to make his Box-Toppers debut since record keeping began in 1995. 

Notables: Two other players who earned Player of the Game honors Sunday are among the top 40 in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season: 

• Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks rises to 18th place and remains top NL batter. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (HR 5RBI 4-4 in 8-2 win vs. Rockies), giving him 13.7 for the season.
• Mets pitcher Dillon Gee rises to 40th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (7.1IP 0R 8K ND in 1-0, 12-inning win vs. Marlins), giving him 10.7 for the season.

Smith receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Scherzer receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Ramos and Carson each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Sunday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

915	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	12.0	Padres	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Burch Smith (W, 1-1)	7.0	3	0	0	2	10
AL	11.0	`Tigers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Max Scherzer	7.0	5	1	1	1	12
	7.1	`Mets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Dillon Gee	7.1	6	0	0	2	8
BAT	7.0	Nationals	Wilson Ramos C	4	2	4	5	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	6.0	Diamondbacks	Paul Goldschmidt 1B	4	1	4	5	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	5.0	Angels	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Ernesto Frieri (S, 34)	2.0	1	0	0	0	4
	4.0	Giants	Hunter Pence RF	3	2	2	3	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.1	`Orioles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tommy Hunter (H, 20)	1.1	0	0	0	0	2
	3.0	Cardinals	Yadier Molina C	5	3	4	1	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
BAT	3.0	Indians	Matt Carson RF	3	1	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Twins	Josmil Pinto C	3	1	1	3	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Red Sox	Dustin Pedroia 2B	3	2	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Mark Melancon (S, 16)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1
	1.0	Brewers	Jean Segura SS	4	1	2	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Athletics	Josh Reddick RF	4	1	2	2	0	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.

Giants' Brandon Belt (6RBI) tops players for Saturday, Sept. 14; Rays' Moore rises to 10th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Brandon Belt of the Giants is Saturday's Player of the Day, while Rays pitcher Matt Moore rises to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Belt homered, drove in six runs, scored four times and went 5-for-6 in the 19-3 win over the Dodgers.

Moore rose to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday (see the updated top 10 list on the home page). Moore (3IP 0R 5K ND in 7-0 win vs. Twins) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 16.1 for the season, only 0.3 points behind American League pitching leader Justin Masterson of the Indians (16.4).

Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon is AL Player of the Day. Colon pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out seven, in the 1-0 win over the Rangers. Colon earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 10.4 for the season, putting him in 44th place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Moises Sierra of the Blue Jays is AL Batter of the Day. Sierra doubled and drove in two runs in the 4-3 win over the Orioles. 

Notables: Two other players who earned Player of the Game honors Saturday are among the top 40 in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season: 

• Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez rises to 31st place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (8.1IP 1R 8K W in 8-1 win vs. White Sox), giving him 11.8 for the season.
• Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester rises to 32nd place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (8IP 1R 5K W in 5-1 win vs. Yankees), giving him 11.7 for the season. 

Belt receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Colon receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Sierra receives 1.5 for being AL Batter of the Day.

All of Saturday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

914	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	9.0	Giants	Brandon Belt 1B	6	4	5	6	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	8.0	Marlins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Henderson Alvarez (W, 4-4)	7.0	4	0	0	0	5
AL	7.0	Athletics	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Bartolo Colon (W, 16-6)	8.0	7	0	0	1	7
	7.0	Mariners	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			James Paxton (W, 2-0)	6.0	2	0	0	2	5
	6.1	Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Kris Medlen (W, 14-12)	7.1	4	0	0	2	5
	6.0	Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Jon Lester (W, 14-8)	8.0	3	1	1	2	5
	5.2	Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Ervin Santana (W, 9-9)	6.2	5	0	0	1	5
	5.1	Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Ubaldo Jimenez (W, 12-9)	8.1	8	1	1	1	8
	5.0	Reds	Shin-Soo Choo CF	3	3	2	3	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	5.0	Mets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Daisuke Matsuzaka (W, 1-3)	7.0	2	1	1	1	3
	4.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Gerrit Cole (W, 8-7)	7.0	5	1	1	3	7
	4.0	`Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Matt Moore	3.0	1	0	0	3	5
	2.0	Diamondbacks	Aaron Hill 2B	5	1	3	3	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
BAT	2.0	Blue Jays	Moises Sierra RF	2	1	1	2	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Angels	Chris Iannetta C	4	1	2	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	0.0	Phillies	Carlos Ruiz C	5	0	2	3	0	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.

Rays' Archer tops players for Friday, Sept. 13, Cards' Wainwright rises to 4th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Rays pitcher Chris Archer is Friday's Player of the Day, while Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings. 

Archer pitched six shutout innings and struck out seven in the 3-0 win over the Twins. Archer rises to 41st in Box-Toppers player rankings. He earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 10.7 for the season. 

Wainwright rises from sixth to fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season after earning Player of the Game honors Friday (see the updated top 10 list on the home page).  Wainwright (8IP 1R 6K ND in 2-1, 10-inning win vs. Mariners) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 17.7 for the season.

Wainwright is among five National League pitchers holding down the top five overall spots in Box-Toppers player rankings, all of whom are only 1.6 points apart. With only two weeks left in the season, that makes the race for top NL pitcher—and top overall Box-Toppers points leader—a virtual toss-up. The current overall leader is Marlins rookie pitcher Jose Fernandez with 19.0 Box-Toppers points. (Fernandez is not scheduled pitch again this season.) Any one of the four pitchers trailing Fernandez could claim the top overall spot after their next start.

Brewers pitcher Kyle Lohse is American League Player of the Day. Lohse pitched a complete game, giving up only one run, in the 5-1 win over the Reds.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia of the Red Sox is AL Batter of the Day. Saltalamacchia hit a grand slam and went 2-for-3 in the 8-4 win over the Yankees. 

Ryan Zimmerman of the Nationals is NL Batter of the Day. Zimmerman homered and went 3-for-5 in the 6-1 win over the Phillies. 

Archer receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Lohse receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Saltalamacchia and Zimmerman each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Friday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

913	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	10.0	Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Chris Archer (W, 9-7)	6.0	3	0	0	0	7
NL	7.0	Brewers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Kyle Lohse (W, 10-9)	9.0	4	1	1	1	5
	6.2	`Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Danny Salazar	3.2	4	0	0	2	9
BAT	5.0	Red Sox	Jarrod Saltalamacchia C	3	2	2	4	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Athletics	Josh Donaldson 3B	3	2	2	3	2	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Astros	Matt Dominguez 3B	2	1	1	4	1	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	`Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Adam Wainwright	8.0	6	1	1	2	6
	4.0	Padres	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Nick Vincent (W, 5-3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	3
	3.2	Orioles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tommy Hunter (W, 5-4)	1.2	1	0	0	0	3
BAT	2.0	Nationals	Ryan Zimmerman 3B	5	3	3	1	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Rockies	Wilin Rosario C	5	1	2	4	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Cubs	Brian Bogusevic LF	4	1	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Tigers	Prince Fielder 1B	4	1	2	3	0	2			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Mets	Andrew Brown RF	2	2	1	1	2	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Giants	Hunter Pence RF	4	2	2	1	0	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.

Marlins' Jose Fernandez leads all players in Box-Toppers points—does he have a shot at Cy Young? Probably not

With only two weeks left in the season, Box-Toppers has a new leader atop player standings—rookie Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez. 

Fernandez, who has 19.0 Box-Toppers points this season, passed last week's leader, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who has 18.7 points and is in second place. 

But Fernandez' days atop player rankings may be numbered. He made what was expected to be his final start of the season this week, in part to protect his young arm and also because the Marlins are not in the playoff hunt.

The race for the not-at-all coveted top spot in Box-Toppers player rankings is a tight one. Any one of the top 10 players, who are within 2.9 Box-Toppers points of the lead, could rise and claim it. Nine of the top 10 players are pitchers and could have two or three starts left in the season, giving them plenty of opportunity to pick up 3.0 or more Box-Toppers points to claim the top spot.

The race for top National League pitcher is extremely tight, with Fernandez currently narrowly leading the way. The top four players are all National League pitchers and are only 1.6 points apart. So, for example, if Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin were to earn at least NL Player of the Day honors in his next start, he would earn 1.7 points and have 19.1 for the season, enough to pass Fernandez.

The top American League player remains Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers. The third baseman—the sole batter among the top 10—has 16.9 Box-Toppers points and is in fifth place overall. Though other AL pitchers could challenge him for overall top AL player in Box-Toppers points, his lead among AL batters seems secure—he leads second-place player Alfonso Soriano of the Yankees (12.9) by 4.0 Box-Toppers points.

The top American League pitcher remains Justin Masterson of the Indians with 16.4 Box-Toppers points. He falls from seventh to eight place overall. Masterson continues to lead AL pitchers despite not scoring a Box-Toppers point since July 27. 

Still, he has maintained a narrow lead among AL pitchers of 1.3 points or less since then. In other words, Masterson is not exactly on fire and no other AL pitchers seem eager to steal his crown from him. (Masterson has been injured recently but hopes to return to pitching before the end of the season.) 

Masterson's lead among AL pitchers does appear shaky, with five other pitchers within 1.5 Box-Toppers points of catching him with two weeks left. 

Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks continues to lead among NL batters with 12.7 Box-Toppers points. There are three players who trail him by fewer than 2.0 Box-Toppers points. Freddie Freeman of the Braves and Michael Cuddyer of the Rockies, both of whom have 11.5 Box-Toppers points and both of whom have been hot recently, seem to have the best shot of catching Goldschmidt.

Now: Would any of these leaders in Box-Toppers points categories have any shot at all of winning actual coveted postseason awards? 

For example, if Fernandez keeps his lead among NL pitchers, would he be worthy of winning the NL Cy Young Award? Worthy? Yes. Will he get it? Unlikely, since he comes from a non-playoff team and an ignored media market.  It will probably be Kershaw. However, Fernandez should receive more-than-serious consideration for NL Rookie of the Year.

Will Justin Masterson win the AL Cy Young if he keeps his lead? No, probably not. Though Box-Toppers credits him with being most responsible for bringing his teams wins more often, I don't think he is viewed as The One for the Indians. Plus, the Tigers have overshadowed the Indians in the AL Central and their pitchers, especially Max Scherzer who has 19 wins, have been the media favorites.

Will Cabrera win AL most valuable player? Yes. He should. 

Will Goldschmidt win NL MVP? No. Again, he's playing for a non-playoff team. Freddie Freeman of the Braves, in second in Box-Toppers NL batters list, would be a good candidate, but I think writers will probably pick an "intangible" guy, a leader in the clubhouse, a "spark plug" on the field, a light-hitting catcher or something. Or perhaps even someone like Yasiel Puig of the Dodgers. Though the rookie is a media juggernaut, he earned his 1.5 and only Box-Toppers points of the season on June 4.

Previous player rankings report from Sept. 5. 

What are those numbers after players' names?

How does Box-Toppers scoring work? 

Top players

As of Thursday, Sept. 12

	2013 LEADERS
	OVERALL LEADERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	19.0
2	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	18.7
3	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	18.4
4	Corbin, Patrick 3027	pi sp	ari nl	17.4
5	Cabrera, Miguel 1776	3b	det al	16.9
6	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	16.7
7	Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	16.7
8	Masterson, Justin 2462	pi sp	cle al	16.4
9	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	16.1
10	Sanchez, Anibal 2187	pi sp	det al	16.1
	AL PITCHERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Masterson, Justin 2462	pi sp	cle al	16.4
2	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	16.1
3	Sanchez, Anibal 2187	pi sp	det al	16.1
4	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	det al	15.4
5	Moore, Matt 2975	pi sp	tb al	15.1
6	Darvish, Yu 3003	pi sp	tex al	15.0
7	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	13.1
8	Tillman, Chris 2754	pi sp	bal al	12.7
9	Iwakuma, Hisashi 3048	pi sp	sea al	12.4
10	Buchholz, Clay 2363	pi sp	bos al	11.1
	AL BATTERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Cabrera, Miguel 1776	3b	det al	16.9
2	Soriano, Alfonso 1445	lf	nyy al	12.9
3	Davis, Chris 2478	1b	bal al	12.7
4	Cano, Robinson 2092	2b	nyy al	12.5
5	Ortiz, David	dh	bos al	12.4
6	Raburn, Ryan 2340	rf dh lf ph	cle al	9.5
7	Butler, Billy 2330	dh	kc al	9.0
8	Encarnacion, Edwin 2098	1b dh	tor al	8.7
9	Donaldson, Josh 3144	3b	oak al	8.5
10	Beltre, Adrian 1141	3b	tex al	8.4
	NL PITCHERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	19.0
2	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	18.7
3	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	18.4
4	Corbin, Patrick 3027	pi sp	ari nl	17.4
5	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	16.7
6	Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	16.7
7	Miller, Shelby 3134	pi sp	stl nl	15.4
8	Harvey, Matt 3075	pi sp	nym nl	15.0
9	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	14.7
10	Lynn, Lance 2992	pi sp	stl nl	14.1
	NL BATTERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Goldschmidt, Paul 2935	1b	ari nl	12.7
2	Freeman, Freddie 2887	1b	atl nl	11.5
3	Cuddyer, Michael 1826	rf	col nl	11.5
4	Gonzalez, Carlos 2460	lf	col nl	11.0
5	Venable, Will 2621	rf cf	sd nl	9.0
6	Harper, Bryce 3011	lf	dc nl	8.4
7	Zimmerman, Ryan 2180	3b	dc nl	7.7
8	Phillips, Brandon 1691	2b	cin nl	7.5
9	Carpenter, Matt 2987	2b	stl nl	7.5
10	Murphy, Daniel 2589	2b	nym nl	7.5

BTP: Box-Toppers points for 2013 season

Los Angeles Dodgers stay atop Box-Toppers team rankings for second week

The Los Angeles Dodgers are atop Box-Toppers power rankings for the second straight week. 

Dodgers players have accumulated 115.2 Box-Toppers points this season. Two of the top three players in Box-Toppers points this season are Dodgers pitchers—Clayton Kershaw (18.7, second place) and Zack Greinke (18.4, third place).

The Detroit Tigers remain the second-ranked team and the top American League team. The Tigers have 112.7 Box-Toppers points. 

The hottest team of the past week, the Washington Nationals, picked up 8.0 Box-Toppers points and now have 93.4 points, in 14th place overall. 

The hottest American League team, the Oakland Athletics, picked up 6.7 points and now have 101.4 points, in ninth place. 

The Texas Rangers were among the worst teams of the week, picking up only 1.0 Box-Toppers point over the past week, but they fell only one spot, from seventh to eighth place in Box-Toppers power rankings. 

The team with the best actual winning percentage, the Atlanta Braves (.603), fell from ninth to 10th place in Box-Toppers power rankings. The Boston Red Sox (.601) have the best record in the AL and are in third place in Box-Toppers rankings. The Box-Toppers-power-rankings-leader Dodgers have the third best record in baseball (.589).

Top 10 teams

Through Thursday, Sept. 12

912	Top 10 Teams	BTP	BTP/wk	Last week rank
1	Dodgers	115.2	3.0	1
2	Tigers	112.7	4.2	2
3	Red Sox	111.7	4.5	3
4	Cardinals	108.4	6.5	5
5	Pirates	105.9	4.7	6
6	Reds	104.2	4.0	8
7	Rays	104.1	2.0	4
8	Rangers	102.0	1.0	7
9	Athletics	101.4	6.7	10
10	Braves	99.5	3.0	9

BTP: Box-Toppers points total. Accumulated points of all players on team in 2013 season.

BTP/wk: Box-Toppers points for the team for the past week, through games on Thursday.

Athletics' Griffin tops players for Thursday, Sept. 12, Dodgers' Greinke, 3rd in Box-Toppers player rankings, inches closer to top

Athletics pitcher A.J. Griffin is Thursday's Player of the Day, while Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke scored a Box-Toppers point to remain in third place in player rankings. 

Griffin gave up one run and two hits over seven innings, striking out eight, in the 8-2 win over the Twins. 

Greinke maintained his spot in third place on Box-Toppers' player rankings list (see the updated top 10 list on the home page) after earning Player of the Game honors Thursday.  Greinke (6IP 1R 5K ND in 3-2, 10-inning win vs. Giants) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 18.4 for the season. He trails overall leader, Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez (19.0) and teammate, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (18.7), in a tight, late-season race atop the player rankings list.

Pirates pitcher Jeff Locke is National League Player of the Day. Locke gave up one run over seven innings in the 3-1 win over the Cubs. 

Ryan Raburn of the Indians is American League Batter of the Day. Raburn hit a three-run homer, drove in five runs and went 3-for-3 in the 14-3 win over the White Sox. 

Carlos Ruiz of the Phillies is NL Batter of the Day. Ruiz drove in three runs and went 3-for-3 in the 10-5 win over the Padres. 

Notable: Freddie Freeman of the Braves rises to 32nd place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season after earning Player of the Game honors Thursday. Freeman (HR 2RBI 3-4 in 6-1 win vs. Marlins) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.5 for the season. 

Griffin receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Locke receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Raburn and Ruiz each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Thursday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

912	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	10.0	Athletics	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			A.J. Griffin (W, 14-9)	7.0	2	1	1	1	8
BAT	7.0	Indians	Ryan Raburn LF	3	2	3	5	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
NL	6.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Jeff Locke (W, 10-5)	7.0	3	1	1	1	5
	4.2	`Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Jamey Wright (BS, 1)	1.2	1	0	0	0	4
BAT	4.0	Phillies	Carlos Ruiz C	3	1	3	3	2	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Braves	Freddie Freeman 1B	4	2	3	2	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Brewers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tyler Thornburg (W, 2-1)	6.0	3	2	2	2	6
	3.0	`Dodgers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Zack Greinke	6.0	4	1	1	2	5
	2.0	Nationals	Ryan Zimmerman 3B	4	2	2	2	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Angels	Kole Calhoun RF	3	1	2	1	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Yankees	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Mariano Rivera (W, 6-2)	1.0	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.

Nats' Haren tops players for Wednesday, Sept. 11; Tigers' Sanchez rises to 10th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Nationals pitcher Dan Haren is Wednesday's Player of the Day, while Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez rises to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Haren pitched six scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and striking out eight, in the 3-0 win over the Mets. 

Sanchez, American League Player of the Day, rises to 10th on the season's Box-Toppers player rankings (see the top 10 player list on the home page). Sanchez pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings and struck out 10 in the 1-0 win over the White Sox. He earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 16.1 for the season. 

Mike Carp of the Red Sox is AL Batter of the Day. Carp hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the top of the 10th inning to beat the Rays, 7-3. 

Jack Hannahan of the Reds is National League Batter of the Day. Hannahan homered and drove in three runs in the 6-0 win over the Cubs. 

Notables: Four other players who earned Player of the Game honors Wednesday are among the top 30 in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season: 

• Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn rises to 17th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (6IP 0ER 10K ND in 5-1 win vs. Brewers), giving him 14.1 for the season.
• Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks rises to 26th place and remains the top-ranked NL batter. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (4-5 2RBI in 4-1 win vs. Dodgers), giving him 12.7 for the season. 
• Robinson Cano of the Yankees rises to 27th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (HR 2-4 2RBI in 5-4 win vs. Orioles), giving him 12.5 for the season.
• Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee rises to 28th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (8IP 9K W in 4-2 win vs. Padres), giving him 12.4 for the season.

Haren receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Sanchez receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Carp and Hannahan each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Wednesday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

911	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	12.0	Nationals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Dan Haren (W, 9-13)	6.0	1	0	0	1	8
AL	8.1	Tigers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Anibal Sanchez (W, 14-7)	7.1	5	0	0	4	10
	8.0	`Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Lance Lynn	6.0	5	1	0	2	10
	7.0	Phillies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Cliff Lee (W, 13-6)	8.0	5	2	2	1	9
	6.0	Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			James Shields (W, 11-9)	8.0	4	2	2	1	7
BAT	5.0	Red Sox	Mike Carp PH	1	1	1	4	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Athletics	Jed Lowrie SS	4	2	2	4	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
BAT	4.0	Reds	Jack Hannahan PH	1	1	1	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Astros	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Brad Peacock (W, 5-5)	6.0	3	1	1	1	4
	3.0	Marlins	Giancarlo Stanton RF	3	1	2	3	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Kyle Farnsworth (S, 1)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1
	1.0	Diamondbacks	Paul Goldschmidt 1B	5	0	4	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Yankees	Robinson Cano 2B	4	1	2	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Angels	Josh Hamilton DH	3	1	3	0	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Giants	Angel Pagan PH, CF	1	1	1	0	0	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.

Angels' Mark Trumbo (HR, 5-5) tops players for Tuesday, Sept. 10

Mark Trumbo of the Angels is Tuesday's Player of the Day. Trumbo homered and went 5-for-5 in the 12-6 win over the Blue Jays. 

Padres pitcher Andrew Cashner is National League Player of the Day. Cashner allowed two runs and struck out seven over 7 2/3 innings in the 8-2 win over the Phillies. 

Michael Cuddyer of the Rockies is NL Batter of the Day. Cuddyer hit two homers, including a three-run shot, went 3-for-5 and drove in four runs in the 9-8 win over the Giants. Cuddyer rises to 31st in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season. He earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL Batter of the Day, giving him 11.5 for the season.

Notables: Four other Players of the Games from Tuesday are among the top 40 in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season:

• Cardinals pitcher Shelby Miller rises to 11th in the rankings (6.2IP 0R W in 4-2 win vs. Brewers). He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 15.4 for the season.
• Alfonso Soriano of the Yankees rises to 21st in rankings (2HR 3RBI in 7-5 win vs. Orioles).  He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 12.9 for the season.
• Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz rises to 33rd in rankings (5IP 0R 6K W in 2-0 win vs. Rays). He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 11.1 for the season.
• Braves closing pitcher Craig Kimbrel rises to 37th in rankings (1IP 0R 2K Sv in 4-3 win vs. Marlins). He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 10.7 for the season. 

Trumbo receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Cashner receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Cuddyer receives  1.5 for being NL Batter of the Day.

All of Tuesday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

910	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	7.0	Angels	Mark Trumbo 1B	5	5	5	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	7.0	Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Clay Buchholz (W, 10-0)	5.0	3	0	0	1	6
	6.2	`Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Luke Hochevar (H, 6)	1.2	0	0	0	0	5
NL	5.2	Padres	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Andrew Cashner (W, 9-8)	7.2	4	2	2	1	7
BAT	4.0	Rockies	Michael Cuddyer RF	5	2	3	4	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Tigers	Alex Avila C	4	2	4	2	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Twins	Josh Willingham LF	3	2	2	3	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.2	Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Shelby Miller (W, 13-9)	6.2	5	0	0	2	4
	3.0	Astros	Jose Altuve 2B	6	3	3	3	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Cubs	Welington Castillo C	5	2	3	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Nationals	Jayson Werth RF	4	2	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Dodgers	Scott Van Slyke PH	1	1	1	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Pirates	Andrew McCutchen CF	5	1	3	3	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Yankees	Alfonso Soriano LF	5	2	2	3	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Craig Kimbrel (S, 46)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2

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

Nats' Gonzalez tops players for Monday, Sept. 9, White Sox' Sale rises to 9th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Nationals pitcher Gio Gonzalez is Monday's Player of the Day, while White Sox pitcher Chris Sale rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers player rankings. 

Gonzalez pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout, striking out nine, in the 9-0 win over the Mets. He did not give up the hit until the seventh inning. Gonzalez rises to 21st place among players in Box-Toppers points. He receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 12.7 for the season.

Sale, who rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season (see the updated top 10 list on the home page), is American League Player of the Day. Sale gave up one run and struck out eight over eight innings in the 5-1 win over the Tigers. He earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 16.1 for the season.

Jimmy Paredes of the Astros is AL Batter of the Day. Paredes went 1-for-3 and drove in two runs in the 6-4 win over the Mariners. This was Paredes' Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,278th player to debut on Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Angel Pagan of the Giants is National League Batter of the Day. Pagan went 3-for-5 in the 3-2, 10-inning win over the Rockies. 

Notables: Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman rises to 24th place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season and Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez rises to 34th after both earned Player of the Game honors Monday: 

• Tillman (7IP 9K W in 4-2 win vs. Yankees) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 12.7 for the season.
• Jimenez (7IP 0ER 10K W in 4-3 win vs. Royals) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.8 for the season. 

Gonzalez receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Sale receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Paredes and Pagan each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Monday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

909	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	14.0	Nationals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Gio Gonzalez (W, 10-6)	9.0	1	0	0	2	8
	11.0	Pirates	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Gerrit Cole (W, 7-7)	7.0	3	0	0	2	9
AL	9.0	White Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Chris Sale (W, 11-12)	8.0	4	1	1	1	8
	9.0	Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Ubaldo Jimenez (W, 11-9)	7.0	7	1	0	0	10
	8.0	Orioles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Chris Tillman (W, 16-5)	7.0	4	2	2	0	9
	8.0	Cubs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Travis Wood (W, 9-11)	7.0	6	0	0	0	7
	7.2	Dodgers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Ricky Nolasco (W, 13-9)	6.2	3	1	0	1	6
	3.0	Twins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Casey Fien (W, 4-2)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	3.0	Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Craig Kimbrel (S, 45)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
BAT	1.0	Astros	Jimmy Paredes RF	3	1	1	2	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
BAT	0.0	Giants	Angel Pagan CF	5	2	3	0	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Giants' Madison Bumgarner (6IP 0R 9K ND) tops players for Sunday, Sept. 8

Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner is Sunday's Player of the Day. Bumgarner struck out nine over six scoreless innings in the 3-2, 11-inning win over the Diamondbacks.

Bumgarner did not earn a win-loss decision in the game because the Diamondbacks tied the score 2-2 in the eighth inning after he left the game with the lead in the sixth inning.

Bumgarner rises to 13th place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season. He earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 14.7 for the season.

Blue Jays pitcher Esmil Rogers is American League Player of the Day. Rogers pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings in the 2-0 win over the Twins. 

Eric Hosmer of the Royals is AL Batter of the Day. Hosmer hit a three-run homer and went 3-for-4 in the 5-2 win over the Tigers. 

Nick Hundley of the Padres is National League Batter of the Day. Hundley hit a pinch-hit three-run double to beat the Rockies, 5-2. 

Notables: Three of Sunday's Players of the Games are among the top 40 in the Box-Toppers player rankings for the season:

• Reds pitcher Homer Bailey rises to 20th place. Bailey (7IP 9K ND in 3-2 win vs. Dodgers) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 13.0 for the season.
• Robinson Cano of the Yankees rises to 29th place. Cano (3-4 2RBI in 4-3 win vs. Red Sox) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 11.5 for the season. 
• Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels rises to 38th place. Hamels (8IP 2H 9K W in 3-2 win vs. Braves) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 10.4 for the season.

Bumgarner receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Rogers receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Hosmer and Hundley each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Sunday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

908	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	11.0	`Giants	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Madison Bumgarner	6.0	4	0	0	0	9
	9.0	Phillies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Cole Hamels (W, 7-13)	8.0	2	2	2	2	9
AL	7.2	Blue Jays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Esmil Rogers (W, 5-7)	7.2	3	0	0	1	4
	7.0	Brewers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Yovani Gallardo (W, 11-9)	7.0	3	1	1	1	6
	6.0	`Reds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Homer Bailey	7.0	6	2	2	0	9
	5.0	Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Michael Wacha (W, 3-0)	7.0	2	0	0	2	2
	5.0	Athletics	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Bartolo Colon (W, 15-6)	6.0	5	1	1	1	7
	3.2	`Mets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Daisuke Matsuzaka	5.2	3	1	1	3	6
BAT	3.0	Royals	Eric Hosmer 1B	4	1	3	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
BAT	3.0	Padres	Nick Hundley PH, C	1	0	1	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Fernando Rodney (S, 33)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	2.2	White Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Andre Rienzo (W, 2-1)	6.2	4	1	1	2	4
	2.0	Nationals	Wilson Ramos C	5	2	3	2	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Yankees	Robinson Cano 2B	4	0	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Rangers	Alex Rios RF	4	1	2	2	1	2			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.

Cardinals' Wainwright tops players for Saturday, Sept. 7, rises to 6th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright is Saturday's Player of the Day and rises to sixth place on Box-Toppers player standings for the season.

Wainwright pitched seven shutout innings, giving up only two hits and striking out eight, in the 5-0 win over the Pirates. He earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 16.7 for the season, rising to sixth in Box-Toppers player rankings (see the updated top 10 list on the home page).

Athletics pitcher Dan Straily is American League Player of the Day. Straily pitched seven shutout innings, giving up two hits and striking out seven, in the 2-1 win over the Astros.

Wainwright and Straily had identical 11.0 Box-Toppers game scores, but Wainwright earned overall Player of the Day honors because he had one more strikeout than Straily (eight vs. seven).

Adam Lind of the Blue Jays is AL Batter of the Day. Lind hit two three-run homers in the 11-2 win over the Twins. 

Freddy Galvis of the Phillies is National League Batter of the Day. Galvis hit a walk-off homer and went 4-for-5 in the 6-5 win over the Braves. 

Notable: Royals closing pitcher Greg Holland rises to 31st place on Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday. Holland (1IP 0H 0R 2K Sv in 4-3 win vs. Tigers) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.0 for the season. 

Wainwright receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Straily receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Lind and Galvis each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Saturday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

907	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	11.0	Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Adam Wainwright (W, 16-9)	7.0	2	0	0	2	8
AL	11.0	Athletics	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Dan Straily (W, 9-7)	7.0	2	0	0	1	7
	7.0	`Padres	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tyson Ross	7.0	3	0	0	2	5
	6.0	Nationals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tanner Roark (W, 5-0)	6.0	4	0	0	0	4
BAT	5.0	Blue Jays	Adam Lind 1B	5	2	2	6	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	5.0	Red Sox	Jonny Gomes LF	4	2	3	4	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	5.0	Diamondbacks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Brandon McCarthy (W, 4-9)	8.0	6	1	1	1	6
	4.0	`Orioles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Wei-Yin Chen	6.0	6	2	2	0	8
	3.0	Royals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Greg Holland (S, 39)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
BAT	2.0	Phillies	Freddy Galvis SS	5	1	4	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Mariners	Kendrys Morales DH	4	1	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Indians	Nick Swisher 1B	4	2	2	2	1	2			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Angels	Grant Green 2B	3	1	1	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Brewers	Logan Schafer CF	2	0	1	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Reds	Joey Votto 1B	2	1	2	0	3	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.

Marlins' Jose Fernandez takes lead among players in Box-Toppers points; Giants' Petit, nearly perfect, tops players for Friday, Sept. 6

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez takes the lead in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season after earning Player of the Game honors Friday. 

Meanwhile, Giants pitcher Yusmeiro Petit, who nearly threw a perfect game, is Friday's overall Player of the Day. 

Fernandez pitched seven shutout innings, giving up only one hit and striking out nine in the 7-0 win over the Nationals. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being top player in the game, giving him 19.0 for the season. He moves from second to first in the Box-Toppers player ranking list, passing previous leader Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers (18.7 points), who had led since Aug. 17 (see the updated top 10 player rankings list on the home page). This is the first time Fernandez has led in Box-Toppers points this season. 

Though Fernandez' performance Friday was impressive and his Box-Toppers game score of 13.0 would usually be enough to earn Player of the Day honors, there were three other players who had better scores Friday. 

Petit, who had a Box-Toppers game score of 15.0, is Friday's overall top player. Petit was one strike away from a perfect game in the 3-0 win over the Diamondbacks. He gave up one hit with two outs and two strikes in the ninth inning. He struck out seven in the complete game shutout.

This is Petit's first Box-Toppers Player of the Game honor since Aug. 27, 2009 when he was with the Diamondbacks.

Indians pitcher Scott Kazmir is American League Player of the Day. Kazmir struck out 12 over six scoreless innings in the 8-1 win over the Mets. 

Omar Infante of the Tigers is AL Batter of the Day. Infante went 5-for-6 and drove in six runs in the 16-2 win over the Royals.

Jon Jay of the Cardinals is National League Batter of the Day. Jay went 3-for-4, scored three times and drove in three runs in the 12-8 win over the Pirates.  

Notable: Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee rises to 29th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Friday. Lee (8IP 2H 1R 10K W in 2-1 win vs. Braves) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.4 for the season. 

Petit receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Kazmir receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Infante and Jay each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Friday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

906	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	15.0	Giants	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Yusmeiro Petit (W, 3-0)	9.0	1	0	0	0	7
	14.0	Phillies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Cliff Lee (W, 12-6)	8.0	2	1	1	0	10
AL	14.0	Indians	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Scott Kazmir (W, 8-7)	6.0	4	0	0	0	12
	13.0	Marlins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Jose Fernandez (W, 11-6)	7.0	1	0	0	2	9
BAT	8.0	Tigers	Omar Infante 2B	5	2	5	6	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	7.1	Cubs	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Carlos Villanueva (W, 5-8)	2.1	0	0	0	0	5
	7.0	Red Sox	Mike Napoli 1B	3	3	3	4	2	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	6.0	Orioles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Scott Feldman (W, 5-4)	9.0	5	0	0	1	3
BAT	5.0	Cardinals	Jon Jay CF	4	3	3	3	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	4.0	Reds	Joey Votto 1B	2	2	2	2	2	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Athletics	Josh Donaldson 3B	5	3	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Angels	Mark Trumbo 1B	4	1	1	3	0	2			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Mariners	Kyle Seager 3B	3	1	1	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Blue Jays	Jose Reyes SS	3	2	1	1	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Padres	Jesus Guzman PH	1	0	1	1	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Dodgers' Kershaw keeps lead in Box-Toppers player rankings; Cabera, Masterson, Goldschmidt among leaders

There were no changes among leaders in Box-Toppers player rankings categories this week. 

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw maintains his top spot in Box-Toppers player rankings, while Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers keeps his lead among American League players.

Kershaw has 18.7 Box-Toppers points to lead for the third straight week. 

Cabrera has 16.9 points to lead all AL players. He falls from fourth to fifth place among all players.

Indians pitcher Justin Masterson leads among AL pitchers with 16.4 Box-Toppers points. (He falls from fifth to seventh among all players.)

Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks  leads among NL batters with 11.7 Box-Toppers points. Goldschmidt falls from 25th to 27th among all players.

Forty-one players have accumulated 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points so far this season, including nine batters.

Previous player rankings report from Aug. 29. 

What are those numbers after players' names?

How does Box-Toppers scoring work?

Top players

As of Thursday, Sept. 5

	2013 LEADERS
	OVERALL LEADERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	18.7
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	18.0
3	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	17.4
4	Corbin, Patrick 3027	pi sp	ari nl	17.4
5	Cabrera, Miguel 1776	3b	det al	16.9
6	Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	16.7
7	Masterson, Justin 2462	pi sp	cle al	16.4
8	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	det al	15.4
9	Moore, Matt 2975	pi sp	tb al	15.1
10	Darvish, Yu 3003	pi sp	tex al	15.0
	AL PITCHERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Masterson, Justin 2462	pi sp	cle al	16.4
2	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	det al	15.4
3	Moore, Matt 2975	pi sp	tb al	15.1
4	Darvish, Yu 3003	pi sp	tex al	15.0
5	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	14.4
6	Sanchez, Anibal 2187	pi sp	det al	14.4
7	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	13.1
8	Iwakuma, Hisashi 3048	pi sp	sea al	12.4
9	Tillman, Chris 2754	pi sp	bal al	11.7
10	Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	bos al	10.7
	AL BATTERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Cabrera, Miguel 1776	3b	det al	16.9
2	Davis, Chris 2478	1b	bal al	12.7
3	Ortiz, David	dh	bos al	12.4
4	Soriano, Alfonso 1445	lf	nyy al	11.9
5	Cano, Robinson 2092	2b	nyy al	10.5
6	Butler, Billy 2330	dh	kc al	9.0
7	Encarnacion, Edwin 2098	1b dh	tor al	8.7
8	Beltre, Adrian 1141	3b	tex al	8.4
9	Jones, Adam 2347	cf	bal al	8.0
10	Kipnis, Jason 2933	2b	cle al	8.0
	NL PITCHERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	18.7
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	18.0
3	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	17.4
4	Corbin, Patrick 3027	pi sp	ari nl	17.4
5	Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	16.7
6	Harvey, Matt 3075	pi sp	nym nl	15.0
7	Wainwright, Adam 2150	pi sp	stl nl	14.7
8	Miller, Shelby 3134	pi sp	stl nl	14.4
9	Latos, Mat 2644	pi sp	cin nl	13.4
10	Lynn, Lance 2992	pi sp	stl nl	13.1
	NL BATTERS	POS	TEAM	BTP
1	Goldschmidt, Paul 2935	1b	ari nl	11.7
2	Gonzalez, Carlos 2460	lf	col nl	11.0
3	Freeman, Freddie 2887	1b	atl nl	10.5
4	Cuddyer, Michael 1826	rf	col nl	10.0
5	Venable, Will 2621	rf cf	sd nl	9.0
6	Harper, Bryce 3011	lf	dc nl	8.4
7	Phillips, Brandon 1691	2b	cin nl	7.5
8	Carpenter, Matt 2987	2b	stl nl	7.5
9	Murphy, Daniel 2589	2b	nym nl	7.5
10	McCann, Brian 2179	ca	atl nl	7.0

BTP: Box-Toppers points for 2013 season

Los Angeles Dodgers, after season-long climb, take top spot in Box-Toppers team rankings

The Los Angeles Dodgers are now Box-Toppers' top team. 

The Dodgers, the hottest team since June and the hottest team of the past week, have catapulted from early-season obscurity to steadily climbing Box-Toppers team rankings, rising this week to the No. 1 spot. 

Dodgers players have accumulated 112.2 Box-Toppers points this season, including 13.2 this past week, more than any other team. They picked up 7.0 of those Box-Toppers points by acquiring two players this past week: 

• Michael Young, 3B, acquired in a trade from the Phillies. He has 4.0 Box-Toppers points.
• Edinson Volquez, PI, signed after being released by the Padres.  He has 3.0 Box-Toppers points.

The Dodgers were the preseason favorite to win the World Series, a pick that seemed doomed in May when the team got off to a slow start. They started winning in June and were so far back, they did not debut in the Box-Toppers top 10 team rankings until July 25. Last week, they took over top spot among National League teams. And this week, they rose from third place overall to the top spot.  

The Dodgers pass last week's top team, the Detroit Tigers, which topped Box-Toppers power rankings for four weeks. The Tigers, with 108.5 points, second place overall, still have more Box-Toppers points than any other American League team.

The second-hottest team of the past week, the Pittsburgh Pirates, picked up 10.2 Box-Toppers points, giving them 101.2 points the season, rising from ninth to sixth place in power rankings. The Pirates picked up 4.5 of those points by acquiring first baseman Justin Morneau in a trade with the Twins. The Pirates were also the hottest team last week. 

The hottest AL team of the week is the Boston Red Sox, picking up 8.7 Box-Toppers points and rising from sixth place to third place in power rankings. 

The team with the best actual winning percentage, the Atlanta Braves (.612) , is in ninth place in Box-Toppers power rankings. The Red Sox (.599) have the best record in the AL. The Box-Toppers-power-rankings-leader Dodgers have the third best record in baseball (.597).

Top 10 teams

Through Thursday, Sept. 5

905	Top 10 Teams	BTP	BTP/wk	Last week rank
1	Dodgers	112.2	13.2	3
2	Tigers	108.5	3.5	1
3	Red Sox	107.2	8.7	6
4	Rays	102.1	2.7	2
5	Cardinals	101.9	3.0	5
6	Pirates	101.2	10.2	9
7	Rangers	101.0	2.0	4
8	Reds	100.2	6.0	7
9	Braves	96.5	4.0	8
10	Athletics	94.7	5.0	10

BTP: Box-Toppers points total. Accumulated points of all players on team in 2013 season.

BTP/wk: Box-Toppers points for the team for the past week, through games on Thursday.

Astros' Peacock, Orioles' Gonzalez top players for Thursday, Sept. 5

Astros pitcher Brad Peacock is Thursday's Player of the Day. Peacock struck out nine over seven innings in the 3-2 win over the Athletics.

Orioles pitcher Miguel Gonzalez is American League Player of the Day. Gonzalez gave up one run over seven innings and struck out six in the 3-1 win over the White Sox. 

Todd Frazier of the Reds is National League Batter of the Day. Frazier hit two homers and went 3-for-4 in the 6-2 win over the Cardinals. 

Billy Butler of the Royals is AL Batter of the Day. Butler went 5-for-5 in the 13-inning, 7-6 win over the Mariners. Butler earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for AL Batter of the Day, giving him 9.0 for the season. He has the most Box-Toppers points for the season among all seven of Thursday's Players of the Game and is in 49th place overall.

Peacock receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Gonzalez receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Frazier and Butler each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Thursday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

905	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	6.0	Astros	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Brad Peacock (W, 4-5)	7.0	5	2	2	1	9
AL	6.0	Orioles	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Miguel Gonzalez (W, 9-7)	7.0	4	1	1	1	6
BAT	3.0	Reds	Todd Frazier 3B	4	2	3	2	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Craig Breslow (W, 5-2)	2.0	0	0	0	1	2
BAT	2.0	Royals	Billy Butler DH	5	1	5	1	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	`Diamondbacks	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Tony Sipp (H, 2)	1.0	1	0	0	0	2
	1.1	Angels	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Jerome Williams (W, 6-10)	6.1	6	2	2	2	7

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