Red Sox' Lackey, Nationals' Desmond top players for Monday, July 21

Red Sox pitcher John Lackey is Monday’s Player of the Day. Lackey pitched seven innings, allowing two hits and one run, in the 14-1 win over the Blue Jays.

Ian Desmond of the Nationals is National League Player of the Day. Desmond homered and went 5-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 7-2 win over the Rockies.

Adam Jones of the Orioles is American League Batter of the Day. Jones homered twice and drove in four runs in the 4-2 win over the Angels.

Notable: White Sox pitcher Chris Sale rises to 15th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Monday. Sale (7IP 1R 8K W in the 3-1 win over the Royals) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.0 for the season. He is in ninth place in Box-Toppers points among AL pitchers.

Lackey receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Desmond receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Jones receives 1.5 for being AL Batter of the Day.

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

Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. Players earn Box-Toppers points for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

721	Score	Team	Player	AB	R	H	BI	BB	K		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
MLB	6.0	Red Sox	John Lackey (W, 11-6)	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.0	2	1	1	0	3
NL	5.0	Nationals	Ian Desmond SS	5	3	5	2	0	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	5.0	White Sox	Chris Sale (W, 9-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.0	7	1	1	1	8
	5.0	Brewers	Wily Peralta (W, 11-6)	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.0	3	1	1	2	5
	4.2	`Marlins	Tom Koehler	-	-	-	-	-	-		6.2	5	1	1	2	7
	4.1	Mariners	Roenis Elias (W, 8-8)	-	-	-	-	-	-		5.1	5	1	1	2	8
BAT	4.0	Orioles	Adam Jones CF	4	2	2	4	0	2		-	-	-	-	-	-
	4.0	Giants	George Kontos (W, 2-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		2.0	1	0	0	0	3
	2.0	Dodgers	Adrian Gonzalez 1B	3	1	3	1	2	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	2.0	Twins	Josh Willingham LF	3	2	2	1	1	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	2.0	`Tigers	Joba Chamberlain (H, 20)	-	-	-	-	-	-		1.0	0	0	0	0	1
	1.0	Rangers	Geovany Soto C	3	1	2	1	0	1		-	-	-	-	-	-

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

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw, pitching no-hitter, tops players for Wednesday, June 18, rises to 3rd in Box-Toppers points

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, pitching a no-hitter, is Wednesday’s Player of the Day and rises to third place in Box-Toppers season player rankings.

Kershaw struck out 15 over nine innings, allowing no runs, hits or walks in the 8-0 win over the Rockies. The Rockies only baserunner reached on an error. This was Kershaw’s first no-hitter and the second thrown this season—the other by Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett on May 25.

Kershaw receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 10.7 for the season. He rises from eighth to third place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season (see the updated top 10 list on the home page). He is now in second place in Box-Toppers points among National League pitchers, behind Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals (12.0).

Kershaw led all players in Box-Toppers points in 2013 with 21.7.

Red Sox pitcher John Lackey is American League Player of the Day. Lackey pitched nine shutout innings and struck out nine in the 2-1, 10-inning win over the Twins. Lackey, however, did not pick up the win because he left with the game tied 0-0 after nine innings.

Brian McCann of the Yankees is AL Batter of the Day. McCann homered, tripled and drove in five runs in the 7-3 win over the Blue Jays.

Marlon Byrd of the Phillies is NL Batter of the Day. Byrd homered, went 3-for-5, scored twice and drove in three runs in the 10-5 win over the Braves.

Kershaw receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Lackey receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. McCann and Byrd 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.

Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Wednesday, click here.

Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. Players earn Box-Toppers points for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

618	Score	Team	Player	AB	R	H	BI	BB	K		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
MLB	24.0	Dodgers	Clayton Kershaw (W, 7-2)	-	-	-	-	-	-		9.0	0	0	0	0	15
AL	14.0	`Red Sox	John Lackey	-	-	-	-	-	-		9.0	3	0	0	1	9
	10.0	Cubs	Jake Arrieta (W, 3-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.0	5	1	1	1	11
	8.2	Royals	Jeremy Guthrie (W, 4-6)	-	-	-	-	-	-		6.2	4	1	1	1	9
BAT	5.0	Yankees	Brian McCann C	3	1	2	5	1	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	5.0	Padres	Kevin Gausman (W, 3-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		6.0	5	0	0	1	5
	4.1	Dbacks	Brad Ziegler (W, 3-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		1.1	0	0	0	0	3
BAT	3.0	Phillies	Marlon Byrd RF	5	2	3	3	0	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	3.0	White Sox	Adamn Dunn DH	3	2	1	3	1	1		-	-	-	-	-	-
	3.0	Mets	Bartolo Colon (W, 7-5)	-	-	-	-	-	-		8.0	4	1	1	0	1
	3.0	Padres	Joaquin Benoit (W, 3-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	3.0	Athletics	Sean Doolittle (S, 9)	-	-	-	-	-	-		1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	2.0	Reds	Skip Schumaker LF	4	1	2	3	0	1		-	-	-	-	-	-
	2.0	Nationals	Rafael Soriano (S, 15)	-	-	-	-	-	-		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.

Red Sox' John Lackey (8IP 1R 11K) tops players for Wednesday, April 23

Red Sox pitcher John Lackey is Wednesday’s Player of the Day. Lackey gave up one run over eight innings and struck out 11 in the 5-1 win over the Yankees.

Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke is National League Player of the Day. Greinke struck out 11 over seven innings in the 5-2 win over the Phillies. Greinke rises to sixth place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season. He earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points, giving him 4.4 for the season. (See updated Top 10 Box-Toppers player rankings for 2014 on the home page.)

Kyle Seager of the Mariners is American League Batter of the Day. Seager hit a two-run homer and then hit a walk-off three-run home run in the 5-3 win over the Astros.

Michael Morse of the Giants is NL Batter of the Day. Morse hit two home runs and drove in four runs in the 12-10, 11-inning win over the Rockies.

Notable: Rangers pitcher Martin Perez rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season. Perez (CG 0R W in 3-0 win vs. Athletics) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 5.0 for the season. (See updated Top 10 Box-Toppers player rankings for 2014 on the home page.)

Lackey receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Greinke receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Seager and Morse 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.

Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. Players earn Box-Toppers points for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

423	Score	Team	Player	AB	R	H	BI	BB	K		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
MLB	10.0	Red Sox	John Lackey (W, 3-2)	-	-	-	-	-	-		8.0	7	1	1	0	11
NL	8.0	Dodgers	Zack Greinke (W, 4-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.0	5	2	2	1	11
	8.0	`Braves	Aaron Harang	-	-	-	-	-	-		6.0	6	1	1	1	11
	7.0	Rangers	Martin Perez (W, 4-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		9.0	3	0	0	2	3
BAT	6.0	Mariners	Kyle Seager 3B	3	2	2	5	1	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	5.0	Orioles	Nelson Cruz DH	4	2	2	5	1	1		-	-	-	-	-	-
	4.1	Twins	Casey Fien (W, 3-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		2.1	0	0	0	0	2
BAT	4.0	Giants	Michael Morse LF	4	2	2	4	0	1		-	-	-	-	-	-
	4.0	Brewers	Kyle Lohse (W, 4-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.0	5	2	1	0	5
	4.0	Dbacks	Trevor Cahill (W, 1-4)	-	-	-	-	-	-		2.0	1	0	0	0	3
	2.0	White Sox	Marcus Semien 3B	4	1	1	4	0	2		-	-	-	-	-	-
	1.0	Mets	Lucas Duda 1B	3	2	1	1	1	1		-	-	-	-	-	-
	1.0	Indians	Lonnie Chisenhall PH, 3B	1	0	1	1	0	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	0.0	Reds	Jay Bruce RF	4	1	2	1	0	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	0.0	Nationals	Danny Espinosa 2B	3	1	2	0	1	0		-	-	-	-	-	-

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

World Series Game 6 preview: Cards' Wacha, Red Sox' Lackey duel in pitching rematch from Game 2

World Series Game 6 Wednesday features a pitching rematch of Game 2 won by the Cardinals.

Cardinals pitcher Michael Wacha faces Red Sox pitcher John Lackey, the same two who started Game 2 in Boston last Thursday won by the Cardinals 4-2. St. Louis closing pitcher Trevor Rosenthal was Box-Toppers Player of the Day in that game. Wacha, who pitched six innings, earned the win.

The Red Sox lead the best-of-seven series 3-2 and could wrap up the World Series championship with a win Wednesday.

Wacha had 3.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 361st overall. However, the rookie has earned Player of the Game honors for the Cardinals three times already this postseason (Game 4 of the National League Divisional Series vs. the Pirates, and Game 2 and Game 6 of the NL Championship Series vs. the Dodgers).

Lackey had 6.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 148th overall. Lackey was Player of the Day in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series vs. the Tigers.

Related story:  Box-Toppers previews 2013 World Series in this post from Oct. 21. 

Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Top players from the winning team of each game are determined by a formula using standard box score statistics. 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 players in each of the other games. 

Red Sox' Jon Lester shuts down Cardinals in World Series Game 1, tops players for Wednesday, Oct. 23

Jon Lester shut out the Cardinals for 7 2/3 innings and led the Red Sox to a Game 1 World Series win to earn Wednesday's Box-Toppers Player of the Day honors.

Lester struck out eight, walked only one and allowed five hits in the 8-1 win. The Red Sox take a one-game-to-zero lead over the Cardinals in the best-of-seven series. 

Lester had 12.7 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 34th overall. He was also Player of the Game in the first game of the American League Division Series against the Rays.

 Coming Thursday: The World Series resumes Thursday in Boston. Here is the pitching match-up:

World Series Game 2, Red Sox lead Cardinals 1-0

Cardinals: Michael Wacha, 3.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 361st overall. However, the rookie has earned Player of the Game honors for the Cardinals three times already this postseason (twice in the National League Championship Series), more than any other player.

Red Sox: John Lackey, 6.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 148th overall. Lackey was Player of the Day in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series vs. the Tigers.

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. 

Related story:  Box-Toppers previews 2013 World Series in this post from Oct. 21.

Top 6 players in World Series Game 1  

Here are the top six Red Sox players in Wednesday's World Series Game 1, ranked from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score (how game score is calculated). Jon Lester, who had a Box-Toppers game score of 9.2 was Player of the Game (POG). David Ortiz was the highest-scoring batter, going 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, amassing a Box-Toppers game score of 4.0.

1023	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
POG	9.2	Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Jon Lester (W, 1-0)	7.2	5	0	0	1	8
	4.0	Red Sox	David Ortiz DH	3	2	2	3	0	0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.1	Red Sox	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Junichi Tazawa	0.1	0	0	0	0	1
	1.0	Red Sox	Dustin Pedroia 2B	4	2	2	1	0	0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	1.0	Red Sox	Daniel Nava PH, LF	1	1	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	0.0	Red Sox	Mike Napoli 1B	4	0	1	3	0	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Red Sox' Lackey, Cards' Holliday top players in LCS games for Tuesday, Oct. 15

John Lackey, who threw 6 2/3 shutout innings and struck out eight, leading the Red Sox to win Game 3 of the American League Championship Series, is Tuesday's Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

The Red Sox won 1-0 to take a two-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven ALCS series. 

Lackey had 6.0 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 148th among all players. 

Meanwhile, Matt Holliday of the Cardinals is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in the National League Championship Series Game 4. Holliday hit a two-run home run and went 2-for-4 in the Cardinals 4-2 win over the Dodgers. The Cardinals take a three-games-to-one lead over the Dodgers in the NLCS.

Holliday had 6.5 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranking 121st among all players. 

Coming Wednesday: Both League Championship Series continue Wednesday. Here are the pitching match-ups:

NLCS Game 5, Cardinals lead Dodgers 3-1

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

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

While the pitching match-up in the game favors Greinke, the best pitcher hasn't always guaranteed a team's victory in this series. In fact, in the first three games of the series, the top three pitchers in Box-Toppers Player Rankings started games and in each game, his team lost:

• Greinke picked up a no-decision in the Dodgers' Game 1 loss.
• Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (21.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked first) picked up the loss in Game 2.
• Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright (20.2 Box-Toppers points, ranked second) picked up the loss in Game 3.

ALCS Game 4, Red Sox lead Tigers 2-1

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

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

1015	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	10.2	Red Sox		0	0	0	0	0	0			John Lackey (W, 2-0)	6.2	4	0	0	0	8
NL	1.0	Cardinals	Matt Holliday LF	4	1	2	2	0	0				0.0	0	0	0	0	0

Dodgers' Hyun-Jin Ryu tops players in NLCS Game 3 win, Monday, Oct. 14

Hyun-Jin Ryu, who threw seven shutout innings and gave up only three hits to lead the Dodgers to a Game 3 National League Championship Series win over the Cardinals, is Monday's Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

The Dodgers won the game 3-0 and now trail the best-of-seven NLCS against the Cardinals two games to one. 

Ryu had 9.7 Box-Toppers points during the regular season, ranked 61st overall.

So far in the series, the top three players in Box-Toppers points player rankings have started games, but each time, his team has lost the game: 

• In Game 1, Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke started, but the Cardinals won 3-2 in 13 innings. Greinke, who picked up a no-decision in the game, had 19.4 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranked third overall.
• In Game 2, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw started, but the Cardinals won 1-0. Kershaw picked up the loss. Kershaw had 21.7 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranked first.
• In Game 3, Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright started, but the Dodgers won 3-0. Wainwright, who also picked up the loss, had 20.2 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranked second. 

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

ALCS Game 3, Red Sox at Tigers, series tied 1-1

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

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

NLCS Game 4, Cardinals lead Dodgers 2-1

Cardinals: Lance Lynn, 16.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked 11th 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

1014	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	7.0	Dodgers		0	0	0	0	0	0			Hyun-Jin Ryu (W, 1-0)	7.0	3	0	0	1	4

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

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.