Nationals' Max Scherzer passes Kershaw for Box-Toppers points lead after topping players for Thursday, Aug. 25

Shawn Plank August 26, 2016

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and takes the season lead in Box-Toppers points, passing Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who had led since May 7.

Top 10 players

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


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	20.7
2	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
3	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	18.4
4	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	17.2
5	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	16.8
6	Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	15.4
7	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
8	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	14.1
9	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	13.7
10	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	13.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Thursday, Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels rises to fifth in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning American League Player of the Day honors.

Player of the Day—Scherzer pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out 10 and allowing two hits and no walks, in the 4-0 win over the Orioles.

Scherzer earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 20.7 for the season, rising from second to first among all players. Scherzer becomes the second player this season to 20 points; previous leader Kershaw (20.0 Box-Toppers points) did it first it more than two months ago on June 20, the last time he earned Player of the Game before going on the disabled list.

Kershaw has led all players in Box-Toppers points this season since May 7, nearly 16 weeks, despite going on the disabled list two months ago on June 26. Kershaw is eligible to return from the disabled list Saturday and reports indicate he could return to pitch by mid-September.

Kershaw finished second in Box-Toppers points in 2015 with 25.7, behind overall leader, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta (29.1). Kershaw led all National League players in Box-Toppers points from 2011 to 2014 and led all players in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

Lead changes
Here are the season’s lead changes among players in Box-Toppers points. Chart shows the date and the player’s Box-Toppers point (BTP) total when they took the lead.  

    Date
    Player
    Team
    BTP
  
    4/3
    Francisco Liriano
    pit nl
    2.0
  
    4/4
    Clayton Kershaw
    lad nl
    2.0
  
    4/14
    Vince Velasquez
    phi nl
    4.0
  
    4/21
    Jake Arrieta
    chi nl
    5.0
  
    5/1
    Clayton Kershaw
    lad nl
    6.0
  
    5/3
    Jake Arrieta
    chi nl
    6.0
  
    5/7
    Clayton Kershaw
    lad nl
    7.0
  
    8/25
    Max Scherzer
    dc nl
    20.7

This is Scherzer’s third straight 20-point season. He earned 22.1 points in 2014 with the Tigers, when he ranked fifth overall and second among American League pitchers. He earned 21.0 points in 2015 with the Nationals, when he ranked sixth overall and fourth among NL pitchers.

Scherzer now has 126.7 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 35th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Thursday, he passes two players on the “all-time” list—Angels pitcher Jered Weaver (125.1) and Mariano Rivera (126.4). Scherzer now trails 34th-ranked player Roy Oswalt (127.2).

American League Player of the Day—Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out eight and allowing two hits and no walks, in the 9-0 win over the Indians.

Hamels earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 16.8 for the season, rising to fifth among all players and maintaining his spot in second place among AL pitchers, behind Corey Kluber of the Indians (17.2).

Hamels also now has 143.0 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 23rd place among players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Thursday, he passes three players (all active) on the “all-time” list—Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (141.8), David Ortiz of the Red Sox (142.9) and Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (142.9). Hamels now has the seventh-most career Box-Toppers points among active players. Hamels now trails 22nd-ranked player, Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon (145.8).

National League Batter of the Day—Alejandro De Aza of the Mets hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in five runs, in the 10-6 win over the Cardinals.

American League Batter of the Day—James McCann of the Tigers hit a three-run homer, doubled and went 4-for-5, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 8-5 win over the Twins.

Debut—Rays pitcher Tyler Sturdevant made his Box-Toppers debut Thursday with his first career Player of the Game honor.

Sturdevant (0.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K ND in the 2-1 win over the Red Sox) made his Major League debut May 24 and was playing in his 16th career game. He is the 3,718th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

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

About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    8/25
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    16.0
    WSH 4, BAL 0
    Max Scherzer (W,14-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    10
  

    AL
    14.0
    TEX 9, CLE 0
    Cole Hamels (W,14-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    
    11.2
    SF 4, LAD 0
    Matt Moore (W,8-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.2
    1
    0
    0
    3
    7
  

    BAT
    5.0
    NYM 10, STL 6
    Alejandro De Aza, CF
    4
    2
    2
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    ATL 3, ARI 1
    Matt Wisler (W,5-11)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    1
    1
    3
    4
  

    BAT
    4.0
    DET 8, MIN 5
    James McCann, C
    5
    2
    4
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    LAA 6, TOR 3
    Mike Trout, CF
    4
    1
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    KC 5, MIA 2
    Kelvin Herrera (S,9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    `TB 2, BOS 1
    Tyler Sturdevant
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    PIT 3, MIL 2 (10)
    Andrew McCutchen, CF
    5
    1
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    CHW 7, SEA 6
    Tim Anderson, SS
    4
    2
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

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

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


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	20.7	41.7	106.3	126.7	-0.3
Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	16.8	32.2	83.8	143.0	1.4
Trout, Mike 2949	cf	ana al	8.5	20.5	45.0	45.0	-3.5
Moore, Matt 2975	pi sp	sf nl	7.7	7.7	33.2	33.2	7.7
McCutchen, Andrew 2637	cf	pit nl	5.5	16.0	46.7	52.4	-5.0
Wisler, Matt 3522	pi sp	atl nl	3.0	6.0	6.0	6.0	0.0
Anderson, Tim 3659	ss	chi al	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
McCann, James 3649	ca	det al	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
De Aza, Alejandro 2950	cf	nym nl	1.5	3.0	11.7	11.7	0.0
Herrera, Kelvin 3149	pi cp	kc al	1.0	1.0	5.0	5.0	1.0
Sturdevant, Tyler 3718	pi mr	tb al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Bioexodus: Alex Rodriguez leaves field after long career with taint, but as active career Box-Toppers points leader

Shawn Plank August 11, 2016

Alex Rodriguez is expected to play in his final game Friday. He leads active players in career Box-Toppers points and ranks fourth among all players in points since 1995, first among batters.

Brewers' Ryan Braun tops players for Saturday, Aug. 6; Indians' Kluber extends Box-Toppers points lead among AL pitchers

Shawn Plank August 7, 2016

Ryan Braun of the Brewers is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Saturday, Indians pitcher Corey Kluber maintained his fourth-place spot in Box-Toppers season player rankings and Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta rose to ninth place after both earned Player of the Game honors.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of Aug. 6:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	18.7
3	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
4	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	16.2
5	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	14.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	14.1
8	Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	13.4
9	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	11.7
10	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Player of the Day—Braun hit two three-run homers and went 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in seven runs, in the 15-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

Braun earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 6.5 points for the season, rising to eighth among National League batters. It is also his best season since 2012, when he had 12.5 points. That was before his 2013 suspension for violating baseball’s performance enhancing drug policy. In 2013, he had 3.5 points, in 2014—4.5 and in 2015—5.0.

This was his first overall Player of the Day honor since April 30, 2012.

American League Player of the Day—Indians pitcher Corey Kluber struck out eight over eight innings, allowing two runs, five hits and one walk, in the 5-2 win over the Yankees.

Kluber earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 16.2 for the season. Kluber maintains his lead in Box-Toppers points among AL pitchers (ahead of Cole Hamels of the Rangers with 14.1) and also maintains his fourth-place rank among all players.

American League Batter of the Day—Franklin Gutierrez of the Mariners homered, doubled and went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 8-6 win over the Angels.

National League Batter of the Day—There is no separate NL Batter of the Day for Saturday because the overall Player of the Day was NL batter Ryan Braun.

Rankings—Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Arrieta (8IP 3H 0R 4K W in the 4-0 win over the Athletics) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.7 for the season. Arrieta ranks seventh among NL pitchers. Arrieta led all players in Box-Toppers points in 2015 with 29.1.

Notable—Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers rises to 24th place in career Box-Toppers points among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began, after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Cabrera (2B 2-4 3BI in the 6-5 win over the Mets) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 141.9 for his career. With his point Saturday, he passes Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (141.8) on the “all-time” list and now trails 23rd-ranked player, David Ortiz of the Red Sox (142.9).

Cabrera now has 9.0 Box-Toppers points on the season and rises to second place among AL batters, behind Jose Altuve of the Astros (10.0)

Debut—Padres pitcher Buddy Baumann made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday with this first career Player of the Game honor.

Baumann (1.2IP 0H 0R 0BB 3K W in the 9-7 win over the Phillies) made his Major League debut July 16 and was playing in his sixth career game. He is the 3,697th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Also notable—Royals pitcher Peter Moylan earned his first Box-Toppers point in nearly six years after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Moylan (1.1IP 0H 0R 3K ND in the 4-2 win over the Blue Jays) last earned Player of the Game honors on Sept. 10, 2010, with the Braves. Moylan has 5.0 career Box-Toppers points since his debut in 2007.

Scoring—Braun earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Kluber earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Gutierrez earns 1.5 points for being AL Batter of the Day. All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    8/6
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    MIL 15, ARI 6
    Ryan Braun, LF
    4
    3
    3
    7
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    8.0
    CHC 4, OAK 0
    Jake Arrieta (W,13-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    6.0
    ATL 13, STL 5
    Freddie Freeman, 1B
    3
    3
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    AL
    6.0
    CLE 5, NYY 2
    Corey Kluber (W,11-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    2
    2
    1
    8
  

    
    5.0
    COL 12, MIA 6
    Charlie Blackmon, CF
    5
    2
    4
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    TB 7, MIN 3
    Chris Archer (W,6-15)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    3
    7
  

    
    4.2
    SD 9, PHI 7
    Buddy Baumann (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.1
    `KC 4, TOR 2
    Peter Moylan (H,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    LAD 3, BOS 0
    Ross Stripling (W,3-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    3.1
    CHW 4, BAL 2
    Nate Jones (W,5-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    SF 7, WSH 1
    Eduardo Nunez, 3B
    5
    3
    4
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    2.0
    SEA 8, LAA 6
    Franklin Gutierrez, RF
    5
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    TEX 3, HOU 2
    Jonathan Lucroy, C
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    PIT 5, CIN 3
    Tony Watson (S,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    DET 6, NYM 5
    Miguel Cabrera, 1B
    4
    0
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

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


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	16.2	29.6	60.4	60.4	2.8
Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	11.7	40.8	68.5	71.5	-17.4
Cabrera, Miguel 1776	1b	det al	9.0	13.7	62.3	141.9	4.3
Braun, Ryan J. 2300	lf	mil nl	6.5	11.5	42.5	84.2	1.5
Archer, Chris 3194	pi sp	tb al	6.0	22.0	46.1	46.1	-10.0
Nunez, Eduardo 2795	3b 2b ss	sf nl	4.5	6.5	12.5	14.0	2.5
Freeman, Freddie 2887	1b	atl nl	4.0	7.0	35.2	35.2	1.0
Lucroy, Jonathan 2744	ca	tex al	4.0	5.7	24.6	25.6	2.3
Watson, Tony 3215	pi cp mr	pit nl	3.0	4.0	7.0	7.0	2.0
Jones, Nate 3125	pi mr cp	chi al	3.0	4.0	11.0	11.0	2.0
Stripling, Ross 3629	pi sp	lad nl	2.7	2.7	2.7	2.7	2.7
Blackmon, Charlie 2891	cf	col nl	2.5	5.0	10.5	10.5	0.0
Gutierrez, Franklin 2242	rf	sea al	2.5	3.5	7.5	22.5	1.5
Moylan, Peter 2266	pi mr	kc al	1.0	1.0	1.0	5.0	1.0
Baumann, Buddy 3697	pi mr	sd nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Orioles' Dylan Bundy tops players for Tuesday, Aug. 2; Mets' deGrom tops NL players

Shawn Plank August 3, 2016

Orioles pitcher Dylan Bundy is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of Aug. 2:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	17.0
3	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	16.4
4	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	14.5
5	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	14.4
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	14.1
7	Strasburg, Stephen 2736	pi sp	dc nl	14.1
8	Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	12.4
9	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	11.0
10	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	11.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Bundy pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out seven, in the 5-1 win over the Rangers.

National League Player of the Day—Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out eight and allowing four hits and one walk, in the 7-1 win over the Yankees.

National League Batter of the Day—Maikel Franco of the Phillies hit a three-run homer and doubled, going 4-for-4, scoring three times and driving in four runs, in the 13-8 win over the Giants.

American League Batter of the Day—Max Kepler of the Twins homered and went 1-for-2, scoring three times and driving in two runs, in the 10-6 win over the Indians.

Tuesday was the second straight day Kepler earned AL Batter of the Day honors and the third time he’s done it in less than a week. In other words, he’s earned 4.5 Box-Toppers points in that span (1.5 points for each AL Batter of the Day honor) on July 28, Aug. 1 and Aug. 2. Kepler has 6.5 Box-Toppers points on the season, 14th among AL batters.

Notable—Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers rises to 25th among all players in career Box-Toppers points (since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began) after earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday.

Cabrera (HR 2B 3-5 2R 3BI in the 11-5 win over the White Sox) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 140.9 career points, passing Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels (140.3) on the “all-time” list. Cabrera now trails 24th-ranked player, Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (141.8).

Cabrera and Hamels have been passing each other in the career points list recently and with Tuesday’s honor, Cabrera again regains the 10th-place spot in career points among active players.

This was the second time in three days Cabrera has earned Player of the Game honors—he was AL Batter of the Day Sunday. Cabrera has 8.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, rising to fourth among AL batters.

Also notable—Cubs pitcher Jason Hammel is the season’s highest-ranked player among the 15 who earned Player of the Game honors Tuesday.

Hammel (6IP 4H 0R 2BB 3K W in the 3-2 win over the Marlins) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 8.0 for the season. He ranks 33rd among all players and 17th among NL pitchers.

Hammel and another of Tuesday’s top players, Miguel Cabrera, both have 8.0 Box-Toppers points but Hammel ranks higher because he had more Box-Toppers points in 2015—9.7 vs. 4.7. Cabrera ranks 35th among all players.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    8/2
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    BAL 5, TEX 1
    Dylan Bundy (W,4-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    NL
    10.0
    NYM 7, NYY 1
    Jacob deGrom (W,7-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    8
  

    BAT
    7.0
    PHI 13, SF 8
    Maikel Franco, 3B
    4
    3
    4
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    7.0
    COL 7, LAD 3
    Jon Gray (W,8-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    MIN 10, CLE 6
    Max Kepler, RF
    2
    3
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    TOR 2, HOU 1
    R.A. Dickey (W,8-12)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    0
    5
  

    
    4.0
    LAA 5, OAK 4
    Cam Bedrosian (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    DET 11, CHW 5
    Miguel Cabrera, 1B
    5
    2
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    CIN 7, STL 5
    Joey Votto, 1B
    4
    2
    4
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    CHC 3, MIA 2
    Jason Hammel (W,11-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    3.0
    SEA 5, BOS 4
    Edwin Diaz (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    3.0
    MIL 3, SD 2
    Tyler Thornburg (S,3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    1.1
    KC 3, TB 2
    Chris Young (W,3-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    1
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    1.0
    WSH 10, ARI 4
    Jayson Werth, LF
    5
    2
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    PIT 5, ATL 3
    Tony Watson (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    1
  

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


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Hammel, Jason 2235	pi sp	chi nl	8.0	17.7	41.1	54.2	-1.7
Cabrera, Miguel 1776	1b	det al	8.0	12.7	61.3	140.9	3.3
deGrom, Jacob 3343	pi sp	nym nl	7.7	30.1	43.1	43.1	-14.7
Votto, Joey 2366	1b	cin nl	6.5	11.5	28.2	60.2	1.5
Kepler, Max 3664	rf	min al	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5	6.5
Dickey, R.A. 1734	pi sp	tor al	6.0	11.0	55.2	76.9	1.0
Young, Chris R. 1933	pi sp mr	kc al	4.7	12.7	28.8	78.8	-3.3
Bundy, Dylan 3655	pi sp mr	bal al	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Gray, Jon 3634	pi sp	col nl	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Bedrosian, Cam 3694	pi cp mr	ana al	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	3.0
Franco, Maikel 3510	3b	phi nl	2.5	5.7	5.7	5.7	-0.7
Werth, Jayson 1664	lf	dc nl	2.0	5.0	19.0	46.2	-1.0
Watson, Tony 3215	pi mr cp	pit nl	2.0	3.0	6.0	6.0	1.0
Thornburg, Tyler 3195	pi mr cp	mil nl	2.0	2.0	8.0	8.0	2.0
Diaz, Edwin 3690	pi mr cp	sea al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

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

Shawn Plank July 29, 2016

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

Top 10 players

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


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

What are those numbers after players' names?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

What are those numbers after players' names?

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

Shawn Plank July 27, 2016

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

Top 10 players

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


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

What are those numbers after players' names?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

What are those numbers after players' names?

Clayton Kershaw rockets up ‘All-Time' Top 100 list, earning 36.7 Box-Toppers points since last year's All-Star break

Shawn Plank July 15, 2016

Dodgers pitcher Kershaw has earned more Box-Toppers points in past year (36.7) than the 33.7 Randy Johnson earned in his record breaking single seasons (2000 and 2002).

Brewers' Guerra tops players for Monday, July 4; Astros' McCullers tops NL players

Shawn Plank July 5, 2016

Brewers pitcher Junior Guerra is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of July 4:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	13.4
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	12.0
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	11.7
5	Kluber, Corey 3200	pi sp	cle al	10.8
6	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7
7	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	10.7
8	Salazar, Danny 3223	pi sp	cle al	10.5
9	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	10.4
10	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	10.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Guerra pitched 7 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits and no walks, in the 1-0 win over the Nationals.

American League Player of the Day—Astros pitcher Lance McCullers struck out 10 over seven innings, allowing one run, five hits and one walk, in the 2-1 win over the Mariners.

National League Batter of the Day—Kris Bryant of the Cubs hit a two-run homer, going 1-for-1 and scoring three times, in the 10-4 win over the Reds.

Bryant earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL Batter of the Day, giving him 7.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, most of any of the 15 who earned Player of the Game honors Monday. Bryant rises to 29th place among all players and third among NL batters, behind Matt Carpenter of the Cardinals (7.5) and Wil Myers of the Padres (7.2).

American League Batter of the Day—Todd Frazier of the White Sox hit two doubles and went 3-for-3, scoring twice and driving in a run, in the 8-2 win over the Yankees.

Streak—Mike Napoli of the Indians has now earned Box-Toppers points in 11 straight seasons after earning his first Player of the Game honor of the season Monday.

Napoli (HR 2B 2-3 2R 2BI in the 5-3 win over the Tigers) earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2006 with the Angels and has 52.2 career points, ninth among active AL first basemen. His best season was 2011 with the Rangers when he had 9.0 Box-Toppers points, ninth among AL batters. In 2015, he had 4.5 points with the Red Sox, a season in which he also played for the Rangers.

Notable—Giants pitcher Jake Peavy now has 141.8 career Box-Toppers points—24th-most since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began—after earning Player of the Game honors Monday.

Peavy (6.2IP 5H R 2BB 6K W in the 3-1 win over the Rockies) trails 23rd-ranked player on the “all-time” list, David Ortiz of the Red Sox (142.9). Peavy has 5.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, 29th among NL pitchers.

Debut—Dodgers pitcher Pedro Baez made his Box-Toppers debut Monday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Baez (2IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K ND in the 7-5 win over the Orioles) made his Major League debut May 5, 2014, and was playing in his 110th career game. He is the 3,678th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/4
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.1
    MIL 1/DC 0
    Junior Guerra (W,6-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.1
    2
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    AL
    9.0
    HOU 2/SEA 1
    Lance McCullers (W,4-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    10
  

    BAT
    5.0
    CHC 10/CIN 4
    Kris Bryant, LF
    1
    3
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    TOR 6/KC 2
    Aaron Sanchez (W,9-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    3
  

    
    4.0
    `LAD 7/BAL 5
    Pedro Baez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.2
    PHI 8/ATL 2
    Jerad Eickhoff (W,6-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    5
    2
    2
    3
    8
  

    
    3.2
    SF 3/COL 1
    Jake Peavy (W,5-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    5
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    3.0
    NYM 8/MIA 6
    Travis d'Arnaud, C
    4
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    SD 8/ARI 4
    Derek Norris, C
    4
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    CHW 8/NYY 2
    Todd Frazier, 3B
    3
    2
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    CLE 5/DET 3
    Mike Napoli, 1B
    3
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    BOS 12/TEX 5
    Travis Shaw, 3B
    5
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    PIT 4/STL 2
    Gregory Polanco, RF
    5
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    TB 4/LAA 2
    Logan Morrison, 1B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.2
    OAK 3/MIN 1
    Kendall Graveman (W,4-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    1
    1
    4
    3
  

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

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


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Bryant, Kris 3465	lf 3b rf	chi nl	7.0	15.5	15.5	15.5	-1.5
Eickhoff, Jerad 3566	pi sp	phi nl	7.0	12.0	12.0	12.0	2.0
Guerra, Junior 3633	pi sp	mil nl	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	7.0
Sanchez, Aaron 3392	pi sp	tor al	5.7	7.7	9.7	9.7	3.7
Peavy, Jake 1635	pi sp	sf nl	5.0	10.0	38.1	141.8	0.0
Shaw, Travis 3544	1b 3b	bos al	4.5	8.7	8.7	8.7	0.3
Polanco, Gregory 3361	rf	pit nl	4.5	7.5	11.5	11.5	1.5
McCullers, Lance 3488	pi sp	hou al	3.4	10.1	10.1	10.1	-3.3
Frazier, Todd 2929	3b	chi al	3.2	12.1	26.1	26.1	-5.7
Graveman, Kendall 3444	pi sp	oak al	3.0	7.7	7.7	7.7	-1.7
Napoli, Mike 2161	1b	cle al	1.0	5.5	33.2	52.2	-3.5
Norris, Derek 3198	ca	sd nl	1.0	5.5	13.0	13.0	-3.5
Morrison, Logan 2794	1b	tb al	1.0	5.0	15.0	16.5	-3.0
d’Arnaud, Travis 3384	ca	nym nl	1.0	3.5	7.5	7.5	-1.5
Baez, Pedro 3678	pi mr	lad nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Braves' Teheran tops players for Sunday, June 19; Royals' Young tops AL players

Shawn Plank June 20, 2016

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of June 19:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	18.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	11.7
3	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	10.7
4	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	10.0
5	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	10.0
6	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	10.0
7	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	ari nl	9.7
8	Lackey, John 1640	pi sp	chi nl	9.4
9	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	9.0
10	Salazar, Danny 3223	pi sp	cle al	8.8

What are those numbers after players' names?

Teheran pitched a complete-game, one-hit shutout, striking out seven and walking none, in the 6-0 win over the Mets.

American League Player of the Day—Royals pitcher Chris Young struck out seven over six innings, allowing one run, three hits and one walk, in the 2-1, 13-inning win over the Tigers. Young did not earn the win, picking up a no-decision, because the game was tied 1-1 when he exited.

American League Batter of the Day—Matt Wieters of the Orioles homered, doubled and went 4-for-5, scoring three times and driving in four runs, in the 11-6 win over the Blue Jays.

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

Streak—Angels pitcher Jered Weaver has now earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers points for 11 straight seasons after earning Player of the Game honors Sunday, his first of the season.

Weaver (CG 3H 0R BB K W in the 2-0 win over the Athletics) earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2006 with the Angels and has 124.1 points for his career, rising to 37th among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his point Sunday, he passes one player on the “all-time” list, Gary Sheffield (124.1).

Weaver’s best season was 2011 with the Angels when he had 22.8 Box-Toppers points, second-most among AL pitchers. He had four straight seasons with 15.0 or more points (2009—15.0, 2010—19.4, 2011—22.8, 2012—15.4) all with the Angels. Weaver had 7.7 points in 2015 with the Angels.

Notable—In addition to Weaver, two other players with more than 100 career Box-Toppers points also earned Player of the Game honors Sunday:

Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (6IP 4H R BB 8K ND in the 5-1 win over the Rays) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 140.8 for his career. He ranks 24th among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began, and trails 23rd-ranked player David Ortiz of the Red Sox (141.4). Peavy has 4.0 points on the season.
Red Sox pitcher David Price (8IP 8H R 0BB 7K W in the 2-1 win over the Mariners) becomes the 72nd player since 1995 (when Box-Toppers tracking began) with 100 or more career Box-Toppers points. He earns 1.0 point, giving him 100.5 for his career, rising to 70th among all players and passing two players—Larry Walker (100.1) and Jeff Bagwell (100.4)—on the “all-time” list. He now trails 69th-ranked player Paul Konerko (100.7). Price also has the most season Box-Toppers points of any of Sunday’s 15 Players of the Games. Price has 6.7 points on the season, ranking 22nd among all players, seventh among AL pitchers.

Debuts—Two players made their Box-Toppers debuts Sunday, the first time in their careers they earned Player of the Game honors:

Max Kepler of the Twins (HR 2B 3-4 3R 2BI in the 7-4 win over the Yankees) made his Major League debut Sept. 27, 2015, and was playing in his 30th career game. He is the 3,664th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Jurickson Profar of the Rangers (1-1 2BI in the 5-4 win over the Cardinals) made his Major League debut Sept. 2, 2012, and was playing in his 115th career game. He is the 3,665th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Teheran earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Young earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Wieters earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day. All of Sunday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

About Box-Toppers—Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    6/19
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    15.0
    ATL 6/NYM 0
    Julio Teheran (W,3-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    9.0
    CHC 10/PIT 5
    Kyle Hendricks (W,5-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    7
    1
    1
    0
    12
  

    
    7.0
    `SF 5/TB 1
    Jake Peavy
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    8
  

    AL
    7.0
    `KC 2/DET 1
    Chris Young
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    BAT
    6.0
    BAL 11/TOR 6
    Matt Wieters, C
    5
    3
    4
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    LAA 2/OAK 0
    Jered Weaver (W,6-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    1
  

    
    5.2
    HOU 6/CIN 0
    Mike Fiers (W,5-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    4
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    5.0
    BOS 2/SEA 1
    David Price (W,8-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    8
    1
    1
    0
    7
  

    
    5.0
    ARI 5/PHI 1
    Archie Bradley (W,3-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    0
    2
    5
  

    
    4.0
    MIN 7/NYY 4
    Max Kepler, RF
    4
    3
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    MIA 3/COL 0
    Tom Koehler (W,6-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    6
    6
  

    
    4.0
    SD 6/DC 3
    Fernando Rodney (S,14)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.1
    `LAD 2/MIL 1
    Kenta Maeda
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    6
    1
    1
    3
    8
  

    
    3.0
    `CLE 3/CHW 2
    Cody Allen
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    2.0
    TEX 5/STL 4
    Jurickson Profar, PH
    1
    0
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

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


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Price, David 2593	pi sp	bos al	6.7	27.8	83.8	100.5	-14.4
Wieters, Matt 2643	ca	bal al	6.0	7.0	25.0	30.7	5.0
Hendricks, Kyle 3386	pi sp	chi nl	5.0	14.7	19.7	19.7	-4.7
Teheran, Julio 3176	pi sp	atl nl	5.0	12.7	40.8	40.8	-2.7
Peavy, Jake 1635	pi sp	sf nl	4.0	9.0	37.1	140.8	-1.0
Allen, Cody 3265	pi mr	cle al	4.0	8.0	13.0	13.0	0.0
Maeda, Kenta 3609	pi sp	lad nl	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0	4.0
Young, Chris R. 1933	pi sp	kc al	3.7	11.7	27.8	77.8	-4.3
Rodney, Fernando 1803	pi cp	sd nl	3.0	4.0	21.0	33.0	2.0
Fiers, Michael 3029	pi sp	hou al	2.0	9.0	23.1	23.1	-5.0
Koehler, Tom 3159	pi sp	fla nl	2.0	6.0	14.0	14.0	-2.0
Bradley, Archie 3438	pi sp	ari nl	2.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	1.0
Weaver, Jered 2178	pi sp	ana al	1.0	8.7	63.3	124.1	-6.7
Kepler, Max 3664	rf	min al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
Profar, Jurickson 3665	ph	tex al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Rays' Moore tops players for Sunday, June 12; Indians' Salazar rises to lead AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank June 13, 2016

Rays pitcher Matt Moore is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Sunday, Indians pitcher Danny Salazar rises to lead American League pitchers in Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of June 12:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	17.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	11.7
3	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	9.0
4	Salazar, Danny 3223	pi sp	cle al	8.8
5	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	8.7
6	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	8.7
7	Machado, Manny 3087	ss 3b	bal al	8.7
8	Matz, Steven 3516	pi sp	nym nl	8.7
9	Lackey, John 1640	pi sp	chi nl	8.4
10	Hill, Rich 2215	pi sp	oak al	8.4

What are those numbers after players' names?

Player of the Day—Moore pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out 10 and allowing two hits, in the 5-0 win over the Astros.

National League Player of the Day—Diamondbacks pitcher Robbie Ray pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out six and allowing three hits, in the 6-0 win over the Marlins.

National League Batter of the Day—Matt Holliday of the Cardinals homered and went 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 8-3 win over the Pirates.

Sunday was the second straight day Holliday earned NL Batter of the Day honors. He has 6.0 Box-Toppers points on the season (3.0 earned in two days) and ranks third among NL batters.

American League Batter of the Day—Russell Martin of the Blue Jays hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-5, scoring twice, in the 10-9 win over the Orioles.

Rankings—Indians pitcher Danny Salazar rises to lead AL pitchers in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Salazar (5.2IP 3H R 8K W in the 8-3 win over the Angels) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 8.8 for the season. He passes White Sox pitcher Chris Sale (8.7) for the lead among AL pitchers. Salazar now ranks fourth among all players.

Notable—Three players with more than 100 career Box-Toppers points earned Player of the Game honors Sunday:

Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (6IP 4H 0R 3K W in the 2-1 win over the Dodgers) now has 139.8 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his rank of 24th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 23rd-ranked player David Ortiz of the Red Sox (141.4). Peavy has 3.0 Box-Toppers points this season.
Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels (7IP 4H R 5K W in the 6-4 win over the Mariners) now has 133.6 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 27th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He passes Jason Giambi (133.4) on the “all-time” list and now trails 26th-ranked player Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (136.9). Hamels has 7.4 Box-Toppers points this season, fifth among AL pitchers.
Cubs pitcher Jon Lester (7IP 5H R 7K W in the 13-2 win over the Braves) now has 129.1 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 30th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He passes Vladimir Guerrero (128.3) on the “all-time” list and now trails 29th-ranked player Trevor Hoffman (129.4). Lester has 8.0 Box-Toppers points this season, 10th among NL pitchers.

Debut—Rockies pitcher Tyler Anderson made his Box-Toppers debut Sunday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Anderson (6.1IP 6H R 6K ND in the 2-1 win over the Padres) was also making his Major League debut. He is the 3,656th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    6/12
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    14.0
    TB 5/HOU 0
    Matt Moore (W,3-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    10
  

    NL
    9.2
    ARI 6/MIA 0
    Robbie Ray (W,3-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    3
    0
    0
    1
    6
  

    
    9.0
    KC 3/CHW 1
    Yordano Ventura (W,5-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    10
  

    
    8.0
    CHC 13/ATL 2
    Jon Lester (W,8-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    7.0
    MIL 5/NYM 3
    Zach Davies (W,5-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    
    4.2
    CLE 8/LAA 3
    Danny Salazar (W,7-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    3
    1
    1
    4
    8
  

    
    4.1
    `COL 2/SD 1
    Tyler Anderson
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    6
    1
    1
    0
    6
  

    
    4.0
    `DC 5/PHI 4
    Joe Ross
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    3
    3
    0
    8
  

    
    4.0
    TEX 6/SEA 4
    Cole Hamels (W,6-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    4.0
    DET 4/NYY 1
    Michael Fulmer (W,7-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    3
    3
  

    
    4.0
    SF 2/LAD 1
    Jake Peavy (W,3-6) 
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    STL 8/PIT 3
    Matt Holliday, LF
    4
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    2.0
    TOR 10/BAL 9
    Russell Martin, C
    5
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    OAK 6/CIN 1
    Fernando Rodriguez (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
  

    
    2.0
    MIN 7/BOS 4
    Michael Tonkin (W,2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    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.
  

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


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Salazar, Danny 3223	pi sp	cle al	8.8	22.2	31.6	31.6	-4.6
Lester, Jon 2173	pi sp	chi nl	8.0	20.0	66.2	129.1	-4.0
Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	7.4	22.8	74.4	133.6	-8.0
Fulmer, Michael 3640	pi sp	det al	6.7	6.7	6.7	6.7	6.7
Holliday, Matt 1836	1b lf dh	stl nl	6.0	7.5	37.7	97.8	4.5
Ross, Joe 3499	pi sp	dc nl	5.7	10.7	10.7	10.7	0.7
Martin, Russell 2202	ca	tor al	5.0	10.0	26.5	47.5	0.0
Moore, Matt 2975	pi sp	tb al	4.7	4.7	30.2	30.2	4.7
Davies, Zach 3581	pi sp	mil nl	4.0	7.0	7.0	7.0	1.0
Ventura, Yordano 3294	pi sp	kc al	3.0	14.7	24.4	24.4	-8.7
Peavy, Jake 1635	pi sp	sf nl	3.0	8.0	36.1	139.8	-2.0
Ray, Robbie 3502	pi sp	ari nl	2.7	6.7	6.7	6.7	-1.3
Rodriguez, Fernando 3537	pi mr	oak al	2.0	3.0	3.0	3.0	1.0
Tonkin, Michael 3615	pi cp	min al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Anderson, Tyler 3656	pi sp	col nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Dodgers' Kazmir tops players for Tuesday, May 31; Marlins' Fernandez rises to 2nd in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank June 1, 2016

Dodgers pitcher Scott Kazmir is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and becomes the 70th player since 1995 to earn 100 or more career Box-Toppers points.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of May 31:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	14.0
2	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	9.7
3	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	9.0
4	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	8.7
5	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	8.7
6	Machado, Manny 3087	ss 3b	bal al	8.7
7	Matz, Steven 3516	pi sp	nym nl	8.7
8	Hill, Rich 2215	pi sp	oak al	8.4
9	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	7.0
10	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	6.4

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Tuesday, Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez rose to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Kazmir pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out seven, in the 5-0 win over the Cubs. Kazmir did not earn the win, picking up a no decision because the game was tied when he exited.

Kazmir earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 101.4 career Box-Toppers points. He becomes the 70th player with 100 or more points since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Tuesday, he rises to 64th place on Box-Toppers “all-time” list, passing seven players—Red Sox pitcher David Price (99.5), Larry Walker (100.1), Jeff Bagwell (100.4), Paul Konerko (100.7), Carlos Beltran of the Yankees (100.9), Jason Schmidt (101.2) and Tim Wakefield (101.4). Kazmir trails 63rd-ranked player Ken Griffey Jr. (102.2).

Kazmir has 5.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, 15th among National League pitchers.

American League Player of the Day—Mookie Betts of the Red Sox hit three home runs, going 3-for-5 and driving in five runs, in the 6-2 win over the Orioles.

National League Batter of the Day—DJ LeMahieu of the Rockies homered and hit two doubles, going 4-for-4, scoring four times and driving in two runs, in the 17-4 win over the Reds.

American League Batter of the Day—There is no separate AL Batter of the Day for Tuesday because the AL Player of the Day is a batter, Mookie Betts.

Rankings—Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez rose to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday.

Fernandez (7IP 3H 0R 6K W in the 3-1 win over the Pirates) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 9.7 for the season, rising to second in season player rankings, trailing only Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (14.0).

Notable—Giants pitcher Jake Peavy rises to 24th place among all players in career Box-Toppers points since 1995 after earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday.

Peavy (7IP H 0R 3K W in the 4-0 win over the Braves) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 138.8 career points, passing Andy Pettitte (138.5) on the “all-time” list. He now trails 23rd-ranked player David Ortiz of the Red Sox (141.4). Peavy has 2.0 Box-Toppers points for the season.

Debuts—Two players made their Box-Toppers debut Tuesday, the first time they earned Player of the Game honors:

Tyler Saladino of the White Sox (HR 2-2 2R 2BI in the 6-4 win over the Mets) made his Major League debut July 10, 2015, and was playing in his 93rd career game. He is the 3,645th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Blue Jays pitcher Joe Biagini (1IP H 0R 2K W in the 4-1 win over the Yankees) made his Major League debut April 8 and was playing in his 17th career game. He is the 3,646th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    5/31
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    `LAD 5/CHC 0
    Scott Kazmir
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    
    10.0
    MIA 3/PIT 1
    Jose Fernandez (W,8-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    
    9.0
    SF 4/ATL 0
    Jake Peavy (W,2-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    AL
    6.0
    BOS 6/BAL 2
    Mookie Betts, RF
    5
    3
    3
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    6.0
    COL 17/CIN 4
    DJ LeMahieu, 2B
    4
    4
    4
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    STL 10/MIL 3
    Matt Carpenter, 3B
    5
    4
    4
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    SEA 16/SD 4
    Kyle Seager, 3B
    4
    2
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    HOU 8/ARI 5
    George Springer, RF
    4
    2
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    LAA 11/DET 9
    C.J. Cron, DH
    4
    2
    2
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    DC 5/PHI 1
    Joe Ross (W,5-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    4.0
    KC 10/TB 5
    Lorenzo Cain, CF
    4
    2
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    CHW 6/NYM 4
    Tyler Saladino, SS
    2
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    TEX 7/CLE 3
    Colby Lewis (W,5-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    2
  

    
    3.0
    OAK 7/MIN 4
    Danny Valencia, 3B
    4
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    TOR 4/NYY 1
    Joe Biagini (W,3-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    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.
  

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


Player of Game	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	9.7	14.4	40.4	40.4	5.0
Lewis, Colby 1567	pi sp	tex al	5.7	13.4	31.6	43.0	-2.0
Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	lad nl	5.0	17.7	45.6	101.4	-7.7
Cain, Lorenzo 3171	cf	kc al	5.0	13.2	19.2	19.2	-3.2
Ross, Joe 3499	pi sp	dc nl	4.7	9.7	9.7	9.7	-0.3
Betts, Mookie 3404	rf	bos al	4.7	7.7	9.7	9.7	1.7
Valencia, Danny 2772	3b	oak al	4.5	8.0	10.0	13.0	1.0
LeMahieu, DJ 3091	2b	col nl	3.5	10.5	16.5	16.5	-3.5
Carpenter, Matt 2987	3b 1b	stl nl	3.5	9.0	23.5	23.5	-2.0
Seager, Kyle 3031	3b	sea al	3.5	8.5	22.5	22.5	-1.5
Springer, George 3337	rf	hou al	3.5	4.5	7.5	7.5	2.5
Peavy, Jake 1635	pi sp	sf nl	2.0	7.0	35.1	138.8	-3.0
Cron, C.J. 3338	dh 1b	ana al	1.0	7.0	8.0	8.0	-5.0
Biagini, Joe 3646	pi mr	tor al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0
Saladino, Tyler 3645	ss	chi al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Dodgers' Kershaw tops players for Monday, May 23, extends season lead, rises to 7th in Box-Toppers all-time rankings

Shawn Plank May 24, 2016

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, extending his lead in season player rankings and rising to seventh place in Box-Toppers “all-time” rankings.

Top 10 players

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


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	12.0
2	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	9.0
3	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	8.7
4	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	8.7
5	Machado, Manny 3087	ss 3b	bal al	7.7
6	Hill, Rich 2215	pi sp	oak al	7.4
7	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	7.0
8	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	6.7
9	Matz, Steven 3516	pi sp	nym nl	6.7
10	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	6.4

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Monday, Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto rose to second place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Kershaw pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out seven, in the 1-0 win over the Reds.

Kershaw earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 12.0 for the season, extending his lead in season player rankings. Kershaw also now has 171.3 career Box-Toppers points and rises to seventh among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He passes Roy Halladay (170.7) on the “all-time” list to become the fifth-ranked pitcher since 1995. Kershaw now trails sixth-ranked player Albert Pujols of the Angels (176.3).

Kershaw had a Box-Toppers game score Monday of +13.0, tied with Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto, who was Player of the Game in the 1-0 win over the Padres. But Kershaw won overall Player of the Day honors on a tiebreaker: He had more strikeouts than Cueto—7 vs. 6.

All-time leaders

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


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Randy Johnson	pi sp	retired	278.8
2	Pedro Martinez	pi sp	retired	244.8
3	Curt Schilling	pi sp	retired	194.1
4	Alex Rodriguez	dh	nyy al	187.0
5	CC Sabathia	pi sp	nyy al	181.0
6	Albert Pujols	1b dh	ana al	176.3
7	Clayton Kershaw	pi sp	lad nl	171.3
8	Roy Halladay	pi sp	retired	170.7
9	Manny Ramirez	lf dh	retired	167.2
10	Johan Santana	pi sp	free agent	166.6
11	Roger Clemens	pi sp	retired	164.8
12	Felix Hernandez	pi sp	sea al	164.7
13	John Smoltz	pi sp	retired	160.9
14	Tim Hudson	pi sp	retired	157.0
15	Mike Mussina	pi sp	retired	155.6
16	Barry Bonds	lf	retired	153.2
17	Greg Maddux	pi sp	retired	151.7
18	Zack Greinke	pi sp	ari nl	151.4
19	Chipper Jones	3b	retired	149.0
20	Javier Vazquez	pi sp	retired	148.3

List of top 100 players since 1995 (through the 2015 season)

American League Player of the Day—Indians pitcher Cody Anderson struck out nine over seven innings, allowing one run and five hits, in the 5-1 win over the White Sox.

American League Batter of the Day—Miguel Cabrera hit two homers and went 3-for-3 in the 5-4 win over the Phillies. It is the second straight day Cabrera has earned Player of the Game honors.

Cabrera earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day, giving him 136.9 for his career. He maintains his rank of 26th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began and trails 25th-ranked player Jake Peavy of the Giants (137.8).

National League Batter of the Day—Miguel Rojas of the Marlins doubled and went 3-for-4, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 7-6 win over the Rays.

This was Rojas’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Rojas made his Major League debut June 6, 2014, and was playing in his 178th career game. He is the 3,642nd player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Rankings—In addition to Kershaw, two players in Box-Toppers top 10 season rankings earned Player of the Game honors:

Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto (CG 2H 0R 6K in the 1-0 win over the Padres) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 9.0 for the season, rising from fourth to second in player rankings. Cueto trails overall leader Kershaw by 3.0 Box-Toppers points (12.0 vs. 9.0). Cueto barely missed beating out Kershaw for Player of the Day. Had Cueto won Player of the Day Monday over Kershaw, he still would trail Kershaw in season points, but the margin would be closer (11.0 vs. 10.0).
Athletics pitcher Rich Hill (8IP 8H 0R 6K W in the 5-0 win over the Mariners) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 7.4 for the season, rising to sixth in player rankings. Hill ranks second among AL pitchers, behind Chris Sale of the White Sox (8.7).

Notable—Neil Walker won Player of the Game honors over Yoenis Cespedes in the Mets’ 7-1 win over the Nationals Monday in one of the lowest-level tiebreakers ever used in Box-Toppers tracking.

Both Walker and Cespedes had Box-Toppers game scores of +1.0, the highest on the team and both had extremely similar batting lines (HR 2-4 2R BI). Both struck out once and did not walk. Both left two runners on base. Both had five total bases. Walker won Player of the Game over Cespedes simply because he batted lower in the lineup—fifth vs. fourth.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    5/23
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    13.0
    Dodgers
    Clayton Kershaw (W,7-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    
    13.0
    Giants
    Johnny Cueto (W,7-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    AL
    9.0
    Indians
    Cody Anderson (W,1-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    0
    9
  

    
    7.2
    Angels
    Nick Tropeano (W,3-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    4
    0
    0
    1
    6
  

    
    6.0
    Athletics
    Rich Hill (W,7-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    8
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Tigers
    Miguel Cabrera, 1B
    3
    3
    3
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    White Sox
    Brett Lawrie, DH
    2
    2
    2
    3
    3
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Royals
    Salvador Perez, C
    5
    3
    5
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Marlins
    Miguel Rojas, 2B
    4
    2
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Cardinals
    Matt Adams, PH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Pirates
    Josh Harrison, 2B
    4
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Mets
    Neil Walker, 2B
    4
    2
    2
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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


Player	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	12.0	37.7	137.8	171.3	-13.7
Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	9.0	21.8	73.0	92.4	-3.8
Hill, Rich 2215	pi sp	oak al	7.4	11.4	11.4	31.1	3.4
Cabrera, Miguel 1776	1b	det al	4.0	8.7	57.3	136.9	-0.7
Perez, Salvador 2972	ca	kc al	2.5	7.0	20.2	20.2	-2.0
Walker, Neil 2756	2b	nym nl	2.0	6.0	23.5	29.0	-2.0
Tropeano, Nick 3451	pi sp	ana al	2.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	-1.7
Anderson, Cody 3509	pi sp	cle al	1.7	4.7	4.7	4.7	-1.3
Rojas, Miguel 3642	2b	fla nl	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5	1.5
Adams, Matt 3220	1b ph	stl nl	1.0	3.5	9.5	9.5	-1.5
Lawrie, Brett 2934	dh 3b	chi al	1.0	2.5	10.7	10.7	-0.5
Harrison, Josh 2947	2b 3b	pit nl	1.0	2.0	7.0	7.0	0.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Mets' Syndergaard tops players for Sunday, May 22, rises to 6th in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank May 23, 2016

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to sixth place in player rankings.

Top 10 players

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


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	10.0
2	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	8.7
3	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	8.7
4	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	8.0
5	Machado, Manny 3087	ss 3b	bal al	7.7
6	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	7.0
7	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	6.7
8	Matz, Steven 3516	pi sp	nym nl	6.7
9	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	6.4
10	Hill, Rich 2215	pi sp	oak al	6.4

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Sunday, Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels rose to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings and five players with 100 or more career Box-Toppers points earned Player of the Game honors—Zack Greinke, David Ortiz, Miguel Cabrera, Cole Hamels and Max Scherzer.

Player of the Day—Syndergaard struck out 11 over seven innings, allowing one run (none earned) and six hits, in the 3-1 win over the Brewers.

Syndergaard earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 7.0 for the season, rising to sixth in player rankings, fourth among National League pitchers.

American League Player of the Day—Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels struck out 11 over eight innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and five hits, in the 9-2 win over the Astros.

Hamels earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 6.4 for the season, rising to ninth in player rankings, second among AL pitchers, behind Chris Sale of the White Sox (8.7).

Hamels also now has 132.6 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his spot in 28th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 27th-ranked player Jason Giambi (133.4).

American League Batter of the Day—Carlos Perez of the Angels hit a three-run homer and went 3-for-4, driving in five runs, in the 10-2 win over the Orioles.

National League Batter of the Day—There is no NL Batter of the Day for Sunday because no NL batters earned Player of the Game honors.

Notable—Five players with more than 100 career Box-Toppers points earned Player of the Game honors Sunday. In addition to Hamels, mentioned previously (132.6 points, 28th “all-time”), they are:

Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Greinke (8IP 6H 2R 8K W in the 7-2 win over the Cardinals) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 151.4 career points, maintaining his rank of 18th among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 17th-ranked player Greg Maddux (151.7).
David Ortiz of the Red Sox (HR 2B 4-4 R 3BI in the 5-2 win over the Indians) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 139.9 career points, maintaining his rank of 23rd among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 22nd-ranked player, Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon (142.1).
Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers (HR 3-3 R 2BI in the 9-4 win over the Rays) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 135.4 career points, maintaining his rank of 26th among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 25th-ranked player, Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (137.8).
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (8IP 6H 2R 8K W in the 8-2 win over the Marlins) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 112.0 for his career, maintaining his rank of 51st among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails 50th-ranked player, Cubs pitcher John Lackey (112.5).

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    5/22
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Mets
    Noah Syndergaard (W,5-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    0
    0
    11
  

    AL
    9.0
    Rangers
    Cole Hamels (W,5-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    2
    1
    2
    11
  

    
    8.2
    Giants
    Madison Bumgarner (W,6-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    3
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    
    7.0
    Dbacks
    Zack Greinke (W,5-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    
    6.0
    Nationals
    Max Scherzer (W,5-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    2
    2
    0
    8
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Angels
    Carlos Perez, C
    4
    1
    3
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Red Sox
    David Ortiz, DH
    4
    1
    4
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Phillies
    Jerad Eickhoff (W,2-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    3.2
    Blue Jays
    Marcus Stroman (W,5-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    3
    1
    1
    2
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Tigers
    Miguel Cabrera, 1B
    3
    1
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    `Dodgers
    J.P. Howell
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    3.0
    `Yankees
    Dellin Betances
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    White Sox
    David Robertson (S,11)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    Mariners
    Steve Cishek (S,12)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

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

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


Player	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	7.0	17.4	17.4	17.4	-3.4
Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	6.4	21.8	73.4	132.6	-9.0
Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	6.0	27.0	91.6	112.0	-15.0
Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	6.0	23.0	93.0	98.7	-11.0
Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	ari nl	5.0	25.7	90.8	151.4	-15.7
Cishek, Steve 2997	pi cp	sea al	4.0	5.0	24.0	24.0	3.0
Robertson, David 2774	pi cp	chi al	3.0	11.0	23.0	24.0	-5.0
Eickhoff, Jerad 3566	pi sp	phi nl	3.0	8.0	8.0	8.0	-2.0
Stroman, Marcus 3327	pi sp	tor al	2.7	5.4	19.1	19.1	0.0
Cabrera, Miguel 1776	1b	det al	2.5	7.2	55.8	135.4	-2.2
Ortiz, David	dh	bos al	2.0	6.5	37.9	139.9	-2.5
Howell, J.P. 2016	pi mr	lad nl	2.0	3.0	3.0	20.0	1.0
Perez, Carlos 3484	ca	ana al	1.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	0.5
Betances, Dellin 3333	pi mr cp	nyy al	1.0	5.0	9.7	9.7	-3.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Rays' Andriese tops players for Saturday, May 14; Cubs' Arrieta rises to 2nd in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank May 15, 2016

Rays pitcher Matt Andriese is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of May 14:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	9.0
2	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	7.7
3	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	6.7
4	Machado, Manny 3087	3b ss	bal al	6.7
5	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	6.0
6	Quintana, Jose 3040	pi sp	chi al	5.7
7	De La Rosa, Rubby 3342	pi sp	ari nl	5.7
8	Nola, Aaron 3569	pi sp	phi nl	5.7
9	Davis, Chris 2478	1b	bal al	5.5
10	Hill, Rich 2215	pi sp	oak al	5.4

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Saturday, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta rose to second in Box-Toppers season player rankings and David Ortiz of the Red Sox extended his consecutive season streak earning Box-Toppers points to 17.

Player of the Day—Andriese pitched a complete game two-hit shutout, striking out five, in the 6-0 win over the Athletics.

National League Player of the Day—Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta struck out 11 over eight innings, allowing two runs and three hits, in the 8-2 win over the Pirates.

Arrieta earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 7.7 for the season and rising from fourth to second in season player rankings, trailing Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (9.0).

American League Batter of the Day—Jonathan Schoop of the Orioles hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the 9-3 win over the Tigers. Schoop went 2-for-3 with five total RBIs.

National League Batter of the Day—Marcell Ozuna of the Marlins tripled and went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 7-1 win over the Nationals.

Rankings—Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola rose to eighth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.

Nola (7IP 5H 2R 9K W in the 4-3 win over the Reds) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 5.7 for the season. He ranks fifth among NL pitchers.

Box-Toppers season streaks
Here are the players who have earned Box-Toppers points in the most consecutive seasons. Jason Giambi earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point in 19 straight seasons from 1995 to 2013, more than any other player. (Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.) Players are listed by duration of their streak. Also shown is the duration of their streak and their career Box-Toppers point (BTP) total. 







  
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    Streak
    Player
    Pos
    Duration
    Career
BTP
  

    1
    19
    Jason Giambi
    1b
    1995-2013
    133.4
  

    2
    18
    Jim Thome
    1b dh
    1995-2012
    146.7
  

    2
    18
    Chipper Jones
    3b
    1995-2012
    149.0
  

    2
    18
    Johnny Damon
    lf
    1995-2012
    63.0
  

    2
    18
    Alex Rodriguez
    dh
    1996-2013
    187.0
  

    2
    18
    Carlos Beltran*
    rf
    1999-2016
    99.9
  

    7
    17
    Mariano Rivera
    pi cp
    1995-2011
    126.4
  

    7
    17
    Derek Jeter
    ss
    1996-2012
    76.4
  

    7
    17
    Paul Konerko
    1b
    1998-2014
    100.7
  

    7
    17
    Tim Hudson
    pi sp
    1999-2015
    157.0
  

    7
    17
    Torii Hunter
    cf
    1999-2015
    115.9
  

    7
    17
    David Ortiz*
    dh
    2000-2016
    138.9
  

    13
    16
    Manny Ramirez
    lf
    1995-2010
    167.2
  

    13
    16
    Andy Pettitte
    pi sp
    1995-2010
    138.5
  

    13
    16
    Jamie Moyer
    pi sp
    1995-2010
    104.0
  

    13
    16
    Scott Rolen
    3b
    1996-2011
    97.6
  

    13
    16
    Kevin Millwood
    pi sp
    1997-2012
    108.3
  

    13
    16
    Derek Lowe
    pi sp
    1998-2013
    91.5
  

    13
    16
    Aramis Ramirez
    3b
    2000-2015
    105.8
  

    13
    16
    Mark Buehrle*
    pi sp
    2000-2015
    116.7
  

    13
    16
    Albert Pujols*
    dh 1b
    2001-2016
    175.3
  

    13
    16
    Ichiro Suzuki*
    rf
    2001-2016
    52.7
  

    13
    16
    CC Sabathia*
    pi sp
    2001-2016
    180.0
  


BTP: Box-Toppers points

* Active streak


 

Streak—Two players extended notable streaks of consecutive seasons earning Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday:

David Ortiz of the Red Sox (HR 3B 2B 3-5 R 3BI in the 6-5 win over the Astros) has now earned Box-Toppers points in 17 straight seasons—only six players in Box-Toppers tracking history (going back to 1995) have longer streaks.

Ortiz had his first Box-Toppers points in 1997 with the Twins, but his current 17-season streak began in 2000 with the Twins. He has 138.9 career Box-Toppers points and rises to 23rd among all players since 1995, passing Andy Pettitte (138.5) on the “all-time” list. Ortiz now trails 22nd-ranked player Bartolo Colon of the Mets (142.1). Ortiz ranks seventh among all batters since 1995 and third among active batters.

Ortiz had his best seasons in 2005 and 2006 with the Red Sox, when he led AL batters in Box-Toppers points both seasons (14.7 in 2005 and 16.7 in 2006). He had 4.5 points in 2015 with the Red Sox.

Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (6IP 3H R 5K ND in the 8-7 win over the Brewers) has now earned Box-Toppers points in 15 straight seasons. He earned his first points in 2002 with the Padres and has 137.8 career points, 25th among all players since 1995. He trails 24th-ranked player Andy Pettitte (138.5). Peavy’s best season was 2007 with the Padres when he had 23.4 Box-Toppers points, first among NL pitchers. He had 5.0 points in 2015 with the Giants.

Debut—Juan Centeno of the Twins made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Centeno (HR 2B 2-3 2R 2BI in the 6-3 win over the Indians) made his Major League debut Sept. 18, 2013, and was playing in his 28th career game. He is the 3,635th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    5/14
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    Rays
    Matt Andriese (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    NL
    10.0
    Cubs
    Jake Arrieta (W,7-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    2
    2
    2
    11
  

    
    7.0
    Phillies
    Aaron Nola (W,3-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    2
    1
    1
    9
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Orioles
    Jonathan Schoop, 2B
    3
    2
    2
    5
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Braves
    Mike Foltynewicz (W,1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    7
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    
    5.0
    `Rangers
    Colby Lewis
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    2
    2
    0
    6
  

    
    5.0
    `Padres
    Brad Hand
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    5
  

    
    4.2
    Dodgers
    Scott Kazmir (W,3-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.2
    5
    3
    2
    1
    7
  

    
    4.0
    Angels
    Kole Calhoun, RF
    4
    3
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    `Giants
    Jake Peavy
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Juan Centeno, C
    3
    2
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Yankees
    Aroldis Chapman (S,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Red Sox
    David Ortiz, DH
    5
    1
    3
    3
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Marlins
    Marcell Ozuna, CF
    5
    2
    3
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Rockies
    DJ LeMahieu, 2B
    3
    1
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Nationals
    Michael Taylor, CF
    3
    2
    2
    0
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

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


Player	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	7.7	36.8	64.5	67.5	-21.4
Nola, Aaron 3569	pi sp	phi nl	5.7	7.7	7.7	7.7	3.7
Lewis, Colby 1567	pi sp	tex al	2.7	10.4	28.6	40	-5
Kazmir, Scott 1947	pi sp	lad nl	2.0	14.7	42.6	98.4	-10.7
LeMahieu, DJ 3091	2b	col nl	2.0	9.0	15.0	15.0	-5.0
Calhoun, Kole 3279	rf	ana al	2.0	5.2	12.7	12.7	-1.2
Andriese, Matt 3505	pi mr	tb al	2.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	-1.0
Ozuna, Marcell 3190	cf	fla nl	1.5	4.5	15.0	15.0	-1.5
Schoop, Jonathan 3307	2b	bal al	1.5	4.0	6.5	6.5	-1.0
Chapman, Aroldis 2826	pi cp	nyy al	1.0	9.0	39.0	40.0	-7.0
Taylor, Michael 3447	cf	dc nl	1.0	6.5	6.5	6.5	-4.5
Peavy, Jake 1635	pi sp	sf nl	1.0	6.0	34.1	137.8	-4.0
Ortiz, David	dh	bos al	1.0	5.5	36.9	138.9	-3.5
Foltynewicz, Mike 3455	pi sp	atl nl	1.0	3.7	3.7	3.7	-1.7
Hand, Brad 2907	pi mr sp	sd nl	1.0	2.0	6.0	6.0	0.0
Centeno, Juan 3635	ca	min al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Rays' Archer tops players for Monday, April 25; Cabrera, Pujols extend Box-Toppers season streaks

Shawn Plank April 26, 2016

Rays pitcher Chris Archer is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

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


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	5.0
2	Volquez, Edinson 2220	pi sp	kc al	4.4
3	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	4.0
4	Velasquez, Vince 3611	pi sp	phi nl	4.0
5	Santiago, Hector 3109	pi sp	ana al	3.7
6	Latos, Mat 2644	pi sp	chi al	3.7
7	Davis, Chris 2478	1b	bal al	3.5
8	Cano, Robinson 2092	2b	sea al	3.5
9	Suarez, Eugenio 3355	3b	cin nl	3.5
10	Salazar, Danny 3223	pi sp	cle al	3.4

What are those numbers after players' names?

Archer struck out 10 over 6 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits, in the 2-0 win over the Orioles.

National League Player of the Day—Pirates pitcher Jeff Locke struck out eight over six scoreless innings, allowing five hits, in the 6-1 win over the Rockies.

American League Batter of the Day—Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers hit two homers (including a three-run shot), a double and went 4-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 7-3 win over the Athletics.

Cabrera earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day and now has 134.4 career points, rising to 26th among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He passes Jason Giambi (133.4) on the “all-time” list and trails 25th-place player, Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (136.8). Passing Giambi, Cabrera rises to eighth among all batters in Box-Toppers points since 1995 and ranks fourth among active batters, behind Alex Rodriguez (187.0), Albert Pujols (175.3) and David Ortiz (137.9).

Cabrera also has now earned Box-Toppers points in 14 straight seasons. He earned his first points in 2003 with the Marlins. His best year was 2013 with the Tigers when he had 16.9 points, leading AL batters. He also led AL batters in 2009 with the Tigers, when he had 16.5. In 2015, he had 4.7 points with the Tigers, his lowest point total since his 2003 rookie year when he had 3.0.

National League Batter of the Day—Michael Conforto of the Mets homered, doubled and went 3-for-3, scoring three times and driving in a run, in the 5-3 win over the Reds.

This is the second straight day Conforto earned Player of the Game honors. He made his Box-Toppers debut Sunday, April 24, earning Player of the Game honors in the Mets win over the Braves.

Box-Toppers season streaks
Here are the players who have earned Box-Toppers points in the most consecutive seasons. Jason Giambi earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point in 19 straight seasons from 1995 to 2013, more than any other player. (Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.) Players are listed by duration of their streak. Also shown is the duration of their streak and their career Box-Toppers point (BTP) total. 







  
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    
    Streak
    Player
    Pos
    Duration
    Career
BTP
  

    1
    19
    Jason Giambi
    1b
    1995-2013
    133.4
  

    2
    18
    Jim Thome
    1b dh
    1995-2012
    146.7
  

    2
    18
    Chipper Jones
    3b
    1995-2012
    149.0
  

    2
    18
    Johnny Damon
    lf
    1995-2012
    63.0
  

    2
    18
    Alex Rodriguez
    dh
    1996-2013
    187.0
  

    2
    18
    Carlos Beltran*
    rf
    1999-2016
    99.9
  

    7
    17
    Mariano Rivera
    pi cp
    1995-2011
    126.4
  

    7
    17
    Derek Jeter
    ss
    1996-2012
    76.4
  

    7
    17
    Paul Konerko
    1b
    1998-2014
    100.7
  

    7
    17
    Tim Hudson
    pi sp
    1999-2015
    157.0
  

    7
    17
    Torii Hunter
    cf
    1999-2015
    115.9
  

    12
    16
    Manny Ramirez
    lf
    1995-2010
    167.2
  

    12
    16
    Andy Pettitte
    pi sp
    1995-2010
    138.5
  

    12
    16
    Jamie Moyer
    pi sp
    1995-2010
    104.0
  

    12
    16
    Scott Rolen
    3b
    1996-2011
    97.6
  

    12
    16
    Kevin Millwood
    pi sp
    1997-2012
    108.3
  

    12
    16
    Derek Lowe
    pi sp
    1998-2013
    91.5
  

    12
    16
    David Ortiz*
    dh
    2000-2015
    137.9
  

    12
    16
    Aramis Ramirez
    3b
    2000-2015
    105.8
  

    12
    16
    Mark Buehrle*
    pi sp
    2000-2015
    116.7
  

    12
    16
    Albert Pujols*
    dh 1b
    2001-2016
    175.3
  


BTP: Box-Toppers points

* Active streak


 

Streak—Albert Pujols of the Angels has now earned Box-Toppers points in 16 straight seasons after earning Player of the Game honors Monday.

The 16-year streak is tied for the 12th-longest streak in Box-Toppers history (since 1995) with nine other players.

Pujols (2HR 2-4 3R 2BI in the 6-1 win over the Royals) earned his first Box-Toppers point in 2001 with the Cardnals. His best year was 2009 with the Cardinals, when he had 16.7 Box-Toppers points to lead NL batters. Pujols led NL batters five times, the most a batter has led his league in Box-Toppers points since 1995:

2003—16.5
2004—15.9
2008—15.2
2009—16.7
2010—15.4

In 2015, Pujols had 7.0 Box-Toppers points with the Angels, ranked 20th among AL batters.

Pujols, earning 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game Monday, now has 175.3 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his rank of sixth place among all players since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995. He trails fifth-place player, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (179.0). Pujols ranks second among all batters, behind Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees (187.0).

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/25
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.2
    Rays
    Chris Archer (W,1-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    5
    0
    0
    0
    10
  

    
    9.0
    Mariners
    Taijuan Walker (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    1
    11
  

    
    9.0
    Yankees
    Nathan Eovaldi (W,1-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    NL
    7.0
    Pirates
    Jeff Locke (W,1-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    2
    8
  

    
    6.1
    Red Sox
    Rick Porcello (W,4-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    4
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Tigers
    Miguel Cabrera, 1B
    4
    2
    4
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Mets
    Michael Conforto, LF
    3
    3
    3
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.2
    Giants
    Madison Bumgarner (W,2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    6
    2
    2
    2
    9
  

    
    3.1
    White Sox
    Zach Putnam (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Dbacks
    Chris Owings, CF
    5
    2
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Angels
    Albert Pujols, 1B
    4
    3
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.1
    `Twins
    Trevor May
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Marlins
    Giancarlo Stanton, RF
    3
    1
    2
    2
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

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


Player	Pos	Team	16	15-16	11-16	Career	+/-
Walker, Taijuan 3453	pi sp	sea al	2.7	16.4	16.4	16.4	-11.0
Conforto, Michael 3622	lf	nym nl	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
Archer, Chris 3194	pi sp	tb al	2.0	18.0	42.1	42.1	-14.0
Porcello, Rick 2573	pi sp	bos al	2.0	6.0	27.7	36.7	-2.0
Locke, Jeff 3133	pi sp	pit nl	1.7	7.7	19.1	19.1	-4.3
Cabrera, Miguel 1776	1b	det al	1.5	6.2	54.8	134.4	-3.2
Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	1.0	18.0	88.0	93.7	-16.0
Pujols, Albert 1438	1b dh	ana al	1.0	8.0	38.0	175.3	-6.0
Stanton, Giancarlo 2737	rf	fla nl	1.0	6.5	28.2	33.7	-4.5
May, Trevor 3417	pi mr sp cp	min al	1.0	4.0	5.0	5.0	-2.0
Eovaldi, Nathan 2928	pi sp	nyy al	1.0	3.0	20.1	20.1	-1.0
Owings, Chris 3347	cf	ari nl	1.0	2.0	4.5	4.5	0.0
Putnam, Zach 3426	pi mr	chi al	1.0	2.0	3.0	3.0	0.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Box-Toppers' Franchise Four

Shawn Plank January 14, 2016

Who are each franchise's top 4 players in career Box-Toppers points since 1995?

A look at Box-Toppers season-by-season AL & NL pitching & batting leaders, 1995-2015

Shawn Plank December 11, 2015

Analyzing 21 years of Box-Toppers season point leaders in pitching and batting in both leagues.

A look at Box-Toppers top 100 players of 'all-time'

Shawn Plank November 10, 2015

Randy Johnson's perch atop 'all-time' 100 is safe. A-Rod is top active player. Pujols rises in top 10. Hernandez, Kershaw both make top 20 rises. Price, Scherzer, Bumgarner all make big jumps up the list.

Nationals' Scherzer tops players for Monday, Sept. 28, rises to 8th in player rankings

Shawn Plank September 29, 2015

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to eighth in player rankings.

Scherzer struck out 10 over eight innings, allowing one run and two hits, in the 5-1 win over the Reds. Scherzer had a no-hitter until allowing his first hit in the eighth inning.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of Sept. 28.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	27.1
2	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	22.7
3	deGrom, Jacob 3343	pi sp	nym nl	21.4
4	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	21.4
5	Price, David 2593	pi sp	tor al	21.1
6	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	19.7
7	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	19.4
8	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	19.0
9	Cole, Gerrit 3232	pi sp	pit nl	19.0
10	Carrasco, Carlos 2885	pi sp	cle al	18.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Scherzer earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 19.0 for the season, rising to eighth place among all players and fifth among NL pitchers.

Scherzer also rises to 58th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers record keeping began. With his points Monday, Scherzer has 104.0 career points and passes three players on the “all-time” list—Ken Griffey Jr. (102.2), Miguel Tejada (102.3) and Jamie Moyer (104.0). Scherzer trails 57th-ranked player Aramis Ramirez (105.8).

Both Griffey and Moyer started their careers before the start of Box-Toppers record keeping in 1995 and so would likely have more actual points if their entire career were tracked. Griffey, who started in 1989, would likely have about 140 career Box-Toppers points, according to rough projections. Moyer, who started in 1986, would likely have about 125 career Box-Toppers points. Tejada made his debut in 1997, so his entire career has been tracked by Box-Toppers.

American League Player of the Day—Astros pitcher Lance McCullers struck out seven over six innings, allowing two runs and four hits, in the 3-2 win over the Mariners.

National League Batter of the Day—Mark Reynolds of the Cardinals homered and drove in two runs in the 3-0 win over the Pirates.

American League Batter of the Day—Travis Shaw of the Red Sox homered and went 3-for-4, driving in two runs, in the 5-1 win over the Yankees.

Rankings—Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke, ranked sixth in player rankings (19.7 Box-Toppers points), started Monday but did not earn Player of the Game honors. Greinke (7IP 4H 2R 7K ND in the 3-2, 12-inning loss to the Giants) had a Box-Toppers game score of +3. Player of the Game was Giants pitcher Jake Peavy (7IP 3H R 4K ND) with a Box-Toppers game score of +5.

Notable—Giants pitcher Jake Peavy maintained his rank of 25th among all players since 1995 after earning Player of the Game honors Monday. Peavy (7IP 3H R 4K ND in the 3-2, 12-inning win over the Dodgers) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 136.8 for his career. He trails 24th-ranked player David Ortiz (137.9). Peavy has 5.0 Box-Toppers points on the season.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    9/28
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Nationals
    Max Scherzer (W,13-12)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    1
    1
    3
    10
  

    
    11.0
    `Cubs
    Kyle Hendricks
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    9
  

    
    5.0
    `Giants
    Jake Peavy
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Cardinals
    Mark Reynolds, 1B
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    AL
    3.0
    Astros
    Lance McCullers (W,6-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    2
    2
    2
    7
  

    
    3.0
    Blue Jays
    Brett Cecil (MR) (W,5-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Red Sox
    Travis Shaw, 1B
    4
    1
    3
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.2
    Twins
    Tommy Milone (W,9-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    4
    2
    2
    0
    4
  

    
    1.0
    Tigers
    Tyler Collins, LF
    4
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Angels
    Chris Iannetta, C
    1
    1
    0
    1
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Dodgers' Wood tops players for Wednesday, Sept. 16; Cubs' Arrieta retakes Box-Toppers points lead, Price leads AL pitchers

Shawn Plank September 17, 2015

Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Wednesday, Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta regained the lead in Box-Toppers player rankings, marking the sixth September lead change between him and Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw in the topsy-turvy, see-saw race for Box-Toppers Player of the Year honors coming down to the season’s final days.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of Sept. 16.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	23.1
2	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	22.7
3	deGrom, Jacob 3343	pi sp	nym nl	20.4
4	Price, David 2593	pi sp	tor al	20.1
5	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	19.7
6	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	19.4
7	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	19.4
8	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	17.1
9	Bumgarner, Madison 2753	pi sp	sf nl	17.0
10	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	17.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Plus, Blue Jays pitcher David Price Wednesday rose to lead American League pitchers in Box-Toppers points, rising to fourth place among all players.

In addition, Prince Fielder of the Rangers rose to lead AL batters in Box-Toppers points Wednesday.

Player of the Day—Wood pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out five, in the 2-0 win over the Rockies.

American League Player of the Day—Mariners pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma struck out nine over six innings, allowing one run and four hits, in the 3-1 win over the Angels.

Iwakuma earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 11.4 for the season. He becomes the 39th player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points and rises to 27th place among all players, 14th place among AL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Prince Fielder of the Rangers homered twice and went 3-for-5, scoring three times and driving in five runs, in the 14-3 win over the Astros.

Fielder earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day, giving him 11.5 for the season. He rises to lead AL batters in Box-Toppers points, passing previous leader Edwin Encarnacion of the Blue Jays (10.4). He ranks 26th among all players.

Fielder also earned AL Batter of the Day honors Monday, meaning he has 3.0 Box-Toppers points in the past three days. Fielder has earned his Box-Toppers points in bursts this season. He earned 6.5 Box-Toppers points between May 13 and May 26 and has earned 4.0 points since Sept. 1.

National League Batter of the Day—Thomas Pham of the Cardinals hit two home runs and a triple, going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs, in the 5-4 win over the Brewers.

This was Pham’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Pham made his Major League debut Sept. 9, 2014, and was playing in his 43rd career game. He is the 3,596th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Lead changes
Here are the season’s lead changes among players in Box-Toppers points. Chart shows the date and the player’s Box-Toppers point (BTP) total when they took the lead.  





  
    
    
    
    
  

    Date
    Player
    Team
    BTP
  

    4/5
    Adam Wainwright
    stl nl
    2.0
  

    4/6
    Felix Hernandez
    sea al
    2.0
  

    4/13
    Scott Kazmir
    oak al
    3.7
  

    4/18
    Felix Hernandez
    sea al
    4.0
  

    6/26
    Max Scherzer
    dc nl
    14.0
  

    7/9
    Felix Hernandez
    sea al
    14.4
  

    7/12
    Max Scherzer
    dc nl
    15.0
  

    7/24
    Felix Hernandez
    sea al
    15.4
  

    7/26
    Jacob deGrom
    nym nl
    16.4
  

    9/2
    Clayton Kershaw
    lad nl
    20.7
  

    9/5
    Jake Arrieta
    chi nl
    21.1
  

    9/8
    Clayton Kershaw
    lad nl
    21.7
  

    9/11
    Jake Arrieta
    chi nl
    22.1
  

    9/14
    Clayton Kershaw
    lad nl
    22.7
  

    9/16
    Jake Arrieta
    chi nl
    23.1
  
 

Overall leader—Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta reclaimed the Box-Toppers points lead from Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday.

Arrieta (8IP 6H 2R 5K ND in the 3-2, 12-inning win over the Pirates) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 23.1 for the season. He passes Kershaw (22.7) for the third time in September.

AL pitching leader—Blue Jays pitcher David Price rose to lead AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday.

Price (7IP 6H R 9K W in the 9-1 win over the Braves) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 20.1 for the season. Price passes Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (19.4) for the lead among AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points. He rises to fourth place among all players. He also becomes the fourth player this season with 20.0 or more Box-Toppers points. It is the first time in his career Price has reached 20.0 Box-Toppers points in a season. His previous best season was 2014 when he had 19.1 Box-Toppers points with the Rays and Tigers.

Notable—Two others who earned Player of the Game honors Wednesday reached notable milestones:

Indians pitcher Danny Salazar (7IP 4H R 6K W in the 5-1 win over the Royals) rose to 21st place in Box-Toppers player rankings, 11th among AL pitchers, earning 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 12.4 for the season.
Giants pitcher Jake Peavy now has 135.8 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his rank at 25th among all players since 1995 (when Box-Toppers record keeping began). Peavy (6IP 7H 2R 8K W in the 5-3 win over the Reds) trails 24th-ranked player David Ortiz (137.9). Peavy has 4.0 Box-Toppers points for the season.

Debuts—in addition to Pham, two other players made their Box-Toppers debut Wednesday, the first time in their career they earned Player of the Game honors:

Marlins pitcher Adam Conley (7IP 3H 0R 6K W in the 6-0 win over the Mets) made his Major League debut June 10 and was playing in his 12th career game. He is the 3,594th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Red Sox pitcher Henry C. Owens (7.2IP 6H 0R 4K W in the 10-1 win over the Orioles) made his Major League debut Aug. 4 and was playing in his eighth career game. He is the 3,595th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    9/16
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    Dodgers
    Alex Wood (W,11-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    
    10.0
    Marlins
    Adam Conley (W,4-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    6
  

    AL
    9.0
    Mariners
    Hisashi Iwakuma (W,8-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    1
    1
    0
    9
  

    
    8.0
    Nationals
    Gio Gonzalez (W,11-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    2
    2
    2
    12
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Rangers
    Prince Fielder, DH
    5
    3
    3
    5
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.2
    Red Sox
    Henry Owens (W,3-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    6
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Cardinals
    Thomas Pham, LF-CF
    4
    2
    3
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Blue Jays
    David Price (W,16-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    3
    9
  

    
    5.0
    Indians
    Danny Salazar (W,13-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    4.2
    `Tigers
    Daniel Norris
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.2
    1
    1
    1
    0
    4
  

    
    4.1
    Padres
    Craig Kimbrel (S,37)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Yankees
    Andrew Miller (S,34)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    `Cubs
    Jake Arrieta
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    2
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    2.0
    Giants
    Jake Peavy (W,7-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    7
    2
    2
    1
    8
  

    
    1.0
    White Sox
    Carlos Sanchez, 2B
    4
    2
    1
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Top 10 players

Lead changes

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

All-time leaders

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Box-Toppers season streaks

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Box-Toppers season streaks

Top player from each game

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top 10 players

Lead changes

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers

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