Red Sox' Chris Sale top players for Tuesday, May 2, rises to lead Box-Toppers player rankings

Shawn Plank May 3, 2017

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to take the lead in season player rankings.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2017 season as of May 2:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	bos al	6.7
2	Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	6.7
3	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	6.0
4	Nova, Ivan 2796	pi sp	pit nl	5.0
5	Vargas, Jason 2055	pi sp	kc al	5.0
6	Holland, Greg 2906	pi cp	col nl	5.0
7	Judge, Aaron 3767	rf	nyy al	5.0
8	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	4.4
9	Triggs, Andrew 3723	pi sp	oak al	4.4
10	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	4.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Tuesday, Twins pitcher Ervin Santana maintains his second-place spot in Box-Toppers season player rankings and Aaron Judge of the Yankees rises to seventh place after both earned Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Sale struck out 11 over eight innings, allowing two runs and three hits, in the 5-2 win over the Orioles.

Sale earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 6.7 for the season, rising from sixth to first place in season player rankings. He passes previous leader, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (5.0 Box-Toppers points), who had been leading since April 19. It is the second time in his career Sale has led Box-Toppers season player rankings—previously, he led May 17-18, 2013, when he had 8.7 points with the White Sox.

National League Player of the Day—Padres pitcher Trevor Cahill struck out seven over six innings, allowing one run and three hits, in the 6-2 win over the Rockies.

American League Batter of the Day—Marwin Gonzalez of the Astros hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the 8-7 win over the Rangers. Gonzalez went 2-for-3, driving in five runs.

National League Batter of the Day—Javier Baez of the Cubs homered, tripled and went 4-for-4, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 8-3 win over the Phillies.

Rankings—In addition to Sale, two other players earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday are also among Box-Toppers top 10 players in season player rankings:

Twins pitcher Ervin Santana (6IP 3H 0R 3BB 7K W in the 9-1 win over the Athletics) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 6.7 for the season, maintaining his second-place spot in Box-Toppers player rankings. He passes previous leader, Kershaw (5.0 points), but is passed by Sale in rankings. Though Sale and Santana both have 6.7 points on the season, Sale ranks ahead because he has more 2016 points (13.4 vs. 4.0).

Santana also now has 104.0 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 66th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his point Tuesday, he passes Jamie Moyer (104.0) on the “all-time” list and now trails 65th-ranked player, Blue Jays pitcher Francisco Liriano (104.2).

Aaron Judge of the Yankees (2HR 2-3 3R 4BI in the 11-5 win over the Blue Jays) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 5.0 for the season, rising to seventh place in season player rankings, first among all batters, just ahead of Bryce Harper of the Nationals (4.0 points, ranked 13th overall). Judge just missed out on earning AL Batter of the Day honors—his Box-Toppers game score of +6.0 was tied with Tuesday AL Batter of the Day Marwin Gonzalez of the Astros, but Gonzalez ranked ahead because he had more runs batted in than Judge (five vs. four).

Scoring—Sale earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Cahill earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Gonzalez and Baez 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.

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.

Box-Toppers strives for accuracy. See a mistake in a post? A wrong name, wrong team, grammar error, spelling goof, etc.? Thanks for pointing it out! Contact Box-Toppers here. Let's fix it and make it right.

Top player from each game
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score 





  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    5/2
    Score
    Game
    Player of the Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.0
    BOS 5, BAL 2
    Chris Sale (W,2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    2
    2
    2
    11
  

    
    9.0
    CHW 6, KC 0
    Jose Quintana (W,2-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    NL
    9.0
    SD 6, COL 2
    Trevor Cahill (W,2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    7.0
    MIN 9, OAK 1
    Ervin Santana (W,5-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    3
    7
  

    BAT
    6.0
    HOU 8, TEX 7
    Marwin Gonzalez, LF
    3
    2
    2
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    NYY 11, TOR 5
    Aaron Judge, RF
    3
    3
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.1
    STL 2, MIL 1
    Carlos Martinez (W,1-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.1
    4
    1
    0
    1
    4
  

    BAT
    5.0
    CHC 8, PHI 3
    Javier Baez, 2B-3B
    4
    2
    4
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    LAD 13, SF 5
    Yasiel Puig, RF
    5
    2
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    PIT 12, CIN 3
    Wade LeBlanc (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    4.0
    LAA 6, SEA 4 (F/11)
    Deolis Guerra (W,2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    3.0
    TB 3, MIA 1
    Alex Colome (S,7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    2.1
    ARI 6, WSH 3
    T.J. McFarland (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.1
    ATL 9, NYM 7
    Jim Johnson (S,5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    0.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    0.0
    DET 5, CLE 2
    Alex Avila, C
    4
    1
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

MLB—Overall Box-Toppers Player of the Day, worth 2.0 total Box-Toppers points.

  AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box-Toppers points.

All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

` 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 (’17). Also shown are each players’ Box-Toppers point total for this season and last (’16-17), the period 2012-2017 (’12-17) and each players’ career point total. Also shown is how their 2017 Box-Toppers point total compares with their 2016 total (+/-).


Player of the Game	Pos	Team	’17	’16-17	’12-17	Career	+/-
Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	bos al	6.7	20.1	88.1	93.1	-6.7
Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	6.7	10.7	43.5	104.0	2.7
Judge, Aaron 3767	rf	nyy al	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0	5.0
Cahill, Trevor 2658	pi sp mr	sd nl	3.4	6.4	21.1	43.6	0.4
Martinez, Carlos 3371	pi sp	stl nl	3.0	15.4	30.1	30.1	-9.4
Puig, Yasiel 3193	rf	lad nl	3.0	6.5	12.5	12.5	-0.5
Quintana, Jose 3040	pi sp	chi al	2.0	12.4	37.2	37.2	-8.4
Colome, Alex 3189	pi cp	tb al	2.0	11.0	19.7	19.7	-7.0
Johnson, Jim 2417	pi cp	atl nl	2.0	6.0	17.0	23.7	-2.0
Avila, Alex 2642	ca	det al	2.0	3.0	9.5	19.0	1.0
Baez, Javier 3395	2b 3b	chi nl	1.5	3.5	6.0	6.0	-0.5
Gonzalez, Marwin 3078	lf	hou al	1.5	2.5	7.0	7.0	0.5
LeBlanc, Wade 2669	pi cp sp	pit nl	1.0	4.0	4.0	11.0	-2.0
Guerra, Deolis 3521	pi cp mr	ana al	1.0	2.0	4.0	4.0	0.0
McFarland, T.J. 3585	pi mr	ari nl	1.0	1.0	3.0	3.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Angels' JC Ramirez tops players for Tuesday, April 25; Dodgers' Kershaw maintains top ranking in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank April 26, 2017

Angels pitcher JC Ramirez is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, making his Box-Toppers debut.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2017 season as of April 25:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	6.0
2	Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	5.7
3	Vargas, Jason 2055	pi sp	kc al	5.0
4	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	bos al	4.7
5	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc al	4.0
6	Harper, Bryce 3011	rf	dc nl	4.0
7	Holland, Greg 2906	pi cp	col nl	4.0
8	Carrasco, Carlos 2885	pi sp	cle al	3.7
9	Chacin, Jhoulys 2711	pi mr sp	sd nl	3.7
10	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	3.4

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Wednesday, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershawmaintains his first-place spot in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. And Twins pitcher Ervin Santana rises to second place—first among American League players—after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Ramirez pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out seven and allowing two hits, in the 2-1, 11-inning win over the Athletics. Ramirez picked up a no-decision and did not earn the win because the game was in a scoreless tie when he exited.

This was also Ramirez’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Ramirez made his Major League debut June 23, 2013, and was playing in his 114th career game. He is the 3,778th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

National League Player of the Day—Trea Turner of the Nationals hit for the cycle and went 4-for-6, scoring four times and driving in seven runs, in the 15-12 win over the Rockies.

American League Batter of the Day—Ian Kinsler of the Tigers doubled and went 4-for-5, scoring four times and driving in two runs, in the 19-9 win over the Mariners.

Kinsler has now earned Box-Toppers points in 12 straight seasons. He earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2006 with the Rangers and has 63.6 career points, second Among active AL second basemen (trailing Robinson Cano of the Mariners, who has 75.4). Kinsler’s best season was 2009 with the Rangers, when he had 11.2 points, eighth among AL batters. He had 6.0 points in 2016 with the Tigers, fifth among AL second basemen.

National League Batter of the Day—There is no separate NL Batter of the Day for Tuesday because the overall NL Player of the Day is batter Trea Turner.

Rankings—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw maintained his spot atop Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday.

Kershaw (7IP 6H R BB 7K W in the 2-1 win over the Giants) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 6.0 for the season. Kershaw also now has 189.7 career Box-Toppers points, fourth-most among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. He trails third-ranked player Curt Schilling (194.1). Kershaw leads active players in career Box-Toppers points.

Also, Twins pitcher Ervin Santana rises to second place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Tuesday.

Santana (7IP 4H R 2BB 6K W in the 8-1 win over the Rangers) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 5.7 for the season, rising from fourth to second place among all players and first among AL players, passing Royals pitcher Jason Vargas (5.0).

Santana also now has 103.0 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 67th-place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his point Tuesday, he passes two players on the “all-time” list—Ken Griffey Jr. (102.2) and Miguel Tejada (102.3). (It should be noted that if Griffey’s entire career from 1989 were tracked, rough estimates would give him about 150 Box-Toppers points.) Santana now trails 66th-ranked player Jamie Moyer (104.0).

Scoring—Ramirez earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Turner earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Kinsler earns 1.5 points for being AL 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 





  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/25
    Score
    Game
    Player of the Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.0
    `LAA 2, OAK 1 (F/11)
    JC Ramirez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    7
  

    NL
    9.0
    WSH 15, COL 12
    Trea Turner, SS
    6
    4
    4
    7
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    TB 2, BAL 0
    Chase Whitley (W,1-0; H,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    5.0
    DET 19, SEA 9
    Ian Kinsler, 2B
    5
    4
    4
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    ARI 9, SD 3
    Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
    4
    2
    4
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    MIL 9, CIN 1
    Hernan Perez, SS-CF
    3
    2
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    LAD 2, SF 1
    Clayton Kershaw (W,4-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    1
    7
  

    
    5.0
    MIN 8, TEX 1
    Ervin Santana (W,4-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    4.0
    TOR 6, STL 5 (F/11)
    Jason Grilli (W,1-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.2
    CHW 10, KC 5
    Dan Jennings (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    CHC 1, PIT 0
    Kyle Hendricks (W,2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    1.0
    HOU 4, CLE 2
    Norichika Aoki, RF-LF
    4
    1
    3
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

MLB—Overall Box-Toppers Player of the Day, worth 2.0 total Box-Toppers points.

  AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box-Toppers points.

All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

` 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 the Game	Pos	Team	’17	’16-17	’12-17	Career	+/-
Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	6.0	30.4	130.1	189.7	-18.4
Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	5.7	9.7	42.5	103.0	1.7
Goldschmidt, Paul 2935	1b	ari nl	2.0	6.5	37.9	41.9	-2.5
Grilli, Jason 2209	pi cp mr	tor al	2.0	3.0	16.7	27.4	1.0
Ramirez, JC 3778	pi sp	ana al	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Turner, Trea 3730	ss	dc nl	1.7	4.2	4.2	4.2	-0.8
Kinsler, Ian 2144	2b	det al	1.5	7.5	29.5	63.6	-4.5
Hendricks, Kyle 3386	pi sp	chi nl	1.0	14.4	29.1	29.1	-12.4
Perez, Hernan 3577	ss cf 3b 2b	mil nl	1.0	6.0	7.0	7.0	-4.0
Jennings, Dan 3591	pi mr cp	chi al	1.0	2.0	3.0	3.0	0.0
Aoki, Norichika 3110	rf lf	hou al	1.0	1.0	9.0	9.0	1.0
Whitley, Chase 3352	pi mr sp	tb al	1.0	1.0	4.7	4.7	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Royals' Vargas tops players for Wednesday, April 19; Dodgers' Kershaw regains Box-Toppers season points lead

Shawn Plank April 20, 2017

Royals pitcher Jason Vargas is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to second place in season player rankings.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2017 season as of April 19:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	5.0
2	Vargas, Jason 2055	pi sp	kc al	5.0
3	Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	4.7
4	Chacin, Jhoulys 2711	pi mr sp	sd nl	3.7
5	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	3.4
6	Morrison, Logan 2794	1b	tb al	3.2
7	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	3.0
8	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	3.0
9	Kimbrel, Craig 2825	pi cp	bos al	3.0
10	Devenski, Chris 3702	pi mr cp	hou al	3.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Wednesday, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw regains first place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Player of the Day—Vargas pitched seven scoreless innings, striking out nine and allowing four hits, in the 2-0 win over the Giants.

Vargas earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 5.0 for the season, rising to second in Box-Toppers season player rankings. He trails Kershaw, who also now has 5.0 Box-Toppers points, but ranks ahead on a tiebreaker because he had more 2016 points than Vargas—24.4 vs. 1.0.

National League Player of the Day—Padres pitcher Jhoulys Chacin pitched eight scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing three hits, in the 1-0 win over the Diamondbacks.

Chacin earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 3.7 for the season, rising to fourth place in season player rankings.

National League Batter of the Day—Bryce Harper of the Nationals hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the 14-4 win over the Braves. Harper also doubled and went 4-for-4, scoring three times and driving in five total runs.

American League Batter of the Day—Mitch Haniger of the Mariners doubled and went 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in four runs, in the 10-5 win over the Marlins.

Rankings—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw regained the lead in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday.

Kershaw (7IP 5H 2R BB 10K W in the 4-2 win over the Rockies) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 5.0 for the season, regaining the season points lead for the third time this season. Kershaw passes previous leader, Twins pitcher Ervin Santana (4.7 points), who drops to third place.

Kershaw also now has 188.7 career Box-Toppers points, fourth among all players since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995, trailing third-place player Curt Schilling (194.1). Kershaw is the active leader in career Box-Toppers points, ahead of Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (187.0).

Streaks—Two players extended their streaksearning Box-Toppers points for 10 or more consecutive seasons after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday:

Blue Jays pitcher Francisco Liriano (5.1IP 4H 0R BB 6K W in the 3-0 win over the Red Sox) has now earned Box-Toppers points for 10 straight seasons. Liriano earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2005 with the Twins, but his consecutive seasons streak earning points began in 2008 with the Twins. He has 104.2 career Box-Toppers points, 65th-most among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his point Wednesday, he passes Jamie Moyer (104.0) on the “all-time” list and now trails 64th-ranked player Carlos Beltran of the Astros (104.9). Liriano’s best season was 2013 with the Pirates when he had 16.7 Box-Toppers points, sixth among NL pitchers.
Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez (7.2IP 2H 0R 4BB 3K W in the 2-0 win over the Reds) has now earned Box-Toppers points for 11 straight seasons and has 80.5 career points, 12th among active AL pitchers. His best year was 2013, when he had 14.5 Box-Toppers points with the Indians, ninth among AL pitchers.

Debut—Rays closing pitcher Austin Pruitt made his Box-Toppers debut Wednesday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Pruitt (3.1IP H 0R 0BB 5K W in the 8-7 win over the Tigers) made his Major League debut April 2 and was playing in his seventh career game. He is the 3,773rd player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Vargas earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Chacin earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Harper and Haniger each earn 1.5 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 





  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/19
    Score
    Game
    Player of the Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    12.0
    KC 2, SF 0
    Jason Vargas (W,3-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    9
  

    NL
    9.0
    SD 1, ARI 0
    Jhoulys Chacin (W,2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    BAT
    8.0
    WSH 14, ATL 4
    Bryce Harper, RF
    4
    3
    4
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    7.1
    TB 8, DET 7
    Austin Pruitt (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.1
    1
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    
    7.0
    LAD 4, COL 2
    Clayton Kershaw (W,3-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    2
    2
    1
    10
  

    
    6.1
    TOR 3, BOS 0
    Francisco Liriano (W,1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    4
    0
    0
    1
    6
  

    
    6.0
    NYM 5, PHI 4
    Jay Bruce, RF
    4
    2
    3
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    6.0
    SEA 10, MIA 5
    Mitch Haniger, RF
    4
    3
    3
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.2
    BAL 2, CIN 0
    Ubaldo Jimenez (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    2
    0
    0
    4
    3
  

    
    4.0
    HOU 5, LAA 1
    Josh Reddick, RF-LF
    4
    3
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    STL 2, PIT 1
    Dexter Fowler, CF
    4
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    CHC 7, MIL 4
    Addison Russell, SS
    4
    1
    2
    4
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    OAK 9, TEX 1
    Khris Davis, LF
    3
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    NYY 9, CHW 1
    Starlin Castro, 2B
    2
    1
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

MLB—Overall Box-Toppers Player of the Day, worth 2.0 total Box-Toppers points.

  AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box-Toppers points.

All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

` 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 the Game	Pos	Team	’17	’16-17	’12-17	Career	+/-
Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	5.0	29.4	129.1	188.7	-19.4
Vargas, Jason 2055	pi sp	kc al	5.0	6.0	31.4	52.2	4.0
Chacin, Jhoulys 2711	pi mr sp	sd nl	3.7	9.4	16.1	31.5	-2.0
Harper, Bryce 3011	rf	dc nl	3.0	6.0	30.4	30.4	0.0
Davis, Khris 3242	lf	oak al	2.5	9.2	19.2	19.2	-4.2
Haniger, MItch 3772	rf	sea al	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
Bruce, Jay 2453	rf	nym nl	2.0	10.5	27.7	60.8	-6.5
Castro, Starlin 2767	2b	nyy al	2.0	9.0	17.5	27.5	-5.0
Reddick, Josh 2936	rf lf	hou al	2.0	5.5	25.4	26.4	-1.5
Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	tor al	1.0	9.0	58.7	104.2	-7.0
Jimenez, Ubaldo 2349	pi sp	bal al	1.0	5.7	37.6	80.5	-3.7
Russell, Addison 3559	ss	chi nl	1.0	4.5	7.0	7.0	-2.5
Fowler, Dexter 2698	cf	stl nl	1.0	2.5	16.5	19.0	-0.5
Pruitt, Austin 3773	pi cp	tb al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Twins' Ervin Santana tops players for Saturday, April 15, rises to lead Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank April 16, 2017

Twins pitcher Ervin Santana is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to take the lead in season Box-Toppers player rankings.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2017 season as of April 15:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	4.7
2	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	4.0
3	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	3.4
4	Morrison, Logan 2794	1b	tb al	3.2
5	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	3.0
6	Marte, Starling 3122	lf cf	pit nl	3.0
7	Vargas, Jason 2055	pi sp	kc al	3.0
8	Verlander, Justin 2112	pi sp	det al	2.7
9	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	bos al	2.7
10	Garcia, Avisail 3256	rf	chi al	2.5

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Saturday, Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia rises to fifth place on the “all-time” Box-Toppers points list (since record keeping began in 1995), moving ahead of Alex Rodriguez.

Player of the Day—Santana pitched a one-hit shutout, striking out eight and walking one, in the 6-0 win over the White Sox.

Santana earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 4.7 for the season and rising to first place in Box-Toppers season player rankings. He passes previous leader, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (4.0).

Santana also now has 102.0 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 69th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Saturday, he passes six players on the “all-time” list: Larry Walker (100.1), Jeff Bagwell (100.4), Paul Konerko (100.7), Jason Schmidt (101.2), Mark Teixiera (101.3) and Tim Wakefield (101.4). Santana now trails 68th-ranked player Ken Griffey Jr. (102.2).

National League Player of the Day—Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood pitched a two-hit shutout, striking out four and walking one, in the 5-0 win over the Giants.

American League Batter of the Day—Jose Ramirez of the Indians hit a pair of three-run homers and went 4-for-4, scoring three times and driving in six, in the 13-6 win over the Tigers.

National League Batter of the Day—Starling Marte of the Pirates homered and went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 8-7 win over the Cubs.

Marte earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL Batter of the Day, giving him 3.0 for the season and rises to sixth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings, first among NL batters.

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	Clayton Kershaw	pi sp	lad nl	187.7
5	CC Sabathia	pi sp	nyy al	187.0
6	Alex Rodriguez	dh	released	187.0
7	Albert Pujols	1b dh	ana al	182.3
8	Roy Halladay	pi sp	retired	170.7
9	Felix Hernandez	pi sp	sea al	169.7
10	Manny Ramirez	lf dh	retired	167.2
11	Johan Santana	pi sp	free agent	166.6
12	Roger Clemens	pi sp	retired	164.8
13	John Smoltz	pi sp	retired	160.9
14	Zack Greinke	pi sp	ari nl	157.1
15	Tim Hudson	pi sp	retired	157.0
16	Mike Mussina	pi sp	retired	155.6
17	Barry Bonds	lf	retired	153.2
18	Greg Maddux	pi sp	retired	151.7
19	Bartolo Colon	pi sp	atl nl	149.5
20	Chipper Jones	3b	retired	149.0

BTP: Box-Toppers points
List of top 100 players since 1995 at the close of the 2016 season.

Notable—Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia rises to fifth place in Box-Toppers points since 1995 (when tracking began) after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday. Santana (7.1IP 3H R BB 6K W in the 3-2 win over the Cardinals) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 187.0 for his career. With the point, he passes former teammate Alex Rodriguez, who also has 187.0 career points, but Sabathia ranks ahead because he has more 2017 points—2.0 vs. 0.0.

Sabathia now trails fourth-ranked player on the “all-time” list, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (187.7), who only passed Sabathia on Friday. Sabathia had briefly been the highest-ranked active player in career Box-Toppers points until being passed by Kershaw Friday. He now only trails Kershaw by 0.7 points.

In two days, Rodriguez has moved from fourth place to sixth place on the “all-time” list after being passed by Kershaw on Friday and Sabathia on Saturday. He had been in fourth place since April 2, 2011.

Rankings—Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday. Sale (7IP 3H R 3BB 12K W in the 2-1 win over the Rays) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 2.7 for the season.

For the first time this season, all players in the season top 10 list have earned Player of the Game honors more than once in 2017.

Debut—Cesar Hernandez of the Phillies made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Hernandez (HR 2-4 2R 2BI in the 4-2 win over the Nationals) made his Major League debut May 29, 2013, and was playing in his 393rd career game. He is the 3,770th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Hernandez and Marte both had Box-Toppers game scores Saturday of +2.0, but Marte won NL Batter of the Day honors over Hernandez on a tiebreaker—he had one stolen base in his game and Hernandez had none.

Scoring—Santana earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Chatwood earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Ramirez and Marte 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 





  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/15
    Score
    Game
    Player of the Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    15.0
    MIN 6, CHW 0
    Ervin Santana (W,3-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    8
  

    
    14.0
    SEA 5, TEX 0
    James Paxton (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    9
  

    
    11.0
    BOS 2, TB 1
    Chris Sale (W,1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    3
    12
  

    NL
    10.0
    COL 5, SF 0
    Tyler Chatwood (W,1-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    BAT
    9.0
    CLE 13, DET 6
    Jose Ramirez, 2B
    4
    3
    4
    6
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    8.0
    `TOR 2, BAL 1
    Marco Estrada
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    3
    8
  

    
    7.1
    NYY 3, STL 2
    CC Sabathia (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.1
    3
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    
    6.1
    LAD 8, ARI 4
    Alex Wood (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    HOU 10, OAK 6
    Will Harris (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    ATL 4, SD 2
    Jim Johnson (S,3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    MIA 5, NYM 4
    AJ Ramos (S,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.2
    KC 3, LAA 2
    Joakim Soria (W,1-0; BS,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    1
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    BAT
    2.0
    PIT 8, CHC 7
    Starling Marte, CF
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    PHI 4, WSH 2
    Cesar Hernandez, 2B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    CIN 7, MIL 5
    Zack Cozart, SS
    3
    2
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

MLB—Overall Box-Toppers Player of the Day, worth 2.0 total Box-Toppers points.

  AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box-Toppers points.

All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

` 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 the Game	Pos	Team	’17	’16-17	’12-17	Career	+/-
Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	4.7	8.7	41.5	102.0	0.7
Marte, Starling 3122	lf cf	pit nl	3.0	5.5	15.0	15.0	0.5
Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	bos al	2.7	16.1	84.1	89.1	-10.7
Sabathia, C.C. 1492	pi sp	nyy al	2.0	8.0	34.5	187.0	-4.0
Paxton, James 3280	pi sp	sea al	2.0	6.4	13.1	13.1	-2.4
Chatwood, Tyler 2856	pi sp	col nl	1.7	8.7	15.4	18.4	-5.3
Ramirez, Jose 3436	3b	cle al	1.5	3.0	6.5	6.5	0.0
Estrada, Marco 2847	pi sp	tor al	1.0	12.0	41.1	44.1	-10.0
Johnson, Jim 2417	pi cp	atl nl	1.0	5.0	16.0	22.7	-3.0
Ramos, A.J. 3210	pi cp	fla nl	1.0	3.0	13.0	13.0	-1.0
Cozart, Zack 3012	ss	cin nl	1.0	3.0	12.0	12.0	-1.0
Wood, Alex 3246	pi mr sp	lad nl	1.0	2.0	20.4	20.4	0.0
Soria, Joakim 2258	pi mr cp	kc al	1.0	2.0	10.7	46.7	0.0
Harris, Will 3093	pi mr cp	hou al	1.0	2.0	7.7	7.7	0.0
Hernandez, Cesar 3770	2b	phi nl	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Mets' Syndergaard tops players for Sunday, April 9, rises to lead Box-Toppers season player rankings

Shawn Plank April 10, 2017

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to lead all players in season Box-Toppers points.

Syndergaard struck out nine over seven innings, allowing two runs and five hits, in the 5-2 win over the Marlins.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2017 season as of April 9:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	3.0
2	Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	2.7
3	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	2.0
4	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	2.0
5	Martinez, Carlos 3371	pi sp	stl nl	2.0
6	Finnegan, Brandon 3535	pi sp	cin nl	2.0
7	Mazara, Nomar 3614	rf	tex al	2.0
8	Chacin, Jhoulys 2711	pi mr sp	sd nl	2.0
9	Devenski, Chris 3702	pi mr cp	hou al	2.0
10	Puig, Yasiel 3193	rf	lad nl	2.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Syndergaard earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 3.0 for the season, passing previous leader, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (2.0).

American League Player of the Day—Twins pitcher Ervin Santana pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out four, in the 4-1 win over the White Sox.

Santana earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 2.7 for the season and rising to second place in season Box-Toppers rankings.

Santana also becomes the 75th player since Box-Toppers inception in 1995 to reach 100 career Box-Toppers points. With his points Sunday, he has exactly 100.0 and ranks 75th among all players since 1995. He passes five players on the “all-time” list—Ryan Howard of the Braves (98.7), Jim Edmonds (98.8), White Sox pitcher James Shields (99.4), Giants pitcher Matt Cain (99.7) and Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto (99.8). Santana now trails 74th-ranked player Larry Walker (100.1).

American League Batter of the Day—Joey Gallo of the Rangers homered and went 2-for-4, driving in five runs, in the 8-1 win over the Athletics.

National League Batter of the Day—Starling Marte of the Pirates hit a walk-off 10th-inning home run in the 6-5 win over the Braves. Marte also went 4-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs.

Notable—Two other players who earned Player of the Game honors Sunday are among the top 10 players in season Box-Toppers rankings:

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta rises to fourth place with 2.0 Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors in the 7-4 win against Brewers (7IP 3H 3R 2BB 10K W).
Astros pitcher Chris Devenski rises to ninth place with 2.0 Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors in the 5-4, 12-inning win over the Royals (4IP 3H R 0BB 7K W).

Currently, 12 players have 2.0 Box-Toppers points on the season. Ties are broken among those players based on how many Box-Toppers points the players had in 2016. For example, Kershaw ranks highest among those 13 players because he had 24.4 Box-Toppers points in 2016, while Arrieta, who ranks third, had 15.7.

Scoring—Syndergaard earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Santana earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Gallo and Marte 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 





  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/9
    Score
    Game
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    8.0
    NYM 5, MIA 2
    Noah Syndergaard (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    2
    1
    0
    9
  

    
    7.0
    CIN 8, STL 0
    Scott Feldman (W,1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    6
  

    
    6.0
    CHC 7, MIL 4
    Jake Arrieta (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    3
    3
    2
    10
  

    AL
    6.0
    MIN 4, CHW 1
    Ervin Santana (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    
    6.0
    HOU 5, KC 4 (F/12)
    Chris Devenski (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    7
  

    
    5.0
    `PHI 4, WSH 3
    Jeremy Hellickson
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    BAT
    4.0
    TEX 8, OAK 1
    Joey Gallo, 3B
    4
    1
    2
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    TB 7, TOR 2
    Steven Souza, RF
    2
    2
    1
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    BOS 7, DET 5
    Matt Barnes (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    PIT 6, ATL 5 (F/10)
    Starling Marte, CF
    5
    2
    4
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    ARI 3, CLE 2
    Patrick Corbin (W,1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    3.0
    NYY 7, BAL 3
    Dellin Betances (W,1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    LAD 10, COL 6
    Corey Seager, SS
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    SF 5, SD 3
    Buster Posey, C
    3
    2
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    LAA 10, SEA 9
    Jefry Marte, PH
    1
    0
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

MLB—Overall Box-Toppers Player of the Day, worth 2.0 total Box-Toppers points.

  AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box-Toppers points.

  BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box-Toppers points.

All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

` 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	’17	’16-17	’12-17	Career	+/-
Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	3.0	19.7	30.1	30.1	-13.7
Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	2.7	6.7	39.5	100.0	-1.3
Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	2.0	17.7	72.5	77.5	-13.7
Devenski, Chris 3702	pi mr cp	hou al	2.0	5.7	5.7	5.7	-1.7
Marte, Starling 3122	lf	pit nl	1.5	4.0	13.5	13.5	-1.0
Gallo, Joey 3485	3b	tex al	1.5	1.5	3.0	3.0	1.5
Hellickson, Jeremy 2778	pi sp	phi nl	1.0	14.1	35.1	45.8	-12.1
Souza, Steven Jr. 3461	rf	tb al	1.0	6.7	12.2	12.2	-4.7
Betances, Dellin 3333	pi mr	nyy al	1.0	5.0	13.7	13.7	-3.0
Seager, Corey 3587	ss	lad nl	1.0	5.0	6.5	6.5	-3.0
Corbin, Patrick 3027	pi sp cp	ari nl	1.0	4.7	33.5	33.5	-2.7
Posey, Buster 2745	ca 1b	sf nl	1.0	4.5	29.5	34.0	-2.5
Marte, Jefry 3529	1b ph	ana al	1.0	2.0	3.0	3.0	0.0
Feldman, Scott 2632	pi sp	cin nl	1.0	1.0	17.7	25.7	1.0
Barnes, Matt 3466	pi mr	bos al	1.0	1.0	2.0	2.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw tops players for Monday, April 3, rises to lead active players in career Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank April 4, 2017

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to become the active leader in career Box-Toppers points.

Kershaw struck out eight over seven innings, allowing two runs (one earned) and two hits, in the 14-3 win over the Padres.

All-time leaders

After earning Box-Toppers Player of the Day honors Monday, Clayton Kershaw rises to fifth place in Box-Toppers points among all players since 1995 (when Box-Toppers tracking began). Kershaw also passes CC Sabathia to become the leader in points among all active players:


	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	released	187.0
5	Clayton Kershaw	pi sp	lad nl	185.7
6	CC Sabathia	pi sp	nyy al	185.0
7	Albert Pujols	1b dh	ana al	182.3
8	Roy Halladay	pi sp	retired	170.7
9	Felix Hernandez	pi sp	sea al	168.7
10	Manny Ramirez	lf dh	retired	167.2
11	Johan Santana	pi sp	free agent	166.6
12	Roger Clemens	pi sp	retired	164.8
13	John Smoltz	pi sp	retired	160.9
14	Tim Hudson	pi sp	retired	157.0
15	Zack Greinke	pi sp	ari nl	156.1
16	Mike Mussina	pi sp	retired	155.6
17	Barry Bonds	lf	retired	153.2
18	Greg Maddux	pi sp	retired	151.7
19	Chipper Jones	3b	retired	149.0
20	Bartolo Colon	pi sp	atl nl	148.5

BTP: Box-Toppers points
List of top 100 players since 1995 at the close of the 2016 season.

Kershaw earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 185.7 for his career, passing Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (185.0 points) to lead all active players in career Box-Toppers points. Kershaw now ranks fifth among all players in Box-Toppers points since 1995, when tracking began, trailing fourth place player Alex Rodriguez (187.0 points) by just 1.3.

Sabathia became the active leader in career Box-Toppers points on Aug. 13, 2016, when Alex Rodriguez, the then-active leader, was released by the Yankees. Kershaw’s rise past Sabathia is the first time a player has passed another player for the career points lead among active players (without a release or retirement) since April 2, 2011, when Rodriguez (168.6 points) passed then-active leader Manny Ramirez (167.2)—though Ramirez retired several days later.

Kershaw also assumes first place in 2017 season player rankings after two days of the season with his 2.0 Box-Toppers points. While he is tied with Sunday’s Player of the Day, Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez (2.0 points), Kershaw holds the tiebreaker because he had more 2016 points—24.4 vs. 12.4. Kershaw led players three times in 2016, including from May 7 to Aug. 24. He has been Box-Toppers Player of the Year, leading all players in Box-Toppers points, three times—in 2011 (26.1 points), 2013 (21.7) and 2014 (31.5).

Kershaw has now also earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors for 10 straight seasons. Kershaw earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2008 with the Dodgers. His best season was 2014 with 31.5 points, when he led all players. He has six straight seasons (through 2016) with 20.0 or more points and eight straight seasons (through 2016) with 10.0 or more points.

American League Player of the Day—Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out four, in the 3-0 win over the Mariners.

National League Batter of the Day—Mark Reynolds of the Rockies homered and went 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 7-5 win over the Brewers.

Reynolds has now earned Box-Toppers points for 11 straight seasons. He earned his first Box-Toppers points 2007 with the Diamondbacks and has 52.9 career points, fifth among active NL first basemen. His best year was 2011 with the Orioles, when he had 9.5 points, fifth among AL batters.

American League Batter of the Day—Khris Davis of the Athletics homered twice and went 3-for-4, in the 4-2 win over the Angels.

Streaks—In addition to Kershaw and Reynolds, two other players Monday extended streaks of 10 or more straight seasons earning Box-Toppers points:

Twins pitcher Ervin Santana has now earned Box-Toppers points in 13 straight seasons after earning Player of the Game honors in the 7-1 win over the Royals (7.0IP 2H R 2BB 3K W). Santana earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2005 with the Angels and has 98.3 career Box-Toppers points, eighth among active AL pitchers. His best season was 2008 with the Angels, when he had 16.7 Box-Toppers points, first among AL pitchers.
Adam Lind of the Nationals has now earned Box-Toppers points in 12 straight seasons after earning Player of the Game honors in the 4-2 win over the Marlins (pinch-hit, seventh-inning two-run home run). Lind earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2006 with the Blue Jays and has 60.5 career points, third among active NL first basemen. His best season was 2009 with the Blue Jays when he had 16.4 Box-Toppers points, second among AL batters.

Scoring—Kershaw earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Keuchel earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Reynolds and Davis 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/3
    Score
    Game
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    10.0
    LAD 14, SD 3
    Clayton Kershaw (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    2
    1
    0
    8
  

    
    8.0
    `NYM 6, ATL 0
    Noah Syndergaard
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    AL
    7.0
    HOU 3, SEA 0
    Dallas Keuchel (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    4
  

    BAT
    4.0
    COL 7, MIL 5
    Mark Reynolds, 1B
    3
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    MIN 7, KC 1
    Ervin Santana (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    1
    1
    2
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    OAK 4, LAA 2
    Khris Davis, LF
    4
    2
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    WSH 4, MIA 2
    Adam Lind, PH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    CLE 8, TEX 5
    Andrew Miller (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    BOS 5, PIT 3
    Craig Kimbrel (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    1.2
    `BAL 3, TOR 2 (F/11)
    Mychal Givens (BS,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    2
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    1.0
    PHI 4, CIN 3
    Freddy Galvis, SS
    4
    2
    2
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `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	’17	’16-17	’12-17	Career	+/-
Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	2.0	26.4	126.1	185.7	-22.4
Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	1.7	8.7	44.5	44.5	-5.3
Davis, Khris 3242	lf	oak al	1.5	8.2	18.2	18.2	-5.2
Reynolds, Mark 2297	1b	col nl	1.5	5.5	20.2	52.9	-2.5
Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	1.0	17.7	28.1	28.1	-15.7
Kimbrel, Craig 2825	pi cp	bos al	1.0	9.0	53.7	59.7	-7.0
Miller, Andrew 2436	pi mr cp	cle al	1.0	9.0	16.0	24.0	-7.0
Lind, Adam 2238	1b ph	dc nl	1.0	6.4	25.4	60.5	-4.4
Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	1.0	5.0	37.8	98.3	-3.0
Galvis, Freddy 3202	ss	phi nl	1.0	5.0	13.0	13.0	-3.0
Givens, Mychal 3599	pi mr	bal al	1.0	3.0	4.0	4.0	-1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Twins' Ervin Santana tops players for Wednesday, July 6; Giants' Cueto rises to 2nd in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank July 7, 2016

Twins pitcher Ervin Santana is Wednesday’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 6:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.0
2	Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4
3	Fernandez, Jose 3147	pi sp	fla nl	13.4
4	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	12.0
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?

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

Player of the Day—Santana pitched a two-hit, complete-game shutout, striking out eight and walking none, in the 4-0 win over the Athletics.

Santana earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, his first Box-Toppers points of the season, and has now earned Box-Toppers points in 12 straight seasons.

He earned his first points in 2005 with the Angels and has 95.3 for his career, ninth among active American League pitchers. His best season was 2008 with the Angels, when he had 16.7 points, leading all AL pitchers. In 2015, he had 5.4 points with the Twins.

National League Player of the Day—Giants pitcher Johnny Cueto pitched a complete game, allowing one run, five hits, one walk and striking out eight, in the 5-1 win over the Rockies.

Cueto earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 13.4 for the season and rising from fourth to second in season player rankings, trailing overall leader, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (20.0).

Cueto’s rise in Box-Toppers top 10 rankings is the first movement in that chart in a week. None of the players in the top 10 have earned Player of the Game honors since June 29.

National League Batter of the Day—Yangervis Solarte of the Padres hit a three-run homer and doubled, going 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in five runs, in the 13-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

American League Batter of the Day—Nick Castellanos of the Tigers homered, doubled and went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in five runs, in the 12-2 win over the Indians.

Notable—Angels pitcher Jered Weaver now has 125.1 Box-Toppers points—37th-most among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began—after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday.

Weaver (6IP 4H R BB 5K W in the 7-2 win over the Rays) now trails the 36th-ranked player on the “all-time” list, Mariano Rivera (126.4). Weaver has 2.0 Box-Toppers points for the season.

Debut—Bryce Brentz of the Red Sox made his Box-Toppers debut Wednesday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.

Brentz (2-4 2R 3BI in the 11-6 win over the Rangers) made his Major League debut Sept. 17, 2014, and was playing in his 17th career game. He is the 3,680th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Santana earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Cueto earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Solarte and Castellanos each earn 1.5 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/6
    Score
    Game
    Player of Game
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    15.0
    MIN 4/OAK 0
    Ervin Santana (W,3-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    NL
    9.0
    SF 5/COL 1
    Johnny Cueto (W,13-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    8
  

    
    6.0
    TOR 4/KC 2
    Marcus Stroman (W,7-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    2
    2
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    5.0
    SD 13/ARI 6
    Yangervis Solarte, 3B
    5
    2
    3
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    5.0
    DET 12/CLE 2
    Nick Castellanos, 3B
    5
    2
    3
    5
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    CHW 5/NYY 0
    Miguel Gonzalez (W,2-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    4.0
    LAA 7/TB 2
    Jered Weaver (W,7-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    5
  

    
    4.0
    DC 7/MIL 4
    Jonathan Papelbon (S,17)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    HOU 9/SEA 8
    Carlos Gomez, CF
    4
    1
    3
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    BOS 11/TEX 6
    Bryce Brentz, LF
    4
    2
    2
    3
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    BAL 6/LAD 4
    Mark Trumbo, RF
    6
    3
    3
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    NYM 4/MIA 2
    Wilmer Flores, 3B
    4
    2
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    PIT 7/STL 5
    A.J. Schugel (W,2-2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    CIN 5/CHC 3
    Tony Cingrani (S,10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    PHI 4/ATL 3
    Freddy Galvis, SS
    4
    1
    2
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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	+/-
Cueto, Johnny 2400	pi sp	sf nl	13.4	26.2	77.4	96.8	0.6
Trumbo, Mark 2851	rf	bal al	7.2	9.7	32.9	32.9	4.7
Castellanos, Nick 3349	3b	det al	5.5	11.7	13.7	13.7	-0.7
Galvis, Freddy 3202	ss	phi nl	4.0	8.0	12.0	12.0	0.0
Gonzalez, Miguel 3062	pi sp	chi al	3.7	10.4	32.5	32.5	-3.0
Stroman, Marcus 3327	pi sp	tor al	3.7	6.4	20.1	20.1	1.0
Flores, Wilmer 3345	3b ss 2b	nym nl	2.5	5.0	7.5	7.5	0.0
Weaver, Jered 2178	pi sp	ana al	2.0	9.7	64.3	125.1	-5.7
Santana, Ervin 2005	pi sp	min al	2.0	7.4	45.8	95.3	-3.4
Papelbon, Jonathan 2110	pi cp	dc nl	2.0	6.0	23.7	54.4	-2.0
Schugel, A.J. 3669	pi mr	pit nl	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
Solarte, Yangervis 3304	3b	sd nl	1.5	6.5	7.5	7.5	-3.5
Gomez, Carlos 2397	cf	hou al	1.0	7.0	17.5	28.5	-5.0
Cingrani, Tony 3158	pi cp	cin nl	1.0	1.0	8.4	8.4	1.0
Brentz, Bryce 3680	lf	bos al	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Twins' Ervin Santana tops players in Friday, March 25's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 26, 2016

Twins pitcher Ervin Santana is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Friday.

Santana pitched six scoreless innings, striking out eight and allowing three hits, in the 6-1 win over the Rays. Santana had 5.4 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Twins. He has 93.3 career Box-Toppers points since 2005, which ranks seventh among active American League pitchers. His best year was 2008 with the Angels, when he had 16.7 points, ranked first among AL pitchers.

National League Player of the Day—Diamondbacks pitcher Shelby Miller allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and allowing three hits, in the 7-5 win over the Indians. Miller had 10.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Braves. His best year was 2013 with the Cardinals when he had 15.4 Box-Toppers points, ninth among NL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Rougned Odor of the Rangers hit three solo home runs and went 4-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 12-11 win over the Padres. Odor had 3.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015.

National League Batter of the Day—Rob Segedin of the Dodgers went 3-for-3, scoring once and driving in two runs, in the 13-0 win over the Giants. Segedin has yet to make his regular season Major League debut and so has no Box-Toppers points.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Santana would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Miller would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Odor and Segedin would each earn 1.5 points for being top batter in their league for the day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Sixteen spring training games were scheduled for Friday—11 are listed below. Three games are not included because they ended in ties (Astros vs. Braves, Cardinals vs. Mets and Blue Jays vs. Phillies) and two games were postponed or cancelled (Braves vs. Tigers and Nationals vs. Marlins).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/25
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Twins
    Ervin Santana (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    BAT
    7.0
    Rangers
    Rougned Odor 2B
    4
    3
    4
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    4.2
    Dbacks
    Shelby Miller (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    
    4.0
    `Mariners
    Félix Hernández
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Giants
    Sergio Romo (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Dodgers
    Rob Segedin 3B
    3
    1
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Red Sox
    Dustin Pedroia 2B
    3
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Orioles
    Nolan Reimold LF
    2
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Rockies
    Pat Valaika 2B
    2
    1
    1
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Angels
    Jefry Marte 3B
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Brewers
    Kirk Nieuwenhuis RF
    1
    0
    1
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Indians' Carlos Carrasco tops players in Thursday, March 10's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 10, 2016

Indians pitcher Carlos Carrasco is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Thursday.

Carrasco pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out four, in the 9-4 win over the Padres. Carrasco had 18.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Indians, fifth among American League pitchers. He was Box-Toppers Player of the Day five times during the 2015 regular season.

Carrasco had a Box-Toppers game score Thursday of +6.0, the same as Twins pitcher Ervin Santana, who was Player of the Game in the 8-2 win over the Red Sox. But Carrasco won overall Player of the Day on a tiebreaker—he had more strikeouts (four vs. three).

National League Player of the Day—Giants pitcher Chris Stratton pitched three scoreless innings, allowing no hits and striking out two, in the 3-1 win over the Brewers. Stratton has yet to make his regular season Major League debut and so has yet to earn his first Box-Toppers points.

American League Batter of the Day—David Adams of the Blue Jays doubled twice and went 3-for-3, scoring three times and driving in two runs, in the 11-4 win over the Yankees. Adams has yet to earn Player of the Day honors during the regular season and so has no career Box-Toppers points.

National League Batter of the Day—A.J. Ellis of the Dodgers hit two doubles, going 2-for-3, scoring once and driving in three runs, in the 8-3 win over the Athletics. Ellis had no Box-Toppers points in 2015, but had 6.0 Box-Toppers points from 2012 to 2014.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Carrasco would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Stratton would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Adams and Ellis would earn 1.5 points as top batters in their league for the day. All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Sixteen spring training games were scheduled for Thursday—14 are listed below. Two games are not included because they ended in ties (Tigers vs. Phillies and Yankees vs. Orioles).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/10
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    6.0
    Indians
    Carlos Carrasco (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    
    6.0
    Twins
    Ervin Santana (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Blue Jays
    David Adams PR-2B
    3
    3
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.1
    Rays
    Drew Smyly (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.1
    2
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    NL
    4.0
    Giants
    Chris Stratton (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    4.0
    `Mets
    Noah Syndergaard
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Dodgers
    A.J. Ellis C
    3
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Mariners
    Stefen Romero LF
    3
    1
    2
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    White Sox
    Avisail Garcia RF
    3
    2
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Royals
    Jorge Bonifacio PR-LF
    2
    2
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Reds
    Seth Mejias-Brean 3B
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Astros
    Collin McHugh (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Dbacks
    Jason Bourgeois CF
    3
    1
    1
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Braves
    Jeff Francoeur RF
    2
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

Cubs' Jake Arrieta tops players for Saturday, Sept. 5, takes Box-Toppers player rankings lead

Shawn Plank September 7, 2015

(Other duties have put us behind updating Box-Toppers. Playing catch up …)

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta is Box-Toppers Player of the Day for Saturday, Sept. 5, and rises to the top of Box-Toppers season player rankings.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of Sept. 5.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Arrieta, Jake 2738	pi sp	chi nl	21.1
2	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	20.7
3	deGrom, Jacob 3343	pi sp	nym nl	19.4
4	Price, David 2593	pi sp	tor al	19.1
5	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	18.0
6	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	17.7
7	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	17.4
8	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	17.1
9	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	16.0
10	Archer, Chris 3194	pi sp	tb al	16.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Saturday, two other players in Box-Toppers top 10 season player rankings earned Player of the Game honors—Blue Jays pitcher David Price (fourth place) and Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (seventh place).

Player of the Day—Arrieta took the Box-Toppers season player ranking lead for the first time in his career, passing Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (20.7 Box-Toppers points) who took the lead Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Arrieta has 21.1 Box-Toppers points and becomes the second player this season with 20.0 or more Box-Toppers points.

Arrieta pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven, in the 2-0 win over the Diamondbacks. Arrieta earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 21.1 for the season, his most points in a season, beating his previous high of 14.7 in 2014.

Arrieta had a Box-Toppers game score Saturday of +11.0, the same as Cardinals pitcher Jaime Garcia (Player of the Game in his team’s 4-1 win over the Pirates). But Arrieta won overall Player of the Day on a tiebreaker because he had more innings pitched—eight vs. seven.

American League Player of the Day—Twins pitcher Ervin Santana struck out 11 over eight innings, allowing one run and six hits, in the 3-2 win over the Astros.

National League Batter of the Day—Travis d’Arnaud of the Mets homered and went 2-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 7-0 win over the Marlins.

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

American League Batter of the Day—There is no AL Batter of the Day for Saturday because no AL batter earned Player of the Game honors.

Rankings—In addition to Arrieta, two other players in Box-Toppers top 10 player rankings earned Player of the Game honors Saturday:

Blue Jays pitcher David Price (7IP 3H R 8K W in the 5-1 win over the Orioles) maintained his rank of fourth place overall and first among AL pitchers. Price earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 19.1 for the season.
Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (8IP 6H 3R 9K W in the 8-3 win over the Athletics) rose to seventh place in player rankings. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 17.4 for the season. He ranks third among AL pitchers, behind Price and Dallas Keuchel (17.7). Also, Hernandez now has 160.7 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his rank of 12th place among all players since 1995 (when Box-Toppers record keeping began). Hernandez trails 11th-place player John Smoltz (160.9).

Debut—Rays pitcher Xavier Cedeno made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Cedeno (1.2 IP 0R 0H 4K W in the 3-2 win over the Yankees) made his Major League debut June 9, 2012, and was playing in his 132nd career game. He is the 3,578th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Arrieta earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Santana earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day. d’Arnaud earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL 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

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    9/5
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Cubs
    Jake Arrieta (W,18-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    11.0
    Cardinals
    Jaime Garcia (W,8-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    9
  

    
    10.0
    Nationals
    Gio Gonzalez (W,10-7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    4
    10
  

    AL
    9.0
    Twins
    Ervin Santana (W,4-4)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    1
    1
    2
    11
  

    
    8.0
    Red Sox
    Wade Miley (W,11-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    5
    2
    2
    0
    8
  

    
    6.0
    Rangers
    Derek Holland (W,3-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    6.0
    Blue Jays
    David Price (W,14-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    4
    8
  

    
    6.0
    Tigers
    Alfredo Simon (W,12-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    4
    5
  

    
    5.0
    Mariners
    Felix Hernandez (W,16-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    6
    3
    3
    0
    9
  

    
    5.0
    White Sox
    Jose Quintana (W,8-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    7
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    
    4.2
    Rays
    Xavier Cedeno (MR) (W,4-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.2
    0
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    4.0
    Dodgers
    Alex Wood (W,10-9)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    4
    4
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Mets
    Travis d'Arnaud, C
    4
    1
    2
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Brewers
    Adam Lind, PH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Brewers
    Elian Herrera, 3B
    5
    2
    2
    3
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Giants
    Gregor Blanco, RF
    4
    2
    2
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw tops players for Thursday, July 23, rises to 6th in Box-Toppers player rankings

Shawn Plank July 24, 2015

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to sixth in season player rankings.

Also Thursday, Twins pitcher Ervin Santana earned a Box-Toppers point in his 11th straight season.

Player of the Day—Kershaw pitched a complete game, three-hit shutout, striking out 11, in the 3-0 win over the Mets.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of July 23.


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	15.0
2	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	14.4
3	deGrom, Jacob 3343	pi sp	nym nl	14.4
4	Sale, Chris 2806	pi sp	chi al	13.4
5	Price, David 2593	pi sp	det al	13.1
6	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	13.0
7	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	12.7
8	Greinke, Zack 1871	pi sp	lad nl	12.0
9	Archer, Chris 3194	pi sp	tb al	12.0
10	Cole, Gerrit 3232	pi sp	pit nl	12.0

What are those numbers after players' names?

Kershaw earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 13.0 for the season and rising to sixth in player rankings, third among NL pitchers.

Kershaw now has 146.6 career Box-Toppers points, maintaining his rank of 20th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers record keeping began. He trails 19th-place player on the “all-time” list, Jim Thome (146.7).

Kershaw, who led all players in Box-Toppers points in 2011, 2013 and 2014, has far and away the most Box-Toppers points of all players since 2010. Since the start of the 2010 season, Kershaw has 129.2 Box-Toppers points. In second place is Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (100.8), 28.4 points behind.

American League Player of the Day—Twins pitcher Ervin Santana pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out seven, in the 3-0 win over the Angels.

Thursday marked the first time Santana earned Player of the Game honors this season, giving him a streak of 11 straight seasons with Box-Toppers points. He earned his first points in 2005 with the Angels. His best year was 2008 with the Angels, when he had 16.7, most among AL pitchers. In 2014, he had 11.0 Box-Toppers points with the Braves.

Santana has 89.6 career Box-Toppers points, 93rd among all players since 1995 when Box-Toppers record keeping began. He ranks ninth in career Box-Toppers points among active AL pitchers.

Santana was suspended for the first 80 games of the season under baseball’s performance enhancing drug policy.

American League Batter of the Day—Jose Altuve of the Astros hit a walk-off homer in the 5-4 win over the Red Sox. Altuve also hit a double and went 4-for-5, scoring twice.

National League Batter of the Day—Randal Grichuk of the Cardinals hit a two-run homer and went 2-for-4 in the 4-3 win over the Royals.

Debut—Diamondbacks pitcher Zack Godley made his Box-Toppers debut Thursday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Godley (6IP 4H 0R 7K W in the 8-3 win over the Brewers) was also making his Major League debut. He is the 3,538th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    7/23
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    17.0
    Dodgers
    Clayton Kershaw (W,8-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    11
  

    AL
    11.0
    Twins
    Ervin Santana (W,2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    9.0
    Pirates
    Francisco Liriano (W,6-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    3
    11
  

    
    9.0
    Dbacks
    Zack Godley (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    7.0
    Marlins
    Tom Koehler (W,8-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    4
    7
  

    
    5.0
    White Sox
    Jeff Samardzija (W,7-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    1
    1
    0
    3
  

    
    4.2
    Yankees
    Masahiro Tanaka (W,7-3)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.2
    4
    3
    3
    0
    7
  

    
    4.1
    Blue Jays
    R.A. Dickey (W,4-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.1
    5
    2
    2
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Astros
    Jose Altuve, 2B
    5
    2
    4
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    `Mariners
    Hisashi Iwakuma
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    2
    2
    2
    7
  

    BAT
    1.0
    Cardinals
    Randal Grichuk, LF
    4
    1
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

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

A look at Box-Toppers 'all-time' top 100 player list, led by Hall inductee Randy Johnson

Shawn Plank July 17, 2015

The Big Unit leads the list of the top 100 players in Box-Toppers points since record keeping began in 1995. A look at all 100 ...

Rays' Chris Archer (7IP 12K) tops players for Wednesday, Aug. 13

Shawn Plank August 14, 2014

Rays pitcher Chris Archer is Wednesday’s Player of the Day. Archer struck out 12 over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 10-1 win over the Rangers.

Cardinals pitcher Justin Masterson is National League Player of the Day. Masterson pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits, in the 5-2 win over the Marlins.

Victor Martinez of the Tigers is American League Batter of the Day. Martinez went 3-for-4, scoring once and driving in three runs, in the 8-4 win over the Pirates.

Jedd Gyorko of the Padres is NL Batter of the Day. Gyorko doubled and went 4-for-4, scoring a run, in the 5-3 win over the Rockies.

Notables: Braves pitcher Ervin Santana rose to 21st place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday. Santana (6IP 9K W in the 3-2 win over the Dodgers) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.0 for the season. He ranks eighth among NL pitchers in Box-Toppers points.

Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann became the 28th player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors Wednesday. Zimmermann (6.1IP R W in the 3-2 win over the Mets) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.0 for the season. He is in 27th place in Box-Toppers player rankings and ranks 12th among NL pitchers.

Archer receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Masterson receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Martinez and Gyorko each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

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

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

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    813
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Rays
    Chris Archer (W, 8-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    2
    12
  

    
    10.0
    Royals
    Jason Vargas (W, 9-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    NL
    7.0
    Cardinals
    Justin Masterson (W, 2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    7.0
    `Indians
    Trevor Bauer
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    4
    2
    2
    2
    9
  

    
    5.2
    Mariners
    Hisashi Iwakuma (W, 11-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    5
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    4.1
    Nationals
    Jordan Zimmermann (W, 8-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    5
    1
    0
    0
    4
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Tigers
    Victor Martinez   DH
    4
    1
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    `Dbacks
    Andrew Chafin
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    3
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    2.0
    Twins
    Glen Perkins (S, 30)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.2
    Cubs
    Tsuyoshi Wada (W, 2-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    5
    2
    2
    1
    5
  

    BAT
    1.0
    Padres
    Jedd Gyorko   2B
    4
    1
    4
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Orioles
    Adam Jones   CF
    4
    1
    1
    3
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Red Sox
    Mike Napoli   1B
    4
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Giants
    Joaquin Arias   PH
    0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Braves
    Ervin Santana (W, 12-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    8
    2
    2
    2
    9
  

    
    1.0
    Angels
    Huston Street (S, 7)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    0
  

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

Braves' Ervin Santana (8IP 0R 11K) tops players for Monday, July 28

Shawn Plank July 29, 2014

Braves pitcher Ervin Santana is Monday’s Player of the Day. Santana pitched eight shutout innings and struck out 11 in the 2-0 win over the Padres.

Santana earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 10.0 for the season. He is the 21st player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points and ranks 21st in Box-Toppers player rankings. He ranks ninth among National League pitchers.

Blue Jays pitcher R.A. Dickey is American League Player of the Day. Dickey struck out 10 over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 14-1 win over the Red Sox.

Travis d’Arnaud of the Mets is NL Batter of the Day. d’Arnaud hit a three-run homer and two doubles, going 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, in the 7-1 win over the Phillies.

Chris Carter of the Astros is AL Batter of the Day. Carter hit a three-run homer and scored twice in the 7-3 win over the Athletics.

Notable: Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish rose to 12th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Monday. Darvish (7IP 8K W in the 4-2 win over the Yankees) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 12.4 for the season. He ranks eighth among AL pitchers.

Santana receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Dickey receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. d’Arnaud and Carter each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

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

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    728
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    14.0
    Braves
    Ervin Santana (W, 10-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    8.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    11
  

    AL
    11.0
    Blue Jays
    R.A. Dickey (W, 9-10)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    1
    10
  

    
    8.0
    `Dbacks
    Chase Anderson
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    2
    8
  

    
    7.0
    Pirates
    Vance Worley (W, 4-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    9.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    7.0
    Rays
    Jake Odorizzi (W, 7-8)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    5
  

    
    5.0
    Cubs
    Tsuyoshi Wada (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Mets
    Travis d`Arnaud   C
    4
    2
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Astros
    Chris Carter   DH
    3
    2
    1
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Marlins
    Mike Dunn (W, 8-5)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Rangers
    Yu Darvish (W, 10-6)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    9
    2
    2
    1
    8
  

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

Braves' Ervin Santana (7IP 7K) tops players for Saturday, May 10, rises to 5th place in Box-Toppers player rankings

Shawn Plank May 11, 2014

Braves pitcher Ervin Santana, Saturday’s Player of the Day, rises to fifth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings.

Santana pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out seven in the 2-0 win over the Cubs. He earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 6.0 for the season, moving him up to fifth place in season rankings. (See the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points for the season on the home page.)

Mariners pitcher Chris Young is American League Player of the Day. Young gave up one run over eight innings in the 3-1 win over the Royals.

Corey Dickerson of the Rockies is National League Batter of the Day. Dickerson homered twice, doubled twice and drove in four runs in the 11-2 win over the Reds.

Shane Victorino of the Red Sox is AL Batter of the Day. Victorino went 3-for-4 and drove in four runs in the 8-3 win over the Rangers.

Santana receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Young receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Dickerson and Victorino each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

510ScoreTeamPlayerABRHBIBBKIPHRERBBK
MLB8.0BravesErvin Santana (W, 4-0)------7.050017
BAT6.0RockiesCorey Dickerson   CF, LF534401------
AL6.0MarinersChris Young (W, 3-0)------8.031103
6.0RaysErik Bedard (W, 2-1)------6.010034
5.0PadresSeth Smith   LF423410------
5.0DbacksWade Miley (W, 3-3)------7.042206
5.0AthleticsSean Doolittle (W, 1-2)------2.000003
BAT4.0Red SoxShane Victorino   RF413400------
4.0PhilliesJimmy Rollins   SS443110------
3.0TigersMiguel Cabrera   1B321301------
3.0AngelsTyler Skaggs (W, 3-1)------8.043204
2.0BrewersJonathan Lucroy   C422200------
2.0DodgersDee Gordon   2B322110------
2.0OriolesRyan Webb (W, 2-0)------1.010002
2.0PiratesMark Melancon (S, 4)------1.010002

Marlins' Henderson Alvarez (CG 0R 2H) tops players for Saturday, April 19; Braun rises to 2nd in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank April 20, 2014

Marlins pitcher Henderson Alvarez is Saturday’s Player of the Day. Alvarez pitched a complete game, two-hit shutout in the 7-0 win over the Mariners.

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer is American League Player of the Day. Scherzer struck out nine over seven innings, allowing only one run, in the 5-2 win over the Angels.

Ryan Hanigan of the Rays is AL Batter of the Day. Hanigan hit two homers while going 3-for-4 and driving in six in the 16-1 win over the Yankees.

Ryan Braun of the Brewers is National League Batter of the Day. Braun hit two home runs—including a go-ahead, ninth-inning, two-run homer—and went 3-for-5 in the 8-7 win over the Pirates. Braun rises to second place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season. He earned 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being NL Batter of the Day, giving him 4.5 for the season. (See updated Top 10 Box-Toppers player rankings for 2014 on the home page.)

Notables: Athletics pitcher Scott Kazmir rises to fifth place on Box-Toppers player rankings and Braves pitcher Ervin Santana rises to sixth place after both were Players of the Game Saturday. (See updated Top 10 Box-Toppers player rankings for 2014 on the home page.)

Kazmir (8IP 5K ND in 4-3 win vs. Astros) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 4.0 for the season.

Santana (7IP 7K W in 7-5 win vs. Mets) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 4.0 for the season.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

419ScoreTeamPlayerABRHBIBBKIPHRERBBK
MLB11.0MarlinsHenderson Alvarez (W, 1-2)------9.020004
AL9.0TigersMax Scherzer (W, 1-1)------7.031129
BAT7.0RaysRyan Hanigan   C423610------
BAT5.0BrewersRyan Braun   RF543300------
4.0BravesErvin Santana (W, 2-0)------7.061127
3.0Blue JaysMark Buehrle (W, 4-0)------7.040033
3.0PadresEric Stults (W, 1-2)------6.031102
3.0`RoyalsDanny Duffy (H, 1)------2.000012
3.0Red SoxKoji Uehara (S, 4)------1.000013
2.0CubsWelington Castillo   C422200------
2.0DodgersAdrian Gonzalez   1B422201------
2.0`AthleticsScott Kazmir------8.063205
2.0RockiesJordan Lyles (W, 3-0)------7.051012
2.0RangersJoakim Soria (S, 3)------1.000001
1.0CardinalsTony Cruz   C412201------

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

Cardinals' Lance Lynn (7IP 0R 11K) tops players for Monday, April 14

Shawn Plank April 15, 2014

Cardinals pitcher Lance Lynn is Monday’s Player of the Day. Lynn pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out 11 in the 4-0 win over the Brewers.

Athletics pitcher Jesse Chavez is American League Player of the Day. Chavez struck out nine over seven innings in the 3-2 win over the Angels. Chavez earned a no-decision in the game and did not pick up the win because he left the game with the Athletics trailing, 2-1.

Lucas Duda of the Mets is National League Batter of the Day. Duda went 4-for-5 and drove in two runs in the 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

Matt Wieters of the Orioles is AL Batter of the Day. Wieters went 3-for-4, drove in one run and scored twice in the 7-1 win over the Rays.

Notable: Braves pitcher Ervin Santana rises to eighth place on Box-Toppers player rankings for the season. Santana (6IP 11K ND) was Player of the Game in the 9-6 win over the Phillies, earning 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 3.0 for the season. (See updated top 10 player rankings for the season.)

Lynn receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Chavez receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Duda and Wieters each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

414ScoreTeamPlayerABRHBIBBKIPHRERBBK
MLB12.0CardinalsLance Lynn (W, 3-0)------7.0300311
AL9.0`AthleticsJesse Chavez------7.042109
9.0`BravesErvin Santana------6.0411211
3.0NationalsJordan Zimmermann (W, 1-0)------7.062217
2.2MarinersRoenis Elias (W, 1-1)------6.251125
BAT2.0MetsLucas Duda   1B, LF514201------
BAT2.0OriolesMatt Wieters   C423100------
2.0PadresTommy Medica   PH111100------

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

Braves' Ervin Santana (8IP 0R) is top player for Wednesday, April 9

Shawn Plank April 10, 2014

Braves pitcher Ervin Santana is Wednesday’s Player of the Day. He pitched eight shutout innings, allowing only three hits, in the 4-3 win over the Mets.

Indians pitcher Zach McAllister is American League Player of the Day. McAllister pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings and struck out seven in the 2-0 win over the Padres.

DJ LeMahieu of the Rockies is National League Batter of the Day. LeMahieu went 3-4 and drove in three runs in the 10-4 win over the White Sox.

Jonathan Schoop of the Orioles is AL Batter of the Day. Schoop hit a three-run home run and went 2-4 in the 5-4 win over the Yankees. This was Schoop’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,307th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Santana receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. McAllister receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. LeMahieu and Schoop each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

409ScoreTeamPLAYERABRHBIBBKIPHRERBBK
MLB11.0BravesErvin Santana (W, 1-0)------8.030006
AL9.2IndiansZach McAllister (W, 1-0)------7.250007
0AngelsGarrett Richards (W, 2-0)------7.010036
0`AthleticsJesse Chavez------7.061109
0RedsMike Leake (W, 1-1)------8.040013
0PadresRobbie Erlin (W, 1-0)------6.041106
2`Red SoxJake Peavy------6.231148
0`TigersDrew Smyly (H, 1)------3.010003
1`NationalsCraig Stammen------3.120014
BAT4.0RockiesDJ LeMahieu   2B423300------
0RoyalsJeremy Guthrie (W, 2-0)------7.041114
0DBacksJosh Collmenter (S, 1)------4.030014
0BrewersTyler Thornburg (W, 2-0)------2.000002
BAT3.0OriolesJonathan Schoop   3B422301------
0CubsJason Hammel (W, 2-0)------7.033316
0Blue JaysBrandon Morrow (W, 1-1)------6.053319

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

Nats' Jordan Zimmermann (CG 2H 0R 9K) tops players for Friday, Sept. 20

Shawn Plank September 21, 2013

Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmermann is Friday's Player of the Day and rises to 17th place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Zimmermann pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout, striking out nine, in the 8-0 win over the Marlins. Zimmermann earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 14.7 for the season.

Athletics pitcher Bartolo Colon is American League Player of the Day. Colon pitched six shutout innings, striking out eight, in the 11-0 win over the Twins. Colon earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 12.7 for the season, putting him in 33rd place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Torii Hunter of the Tigers is AL Batter of the Day. Hunter went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs in the 12-5 win over the White Sox.

Chris Johnson of the Braves is National League Batter of the Day. Johnson homered, went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs in the 9-5 win over the Cubs.

Notables: Two other players who earned Player of the Game honors Friday are among the top 50 in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season:

Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester rises to 30th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (7IP 1R 8K W in the 6-3 win vs. Blue Jays), giving him 12.7 for the season.
Royals pitcher Ervin Santana rises to 46th place. He earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game (7.1IP 1R ND in 2-1 win vs. Rangers), giving him 10.4 for the season.

Also: Neither of the two pitchers on Box-Toppers player rankings top 10 list who started Friday earned Box-Toppers points:

Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer (17.1 Box-Toppers points, sixth place overall, first among AL players) started against the White Sox. Though he won his 20th game, his Box-Toppers game score was -4.0 and Torii Hunter (4-5 3RBI) was Player of the Game for the Tigers.
Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano (16.7 Box-Toppers points, ninth place overall) started against the Reds. Though he pitched well (8IP 2R 7K), his team lost to the Reds, 6-5. He received a no-decision.

Coming Saturday: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is in position to take the Box-Toppers points lead Saturday as he starts against the Padres. Kershaw has 18.7 Box-Toppers points for the season, in third place overall. He trails overall leader Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals, with 19.2 Box-Toppers points.

Zimmermann receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Colon receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Hunter and Johnson each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

920ScoreTeamBATTERSABRHRBIBBSO--PITCHERSIPHRERBBSO
MLB15.0Nationals 0000000  Jordan Zimmermann (W, 19-8)9.020019
 9.2Padres 0000000  Robbie Erlin (W, 3-3)7.240017
AL8.0Athletics 0000000  Bartolo Colon (W, 17-6)6.050018
 6.0Red Sox 0000000  Jon Lester (W, 15-8)7.051128
 6.0`Angels 0000000  Matt Shoemaker 5.020025
 4.1Indians 0000000  Bryan Shaw (S, 1)1.100003
BAT4.0Tigers Torii Hunter   RF524311  00.000000
 3.2`Rays 0000000  Jake Odorizzi 3.210012
 3.1`Royals 0000000  Ervin Santana 7.151114
BAT3.0Braves Chris Johnson   3B423210  00.000000
 2.0Cardinals Matt Adams   1B513310  00.000000
 2.0Mets Daniel Murphy   2B533100  00.000000
 2.0Yankees Alex Rodriguez   DH411401  00.000000
 2.0Rockies Troy Tulowitzki   SS312210  00.000000
 2.0Reds 0000000  J.J. Hoover (W, 5-5)1.000001

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

Pirates' Cumpton, Royals' Santana top players for Tuesday, July 30

Shawn Plank August 21, 2013

Note: Box-Toppers is playing catch-up after time away. These are Box-Toppers results for Tuesday, July 30:

Pirates pitcher Brandon Cumpton is Tuesday's Player of the Day. Cumpton pitched seven shutout innings in the 6-0 win over the Cardinals.

This was Cumpton's Box-Toppers debut, the first time he has earned Player of the Game honors. He is the 3,240th player to debut since Box-Toppers record keeping began in 1995.

Cumpton had a Box-Toppers game score of 8.0, which was tied with another Pirates pitcher, A.J. Burnett, who was Player of the Game in the first game of a doubleheader with the Cardinals. Burnett (7IP 9K in the 2-1, 11-inning win) was topped by his teammate in a tie-breaker since Cumpton earned a win, while Burnett earned a no-decision.

Royals pitcher Ervin Santana is American League Player of the Day. Santana struck out eight over seven innings in the 7-2 win over the Twins.

Freddie Freeman of the Braves is National League Batter of the Day. Freeman hit two home runs and drove in four in the 11-3 win over the Rockies.

Geovany Soto of the Rangers is AL Batter of the Day. Soto hit a three-run homer in the 14-11 win over the Angels.

Notable: Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke (7IP 7K ND in 3-2 win vs. the Yankees) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 11.7 for the season, 11th place overall. Chris Davis (HR, 2RBI in 4-3 win vs. the Astros) earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game, giving him 11.2 for the season, 14th place overall.

Cumpton receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Santana receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Freeman and Soto each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

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

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

730ScoreTeamBATTERSABRHRBIBBSO--PITCHERSIPHRERBBSO
MLB8.0Pirates 0000000  Brandon Cumpton (W, 1-1)7.030015
 8.0`Pirates 0000000  A.J. Burnett 7.031139
AL6.0Royals 0000000  Ervin Santana (W, 7-6)7.042218
 6.0Red Sox 0000000  Brandon Workman (W, 1-1)6.061119
BAT5.0Braves Freddie Freeman   1B432410  00.000000
 5.0Rays 0000000  Roberto Hernandez (W, 6-11)9.052216
 5.0`Dodgers 0000000  Zack Greinke 7.052207
 5.0`Brewers 0000000  Tyler Thornburg 6.040036
 4.0Brewers       Khris Davis   LF111300  00.000000
 4.0Blue Jays 0000000  Mark Buehrle (W, 7-7)7.050002
BAT3.0Rangers Geovany Soto   C422320  00.000000
 3.0Orioles Chris Davis   DH221221  00.000000
 3.0Indians       Ryan Raburn   PH, DH111200  00.000000
 2.0Phillies Michael Young   3B422210  00.000000
 2.0Tigers Alex Avila   C411401  00.000000
 2.0Mets Juan Lagares   CF303210  00.000000
 2.0Padres Will Venable   RF313110  00.000000

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

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

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

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 player from each game

Top 10 players

Lead changes

Top player from each game

Top 10 players

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Top player from each game

Box-Toppers

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