Box-Toppers’ picks for postseason awards include Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Jose Ramirez

Box-Toppers has cast votes for postseason honors for Gerrit Cole, Jose Ramirez and for Max Scherzer—twice.

I have cast my vote in the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) for Dodgers pitcher Scherzer to be both National League Cy Young Award winner and NL Most Valuable Player.

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Luis Garcia tops players as Astros eliminate Red Sox in AL Championship Series Game 6

Astros pitcher Luis Garcia is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s clinching American League Championship Series Game 6.

Garcia struck out seven over 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk, in the 5-0 win over the Red Sox. The Astros win the best-of-seven game series, 4-2, and advance to the World Series.

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Dodgers’ Chris Taylor tops players in Thursday’s NL Championship Series Game 5

Chris Taylor of the Dodgers is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Thursday’s NLCS Game 5 win over the Braves.

Chris Taylor of the Dodgers is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Thursday’s National League Championship Series Game 5.

Taylor hit three home runs and went 4-for-5, scoring three times and driving in six runs, in the 11-2 win over the Braves. The Dodgers trail the Braves in the best-of-seven game series, 3-2.

Taylor had a Box-Toppers game score Thursday of +8.0, best among Dodgers players. In the 2021 regular season, there were only eight instances of batters earning Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors with a higher game score, led by the +11.0 achieved by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. of the Blue Jays on Sept. 12 (2HR 2-3 5R 7BI).

Dodgers starting pitcher Joe Kelly had a Box-Toppers game score of -5.8 (0.2IP 2H 2R 0BB 0K ND). AJ Pollock of the Dodgers had a Box-Toppers game score of +5.0 (2HR 3-5 3R 4BI).

Braves starting pitcher Max Fried had a game score of -12.8 (4.2IP 8H 5R 2BB 3K L). Freddie Freeman of the Braves had a game score of 0.0 (HR 1-4 R 2BI).

Taylor earned 4.7 Box-Toppers points in the 2021 regular season, 203rd among all players and 34th among NL batters.

The series resumes with Game 6 in Atlanta on Saturday.

Box-Toppers preview of the NLCS from Oct. 15

Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners

Here is the top player from each of the day’s games listed from highest to lowest Box‑Toppers game score (BTG).

BTG Game Player AB R H BI IP H R ER BB K
+8.0 LAD 11, ATL 2 Chris Taylor, 3B 5 3 4 6
BTG—Box-Toppers game score
` Pitcher had a no‑decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Coming Friday:

AL Championship Series Game 6: Astros lead series over Red Sox, 3-2

The pitching matchup:

Red Sox—Nathan Eovaldi, 14.1 Box-Toppers points, 16th among all players, sixth among AL pitchers.

This is Eovaldi’s fifth appearance of the 2021 postseason. He was Player of the Game Oct. 5 in the AL Wild Card Game win over the Yankees. He also started Oct. 10 in the AL Division Series Game 3 win over the Rays, started Oct. 16 in the AL Championship Series win over the Astros and served as closer Oct. 19 in the ALCS loss to the Astros.

Astros—Luis Garcia, 10.0 Box-Toppers points, 49th among all players, 18th among AL pitchers.

This is Garcia’s third appearance of the 2021 postseason. He started Oct. 10 in the AL Division Series Game 3 loss to the White Sox and Oct. 16 in the AL Championship Series loss to the Red Sox.

Box-Toppers preview of the ALCS from Oct. 14

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.

Red Sox’ Devers, Braves’ Riley top players in Saturday’s league championship series games

Rafael Devers of the Red Sox and Austin Riley of the Braves are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Saturday’s two league championship series games.

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Astros’ Jose Altuve tops players in Friday’s AL Championship Series Game 1

Jose Altuve of the Astros is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s American League Championship Series Game 1.

Altuve homered and went 1-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 5-4 win over the Red Sox. The Astros take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven game series.

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Red Sox hold Box-Toppers’ edge in AL Championship Series, but Astros have already beaten top AL team

The Boston Red Sox hold a slight Box-Toppers points advantage over the Houston Astros in the upcoming American League Championship Series.

But the Astros have already eliminated Box-Toppers’ top-ranked AL team, the Chicago White Sox, in the league division series.

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Red Sox’ Pivetta, White Sox’ Garcia top players in Sunday’s pair of AL Division Series games

Red Sox pitcher Nick Pivetta and Leury Garcia of the White Sox are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Sunday’s pair of American League Division Series games.

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Braves’ Fried, Dodgers’ Urias top players in Saturday’s pair of NL Division Series games

Braves pitcher Max Fried and Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Saturday’s pair of National League Division Series games.

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Astros’ McCullers, Rays’ Arozarena top players in pair of AL Division Series openers Thursday

Lance McCullers Jr. of the Astros and Randy Arozarena of the Rays are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Thursday’s pair of American League Division Series openers.

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Box-Toppers’ AL Division Series previews: White Sox vs. Astros, Red Sox vs. Rays

Both American League Division Series begin Thursday.

The AL Wild Card champion Boston Red Sox face the AL East champion Tampa Bay Rays in one best-of-five game series and the AL Central champion Chicago White Sox take on the Houston Astros, champions of the AL West, in the other series.

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Astros’ Garcia tops players for Tuesday, Aug. 24; Dodgers’ Urias rises to 9th in player rankings

Astros pitcher Luis Garcia is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Tuesday, Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

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Braves’ Wilson, Astros’ Pressly top players in Thursday's league championship series games

Braves pitcher Bryse Wilson and Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Thursday’s two league championship series games.

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Dodgers’ Seager, Astros’ Greinke top players in Wednesday's league championship series games

Corey Seager of the Dodgers and Astros pitcher Zack Greinke are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Wednesday’s two league championship series games.

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