Padres pitcher Blake Snell is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Tuesday, Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff rises to third place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreA look at how WAR leaders fared in Box-Toppers points in 2019: We don't seem to be looking at the same game
Those who figure Wins Above Replacement and those who figure Box-Toppers points (me) often don’t seem to be looking at the same game.
But we are. We are looking at the exact same Major League Baseball game. In recent years, Box-Toppers has seen pitchers come to so overwhelmingly dominate the game that they’ve pushed batters’ relative achievements into the background. But WAR seems to persist in the notion that it is batters who are primarily the stars of the game, contributing more to help their teams win than pitchers.
Read MoreBellinger, Trout win MVP Awards ahead of Box-Toppers’ decidedly outlier picks—Cole, Ozuna
Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers, who ranked third among National League batters in Box-Toppers points in 2019 with 11.2, was voted NL Most Valuable Player Thursday.
And Mike Trout of the Angels, who ranked ninth among American League batters in Box-Toppers points in 2019 with 8.7, was voted AL Most Valuable Player.
Read MoreTampa Bay Rays face Oakland Athletics in AL Wild Card Game Wednesday
The Tampa Bay Rays visit the Oakland Athletics in the American League one-game Wild Card playoff game Wednesday.
Starting pitchers are:
Rays—Charlie Morton, 18.8 Box-Toppers points in 2019, fifth among all players and third among American League pitchers. Morton is also the top Rays player in 2019’s Box-Toppers season player rankings.
Athletics—Sean Manaea, 3.7 Box-Toppers points in 2019, 265th among all players and 66th among AL pitchers.
Read More
Astros’ Justin Verlander, Gerrit Cole lead Box-Toppers player rankings
Astros pitcher Justin Verlander maintains the lead in Box-Toppers weekly team rankings report for the 14th straight week.
However, teammate Gerrit Cole has caught up to Verlander this week in total Box-Toppers points for the season (20.8). But Verlander still ranks ahead on a tiebreaker because he has more 2018 Box-Toppers points—24.1 vs. 18.0.
Read MoreRays’ Yarbrough tops players for Saturday, Aug. 17; Yankees’ Torres rises to lead AL batters in rankings
Rays pitcher Ryan Yarbrough is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Saturday, Gleyber Torres of the Yankees rises to first place among American League batters in Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreRoyals’ Sparkman tops players for Tuesday, July 16; Pujols rises to 2nd in AL batter player rankings
Royals pitcher Glenn Sparkman is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also, Albert Pujols of the Angels earns Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors for the second straight day Tuesday—and the third time in four days, rising to second place among American League batters in season player rankings.
Read MoreNationals’ Scherzer tops players for Sunday, June 30, rises to 3rd in season player rankings
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to third place in season player rankings and seventh place in career points since 1995.
Also Sunday, three other players in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 earn Player of the Game honors: Astros pitcher Gerrit Cole rises to fifth place, Indians pitcher Shane Bieber rises to seventh place and White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito actually falls one spot to ninth place, despite earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreBox-Toppers top 10 players in 2018 includes 8 AL pitchers; WAR top 10 has none
American League pitchers occupied eight of the top 10 spots in Box-Toppers’ 2018 season player rankings. But there were no AL pitchers among the top 10 in baseball’s Wins Above Replacement statistic.
AL teams dominated baseball in 2018 with three of its teams winning 100 or more games (Red Sox, Astros and Yankees), the Red Sox cruised to a relatively easy World Series win and it was AL pitchers who most helped those teams win all those games.
Read MoreRays’ Tyler Glasnow tops players for Wednesday, April 10, rises to 6th in season player rankings
Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day and rises to sixth place in season player rankings.
Glasnow struck out 11 over six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk, in the 9-1 win over the White Sox.
Read MoreYelich wins NL MVP & led NL batters in Box-Toppers points; Betts wins AL MVP, was 2nd among AL batters in B-T points
Christian Yelich of the Brewers, who led National League batters in Box-Toppers points in 2018 with 11.5, was voted NL Most Valuable Player Thursday.
And Mookie Betts of the Red Sox, who ranked second among American League batters in Box-Toppers points with 10.9, was voted AL Most Valuable Player. Teammate J.D. Martinez, who led AL batters with 12.5 Box-Toppers points, finished fourth in AL MVP voting.
Read MoreBrewers’ Jhoulys Chacin tops players for Monday, July 23; Diamondbacks’ Corbin rises to 10th in player rankings
Brewers pitcher Jhoulys Chacin is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Monday, Diamondbacks pitcher Patrick Corbin rises to 10th place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.
Read MoreNationals' Max Scherzer tops players for Saturday, July 15, rises to 20th in ‘all-time’ career Box-Toppers points
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, maintaining his spot in second place in season player rankings and rising to 20th in career points on Box-Toppers “all-time” list.
Top 10 players
Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2017 season as of July 15:| Player | Pos | Team | BTP | |
| 1 | Kershaw, Clayton 2494 | pi sp | lad nl | 21.1 |
| 2 | Scherzer, Max 2588 | pi sp | dc nl | 19.0 |
| 3 | Sale, Chris 2806 | pi sp | bos al | 13.1 |
| 4 | Wood, Alex 3246 | pi sp | lad nl | 13.0 |
| 5 | Santana, Ervin 2005 | pi sp | min al | 12.4 |
| 6 | Carrasco, Carlos 2885 | pi sp | cle al | 11.4 |
| 7 | Greinke, Zack 1871 | pi sp | ari nl | 11.4 |
| 8 | Strasburg, Stephen 2736 | pi sp | dc nl | 10.4 |
| 9 | Ray, Robbie 3502 | pi sp | ari nl | 10.0 |
| 10 | deGrom, Jacob 3343 | pi sp | nym nl | 9.7 |
Also Saturday, Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood rises to fourth in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Jay Bruce of the Mets retakes the lead among National League batters in Box-Toppers points after he earns Player of the Game honors.
Player of the Day—Scherzer struck out 10 over six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and four walks, in the 10-7 win over the Reds.
Scherzer earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 19.0 for the season. He remains in second place in Box-Toppers points, behind Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (21.1), who also leads all NL pitchers.
Scherzer now has 150.7 career Box-Toppers points and rises to 20th place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Saturday, he passes two players on the “all-time” list—Chipper Jones (149.0) and Cubs pitcher Jon Lester (149.2). He now trails 19th-ranked player, Twins pitcher Bartolo Colon (151.2). Scherzer is the 20th player to reach 150 career Box-Toppers points.
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 | Clayton Kershaw | pi sp | lad nl | 204.8 |
| 4 | Curt Schilling | pi sp | retired | 194.1 |
| 5 | CC Sabathia | pi sp | nyy al | 190.0 |
| 6 | Alex Rodriguez | dh | released | 187.0 |
| 7 | Albert Pujols | 1b dh | ana al | 184.3 |
| 8 | Felix Hernandez | pi sp | sea al | 171.4 |
| 9 | Roy Halladay | pi sp | retired | 170.7 |
| 10 | Zack Greinke | pi sp | ari nl | 167.5 |
| 11 | Manny Ramirez | lf dh | retired | 167.2 |
| 12 | Johan Santana | pi sp | free agent | 166.6 |
| 13 | Roger Clemens | pi sp | retired | 164.8 |
| 14 | John Smoltz | pi sp | retired | 160.9 |
| 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 | min al | 151.2 |
| 20 | Max Scherzer | pi sp | dc nl | 150.7 |
List of top 100 players since 1995 at the close of the 2016 season.
Passing Lester, Scherzer is now seventh among active players in career Box-Toppers points, sixth among active pitchers.
American League Player of the Day—Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing four hits and one walk, in the 1-0 win over the Royals. Hamels picked up a no-decision and did not earn the win because the game was in a scoreless tie when he exited.
Hamels earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 148.7 career points, rising to 23rd place among all players since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his points Saturday, he passes Javier Vazquez (148.3) on the “all-time” list and now trails 22nd-ranked player Chipper Jones (149.0).
Hamels has 4.7 Box-Toppers points on the season, 25th among AL pitchers.
American League Batter of the Day—Matt Chapman of the Athletics hit two home runs and doubled in the 5-3 win over the Indians. Chapman went 3-for-3, scoring three times and driving in two runs.
This was Chapman’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Chapman made his Major League debut June 15 and was playing in his 13th career game. He is the 3,849th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
National League Batter of the Day—Lane Adams of the Braves hit a pinch-hit, sixth-inning, three-run double in the 8-5 win over the Diamondbacks.
This was Adam’s Box-Toppers debut, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Adams made his Major League debut Sept. 1, 2014, and was playing in his 39th career game. He is the 3,850th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Rankings—Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.
Wood (6IP 3H 0R BB 4K W in the 7-1 win over the Marlins) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 13.0 for the season. He ranks third among NL pitchers, behind Kershaw (21.1) and Scherzer (19.0).
Notable—Jay Bruce of the Mets regains the season Box-Toppers points lead among NL batters after earning Player of the Game honors Saturday.
Bruce (HR 1-4 2R 3BI in the 9-3 win over the Rockies) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 8.0 for the season. He passes previous leader Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers (7.7). Bruce ranks 19th among all players in Box-Toppers season player rankings.
Debut—Jabari Blash of the Padres also made his Box-Toppers debut Saturday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors.
Blash (HR 2-4 2R 2BI in the 5-3 win over the Giants) made his Major League debut April, 4, 2016, and was playing in his 54th career game. He is the 3,851st player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Scoring—Scherzer earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Hamels earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Chapman and Adams 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.
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.
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Top player from each game
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score| 7/15 | Score | Game | Player of the Game | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
| MLB | 9.0 | WSH 10, CIN 7 | Max Scherzer (W, 11-5) | - | - | - | - | 6.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 10 | |
| AL | 7.2 | `TEX 1, KC 0 | Cole Hamels | - | - | - | - | 7.2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | |
| 6.2 | `MIL 3, PHI 2 | Jimmy Nelson | - | - | - | - | 6.2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 9 | ||
| 6.0 | DET 11, TOR 1 | Michael Fulmer (W, 10-6) | - | - | - | - | 8.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 6.0 | LAD 7, MIA 1 | Alex Wood (W, 11-0) | - | - | - | - | 6.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | ||
| BAT | 5.0 | OAK 5, CLE 3 | Matt Chapman (3B) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 5.0 | `NYY 4, BOS 1 (F/16) | Luis Severino | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | ||
| BAT | 4.0 | ATL 8, ARI 5 | Lane Adams (PH) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 3.0 | CHC 10, BAL 3 | Jason Heyward (RF) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2.1 | `MIN 4, HOU 2 | Taylor Rogers (H, 22) | - | - | - | - | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 2.0 | SD 5, SF 3 | Jabari Blash (RF) | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2.0 | NYM 9, COL 3 | Jay Bruce (RF) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2.0 | `SEA 4, CHW 3 | Nick Vincent (H, 13) | - | - | - | - | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||
| 1.1 | STL 4, PIT 0 | Lance Lynn (W, 8-6) | - | - | - | - | 6.1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 0.2 | TB 6, LAA 3 | Alex Cobb (W, 8-6) | - | - | - | - | 7.2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
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 | +/- |
| Scherzer, Max 2588 | pi sp | dc nl | 19.0 | 44.7 | 122.9 | 150.7 | -6.7 |
| Wood, Alex 3246 | pi sp | lad nl | 13.0 | 14.0 | 32.4 | 32.4 | 12.0 |
| Nelson, Jimmy 3299 | pi sp | mil nl | 9.0 | 12.0 | 22.4 | 22.4 | 6.0 |
| Bruce, Jay 2453 | rf | nym nl | 8.0 | 16.5 | 33.7 | 66.8 | -0.5 |
| Severino, Luis 3567 | pi sp | nyy al | 7.7 | 9.7 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 5.7 |
| Lynn, Lance 2992 | pi sp | stl nl | 6.7 | 6.7 | 62.6 | 62.6 | 6.7 |
| Fulmer, Michael 3640 | pi sp | det al | 5.7 | 18.4 | 18.4 | 18.4 | -7.0 |
| Cobb, Alex 2916 | pi sp | tb al | 5.4 | 5.4 | 35.8 | 36.8 | 5.4 |
| Hamels, Cole 2135 | pi sp | tex al | 4.7 | 22.5 | 73.7 | 148.7 | -13.1 |
| Adams, Lane 3850 | ph | atl nl | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Chapman, Matt 3849 | 3b | oak al | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| Heyward, Jason 2695 | rf | chi nl | 1.0 | 2.0 | 12.5 | 19.5 | 0.0 |
| Vincent, Nick 3203 | pi mr | sea al | 1.0 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 0.0 |
| Rogers, Taylor 3648 | pi mr | min al | 1.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| Blash, Jabari 3851 | rf | sd nl | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |