Box-Toppers’ big dippers—players whose 2022 point total declined most from 2021: Max Scherzer leads list

Mets pitcher Max Scherzer had the biggest decline in Box-Toppers points from 2021 to 2022.

Scherzer led all players in 2021 with 25.1 Box-Toppers points when he was with the Nationals and Dodgers. Scherzer earned 10.0 Box-Toppers points in 2022. While that was still 24th among National League pitchers, it was a 15.1-point decline from 2021, the biggest among all players.

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A detailed look at Box-Toppers points leaders for 2022: Top players by position in each league

Here is a detailed look at Box-Toppers point leaders for 2022.

The chart accompanying this post shows points leaders for the season by several different categories and classifications.

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Justin Verlander sets Box-Toppers record for biggest one-season improvement

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander is the clear-cut choice for Comeback Player of the Year in the American League, but three different National League players have won 2022 comeback awards, none of whom were among Box-Toppers’ top NL resurgent players.

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Box-Toppers leaders Verlander, Alcantara win 2022 Cy Young Awards

The two pitchers who led their league in Box-Toppers points in 2022 also won both Cy Young Awards Wednesday.

Justin Verlander of the Astros, who led all players in 2022 with 26.0 Box-Toppers points, won the American League Cy Young Award. And Sandy Alcantara of the Marlins, who led all National League players with 21.1 Box-Toppers points, won the NL Cy Young Award.

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Astros’ Verlander, Padres’ Hader top players in Wednesday’s LCS playoff games

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander and Padres closing pitcher Josh Hader are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Wednesday’s two league championship series games.

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Phillies’ Wheeler tops players in Tuesday’s NL Championship Series Game 1

Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Tuesday’s National League Championship Series Game 1.

Wheeler struck out eight over seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk.

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NLCS Preview: Padres favored over Phillies, but favorites are 0-4 in ’22 NL postseason

The San Diego Padres hold the advantage over the Philadelphia Phillies in the upcoming 2022 National League Championship Series.

Going into the postseason, both teams would have been voted Least Likely to Succeed, as they are the two-lowest seeded NL playoff teams and both rank lowest in Box-Toppers rankings among NL postseason teams.

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Phillies’ Nola tops players in Friday’s league division series games

Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola tops players in Friday’s three league division series playoff games.

Other Player of the Game winners in Friday’s league division series games: Padres closing pitcher Josh Hader and Guardians closing pitcher Emmanuel Clase.

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Astros’ Valdez tops players in Thursday’s AL Division Series win over Mariners

Astros pitcher Framber Valdez is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Thursday’s National League Division Series playoff game.

Valdez struck out six over 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned), four hits and three walks. Valdez did not earn the win, picking up a no-decision, because the Astros were trailing when he exited.

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Box-Toppers’ NL Division Series preview: Padres vs. Dodgers, Phillies vs. Braves

Both National League Division Series begin Tuesday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Diego Padres in one best-of-five game series and the Atlanta Braves face the Philadelphia Phillies in the other. The top two NL seeds, the Dodgers (first) and the Braves (second) received byes from the first round of playoffs and face the winners of the best-of-three Wild Card series played over the weekend.

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Guardians’ McKenzie tops players in Saturday’s Wild Card playoff games

Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie tops players in Saturday’s four Wild Card playoff games:

Other Player of the Game winners in Saturday’s Wild Card series games: Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola, Cal Raleigh of the Mariners and Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom.

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Guardians’ Bieber tops players in Friday’s opening Wild Card round playoff games

Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber tops players in Friday’s four Wild Card playoff games:

Other Player of the Game winners in Friday’s Wild Card series games: Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler, Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo and Jurickson Profar of the Padres.

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Astros’ Verlander tops players for Tuesday, Oct. 4, retaking player rankings lead

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, retaking the season Box-Toppers points lead on the next-to-last day of the season.

Verlander struck out 10 over five hitless and scoreless innings, allowing one walk, in the 10-0 win over the Phillies. Verlander was pitching a no-hitter through five innings, but was pulled after 77 pitches, saving himself for the postseason. The no-hitter continued until the ninth inning, when Astros reliever Will Smith gave up three hits.

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Padres’ Snell tops players for Wednesday, Sept. 21; Guardians’ McKenzie tops AL players

Padres pitcher Blake Snell is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Snell struck out 13 over seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, in the 1-0 win over the Cardinals.

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Astros’ Verlander tops players for Friday, Sept. 16, extending his player rankings lead

Astros pitcher Justin Verlander is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, extending his lead in season player rankings.

Verlander struck out nine over five scoreless and hitless innings, allowing one walk, in the 5-0 win over the Athletics.

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Red Sox’ Wacha tops players for Sunday, Aug. 14; Padres’ Snell tops NL players

Red Sox pitcher Michael Wacha is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Wacha struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk, in the 3-0 win over the Yankees.

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