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Box-Toppers’ leading rookies easily won each league’s Rookie of the Year Award Monday.
First baseman Jose Abreu of the White Sox won the American League award unanimously and Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom won the National League award with 26 out of 30 first place votes.
Read MoreThe rookies with the most Box-Toppers points in each league—Jose Abreu of the White Sox and Jacob deGrom of the Mets—are among the finalists for baseball’s Rookie of the Year honors.
Read More
Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne is Friday’s Player of the Day, while Athletics pitcher Jon Lester rises to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings.
In addition Friday, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s chances were diminished for breaking the single-season record for Box-Toppers points. While Kershaw earned a win, he did not earn Player of the Game. And while he holds a commanding lead among players in Box-Toppers points for the season (with 30.5) he is now less likely to break the all-time single-season record of 33.7 set by Randy Johnson in both 2000 and 2002. More on Kershaw’s chances to break the record.
Despaigne pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six, in the 5-0 win over the Mets.
Lester rose to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning American League Player of the Day honors Friday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Lester struck out seven over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 3-1 win over the Phillies. He earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 16.4 for the season. He ranks sixth among AL pitchers.
Michael Cuddyer of the Rockies is National League Batter of the Day. Cuddyer hit a grand slam and went 3-for-5 with three runs and seven RBIs in the 15-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
David Ortiz of the Red Sox is AL Batter of the Day. Ortiz hit two home runs and went 3-for-5, driving in three runs, in the 5-3 win over the Orioles.
Notable: Cardinals pitcher John Lackey became the 53rd player to earn 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points this season after he earned Player of the Game honors Friday. Lackey (7.2IP R 5K W in the 2-1 win over the Reds) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.7 for the season. He ranks 43rd among all players and 19th among NL pitchers.
Despaigne receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Lester receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Cuddyer and Ortiz 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.
Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed, 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.
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score
| 919 | Score | Team | Player | AB | R | H | BI | BB | K | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 10.0 | Padres | Odrisamer Despaigne (W, 4-7) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
| BAT | 8.0 | Rockies | Michael Cuddyer RF | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 6.0 | Mets | Zack Wheeler (W, 11-10) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 5.0 | Dodgers | A.J. Ellis C | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| AL | 5.0 | Athletics | Jon Lester (W, 16-10) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| 4.2 | Cardinals | John Lackey (W, 3-2) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 4.2 | Yankees | Adam Warren (S, 3) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| BAT | 3.0 | Red Sox | David Ortiz DH | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 3.0 | Tigers | Ian Kinsler 2B | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 3.0 | Mariners | Dustin Ackley LF | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 3.0 | Rangers | Dan Robertson RF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2.0 | Twins | Oswaldo Arcia RF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1.2 | White Sox | Zach Putnam (S, 6) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1.0 | Pirates | Russell Martin C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1.0 | Nationals | Adam LaRoche 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
White Sox pitcher Chris Sale, Tuesday’s Player of the Day, rises to ninth place in Box-Toppers player rankings.
Sale pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out 12 in the 3-2, 10-inning win over the Giants. (Sale did not earn the win because the Giants tied the game after he exited and the White Sox won the game in the 10th inning.) He earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 14.7 for the season, moving into ninth place in season Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Sale ranks fifth among all American League pitchers.
Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne is National League Player of the Day. Despaigne pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out eight in the 4-1 win over the Rockies.
Josh Donaldson of the Athletics is AL Batter of the Day. Donaldson hit two home runs and went 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in four runs, in the 11-3 win over the Royals.
Gaby Sanchez of the Pirates is NL Batter of the Day. Sanchez doubled, going 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI, in the 4-2 win over the Tigers.
Notables: Nationals pitcher Doug Fister became the 26th player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors. Fister (7IP 0R W in the 7-1 win over the Mets) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.4 for the season. He is in 24th place among all players and ranks 10th among NL pitchers.
Mariners pitcher Chris Young became the 27th player this season with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors. Young (6IP R W in the 9-3 win over the Blue Jays) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.4 for the season. He ranks 25th among all players and 13th among AL pitchers.
Sale receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Despaigne receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Donaldson and Sanchez 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.
Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Tuesday, 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.
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score
| 812 | Score | Team | Pitcher | AB | R | H | BI | BB | K | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 14.0 | `White Sox | Chris Sale | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | |
| NL | 8.0 | Padres | Odrisamer Despaigne (W, 3-3) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | |
| BAT | 6.0 | Athletics | Josh Donaldson 3B | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 6.0 | Marlins | Jarred Cosart (W, 1-1) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | ||
| 5.1 | Cubs | Kyle Hendricks (W, 4-1) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 5.0 | Astros | Chris Carter DH | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 3.0 | `Rangers | Nick Tepesch | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | ||
| 3.0 | Nationals | Doug Fister (W, 12-3) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| 3.0 | Mariners | Chris Young (W, 11-6) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||
| 3.0 | Dodgers | Kenley Jansen (S, 33) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 2.0 | Angels | Kole Calhoun RF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| BAT | 1.0 | Pirates | Gaby Sanchez 1B | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 1.0 | Red Sox | Tommy Layne (W, 1-0) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 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.
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.