The new Wild Card round of Major League Baseball’s postseason begins Friday with four best-of-three series.
All series take place at the higher-seed’s home ballpark. The winners of each series will face one of their league’s top-two seeded teams in league divisional series beginning next week.
All Game 1 matches are Friday, all Game 2 matches are Saturday and any Game 3 matches, if necessary, will be Sunday.
Team rankings
Here are Box-Toppers final 2022 team rankings through games of Wednesday, Oct. 5. The column BTP shows the number of Box-Toppers points players on the team accumulated this season. The column BTP/wk shows have many points teams accumulated from Sept. 30 to Oct. 5 . The column Wk ago shows the team's rank on Sept. 29.| Teams | BTP | BTP/wk | Wk ago | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodgers | 133.1 | +2.7 | 1 |
| 2 | Astros | 131.4 | +6.0 | 2 |
| 3 | Braves | 129.0 | +4.0 | 3 |
| 4 | Yankees | 125.9 | +4.7 | 5 |
| 5 | Mets | 125.8 | +3.7 | 4 |
| 6 | Cardinals | 118.3 | +3.5 | 6 |
| 7 | Mariners | 114.9 | +5.5 | 8 |
| 8 | Padres | 114.7 | +3.0 | 7 |
| 9 | Blue Jays | 113.4 | +6.0 | 9 |
| 10 | Brewers | 107.7 | +4.0 | 10 |
| 11 | Twins | 105.6 | +2.0 | 11 |
| 12 | Guardians | 105.5 | +4.0 | 12 |
| 13 | Phillies | 105.3 | +5.7 | 13 |
| 14 | Orioles | 100.3 | +3.7 | 15 |
| 15 | Rays | 100.2 | +1.5 | 14 |
| 16 | White Sox | 98.5 | +4.0 | 16 |
| 17 | Giants | 94.9 | +4.0 | 17 |
| 18 | Angels | 87.3 | +3.0 | 18 |
| 19 | Red Sox | 86.8 | +3.5 | 19 |
| 20 | Diamondbacks | 84.6 | +2.0 | 20 |
| 21 | Rockies | 77.9 | +3.0 | 22 |
| 22 | Cubs | 77.8 | +4.0 | 23 |
| 23 | Rangers | 77.7 | +2.0 | 21 |
| 24 | Marlins | 75.4 | +5.2 | 25 |
| 25 | Tigers | 73.4 | +3.0 | 24 |
| 26 | Royals | 68.5 | +2.5 | 26 |
| 27 | Athletics | 63.2 | +5.0 | 27 |
| 28 | Pirates | 61.0 | +3.0 | 28 |
| 29 | Nationals | 58.3 | +1.5 | 29 |
| 30 | Reds | 54.7 | +2.0 | 30 |
Here is a Box-Toppers look at the eight teams competing in the four Wild Card round series:
American League Wild Card Round: Rays at Guardians
The Cleveland Guardians host the Tampa Bay Rays in one AL Wild Card series. The winner will face the New York Yankees, the second-seeded AL team, in the AL Division Series.
The Guardians, winners of the AL Central Division, are the third-seeded team in the AL. The Rays, the third-ranked AL Wild Card team, are the sixth seed.
The Guardians rank 12th in Box-Toppers team rankings with its players accumulating 105.5 Box-Toppers points in 2022, including picking up 4.0 points in the final week of the season.
The Rays rank 15th with 100.2 Box-Toppers points, including picking up 1.5 points in the final week of the season.
The Guardians are Box-Toppers’ lowest-ranked team to have won a division—in fact, they are ranked the tiniest bit lower than the Minnesota Twins (11th with 105.6 points), a team that finished 14 games behind the Guardians in the AL Central division and did not make the postseason.
The Rays are the Box-Toppers’ lowest-ranked team to make the postseason, finishing behind three teams that did not make it—the Milwaukee Brewers (10th with 107.7 points), the Twins and the Baltimore Orioles (14th with 100.3 points).
Starting pitchers for Game 1 are:
Rays—Shane McClanahan, 16.4 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 11th among all players and fourth among AL pitchers. McClananan is also the top Rays player in 2022’s Box-Toppers season player rankings.
Guardians—Shane Bieber, 13.7 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 26th among all players and 13th among AL pitchers.
Bieber ranks second among Guardians players in 2022 Box-Toppers points, behind Triston McKenzie (15.7 points, 15th overall and sixth among AL pitchers), who is slated to start Game 2 Saturday.
Other notable Rays players include:
Starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen, 11.1 points, 42nd overall, 20th among AL pitchers.
Staring pitcher Corey Kluber, 11.0 points, 44th overall, 21st among AL pitchers.
Starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs, 10.7 points, 50th overall, 24th among AL pitchers.
Outfielder Randy Arozarena, who leads Rays batters with 6.0 points, 128th overall, 17th among AL batters.
Tyler Glasnow is slated to start Game 2 for the Rays. Glasnow spent most of the season recovering from 2021 Tommy John surgery, coming back late in the season, and has no Box-Toppers points for 2022. However, prior to going on the injured list in June 2021, Glasnow led all players with 12.7 Box-Toppers points and despite being unable to play the remainder of the season, still finished eighth among AL pitchers.
Other notable Guardians players include:
Third baseman Jose Ramirez, who leads Guardians batters with 11.7 points, 36th overall, second among AL batters.
Starting pitcher Cal Quantrill, 6.0 points, 125th overall, 47th among AL pitchers, slated to start Game 3, if necessary.
Shortstop Amed Rosario, 6.0 points, 130th overall, 18th among AL batters.
American League Wild Card Round: Mariners at Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays host the Seattle Mariners in one AL Wild Card series. The winner will face the Houston Astros, the top-seeded AL team, in the AL Division Series.
The Blue Jays, the top AL Wild Card team, are the fourth-seeded team in the AL. The Mariners, the second-ranked AL Wild Card team, are the fifth seed.
Though the Blue Jays are the higher seed, the Mariners rank higher in Box-Toppers team rankings at seventh with 114.9 Box-Toppers points, picking up 5.5 points in the season’s final week.
The Blue Jays rank ninth with 113.4 Box-Toppers points, picking up 6.0 points in the season’s final week.
Starting pitchers for Game 1 are:
Mariners—Luis Castillo, 10.0 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 54th among all players and 25th among AL pitchers.
Blue Jays—Alek Manoah, 13.1 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 30th among all players, 14th among AL pitchers and first among all Blue Jays players.
Castillo ranks fourth among Mariners pitchers behind:
Robbie Ray, 14.4 points, 23rd overall, 11th among AL pitchers, slated to start Game 2.
Logan Gilbert, 14.1 points, 25th overall, 12th among AL pitchers, slated to start Game 3 (if necessary).
George Kirby, 11.4 points, 41st overall, 19th among AL pitchers.
Mariners top batters include:
Third baseman Eugenio Suarez, 8.0 points, 82nd overall, sixth among AL batters.
Catcher Cal Raleigh, 7.5 points, 89th overall, seventh among AL batters.
Center fielder Julio Rodriguez, 7.5 points, 90th overall, eighth among AL batters.
Other key Blue Jays pitchers include:
Kevin Gausman, 12.7 points, 31st overall, 15th among AL pitchers.
Ross Stripling, 12.0 points, 35th overall, 17th among AL pitchers.
Jose Berrios, 9.0 points, 64th overall, 29th among AL pitchers.
At posting time, Blue Jays starters for Game 2 and 3 were listed as undecided.
Key Blue Jays batters include:
Outfielder George Springer, 8.0 points, 79th overall, fifth among AL batters.
Shortstop Bo Bichette, 6.5 points, 110th overall, 15th among AL batters.
Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., 6.5 points, 111th overall, 16th among AL batters.
National League Wild Card Round: Phillies at Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals host the Philadelphia Phillies in one NL Wild Card series. The winner will face the Atlanta Braves, the second-seeded NL team, in the NL Division Series.
The Cardinals, winners of the NL Central Division, are the third-seeded team in the NL. The Phillies, the third-ranked NL Wild Card team, are the sixth seed.
The Cardinals rank sixth in Box-Toppers team rankings with its players accumulating 118.3 Box-Toppers points in 2022, including picking up 3.5 points in the final week of the season.
The Phillies rank 13th with 105.3 Box-Toppers points, including picking up 5.7 points in the final week of the season.
Starting pitchers for Game 1 are:
Phillies—Zack Wheeler, 14.4 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 22nd among all players, 11th among NL pitchers and second among Phillies players.
Cardinals—Jose Quintana, 11.4 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 40th among all players, 18th among NL pitchers and second among Cardinals players.
Other Phillies pitchers include:
Aaron Nola, 16.0 points, 13th overall, ninth among NL pitchers. Nola is slated to start Game 2.
Kyle Gibson, 9.0 points, 65th overall, 32nd among NL pitchers.
Ranger Suarez, 5.0 points, 162nd overall, 56th among NL pitchers. Suarez is slated to start Game 3, if necessary.
Phillies key batters include:
First baseman Rhys Hoskins, 6.5 points, 112th overall, 12th among NL batters.
Designated hitter Bryce Harper, 6.0 points, 126th overall, 17th among NL batters.
Catcher J.T. Realmuto, 5.5 points, 145th overall, 20th among NL batters.
Other Cardinals pitchers include:
Miles Mikolas, 12.1 points, 34th overall, 16th among NL pitchers. Mikolas is slated to start Game 2.
Adam Wainwright, 10.0 points, 53rd overall, 25th among NL pitchers.
Jordan Montgomery, 9.4 points, 60th overall, 29th among NL pitchers.
Cardinals key batters include:
First baseman Paul Goldschmidt, 7.5 points, 88th overall, seventh among NL batters.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado, 7.0 points, 94th overall, ninth among NL batters.
Left fielder Tyler O’Neill, 6.0 points, 123rd overall, 16th among NL batters.
National League Wild Card Round: Padres at Mets
The New York Mets host the San Diego Padres in one NL Wild Card series. The winner will face the Los Angeles Dodgers, the top-seeded NL team, in the NL Division Series.
The Mets, the top NL Wild Card team, are the fourth-seeded team in the NL. The Padres, the second-ranked NL Wild Card team, are the fifth seed.
The Mets rank fifth in Box-Toppers team rankings with its players accumulating 125.8 Box-Toppers points in 2022, including picking up 3.7 points in the final week of the season.
The Padres rank eighth with 114.7 Box-Toppers points, including picking up 3.0 points in the final week of the season.
Starting pitchers for Game 1 are:
Padres—Yu Darvish, 16.8 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 10th among all players, seventh among NL pitchers and second among Padres players.
Mets—Max Scherzer, 10.0 Box-Toppers points in 2022, 52nd among all players, 24th among NL pitchers, third among Mets players and second among Mets pitchers.
Game 1 features the two most veteran pitchers in Friday’s four games. Scherzer has 236.3 career Box-Toppers points, fourth among all players since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995 and second among active players, behind Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (259.3). Darvish has 124.0 career Box-Toppers points, 48th among all players since 1995, 15th among active players and eighth among active NL pitchers.
Other Padres pitchers include:
Joe Musgrove, 17.4 points, ninth overall, sixth among NL pitchers.
Blake Snell, 13.1 points, 29th overall, 14th among NL pitchers.
Mike Clevinger, 6.4 points, 118th overall, 43rd among NL pitchers.
At posting time, Padres starters for Game 2 and 3 were not listed.
Padres key batters include:
Third baseman Manny Machado, 5.5 points, 150th overall, 23rd among NL batters.
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, 5.0 points, 176th overall, 28th among NL batters.
Second baseman Jake Cronenworth, 4.5 points, 206th overall, 32nd among NL batters.
Other Mets pitchers include:
Chris Bassitt, 11.0 points, 43rd overall, 19th among NL pitchers.
Carlos Carrasco, 9.7 points, 58th overall, 27th among NL pitchers.
Jacob deGrom, 9.4 points, 59th overall, 28th among NL pitchers.
At posting time, Mets starters for Game 2 and 3 were not listed.
Mets key batters include:
First baseman Pete Alonso, 14.9 points, 20th overall, first among NL batters.
Left fielder Mark Canha, 8.7 points, 72nd overall, third among NL batters.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor, 6.7 points, 107th overall, 11th among NL batters.
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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A Box-Toppers look at Friday’s Wild Card round pitching matchups
A Box-Toppers look at the upcoming day’s probable pitching matchups. Teams are paired below with visiting teams on top and home teams on the bottom. Each team’s starting pitcher is shown with their Box-Toppers point total from 2022 (’22), over a two-year period (’21-22), over a six-year period (’17-22) and their career point total.Back to top
| Game | Starter | ’22 | ’21‑22 | ’17‑22 | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TB | McClanahan, Shane 4399 | 16.4 | 21.1 | 21.1 | 21.1 |
| CLE | Bieber, Shane 4005 | 13.7 | 20.4 | 56.3 | 56.3 |
| PHI | Wheeler, Zack 3204 | 14.4 | 35.5 | 57.2 | 68.9 |
| STL | Quintana, Jose 3040 | 11.4 | 12.4 | 47.9 | 83.1 |
| SEA | Castillo, Luis Miguel 3840 | 10.0 | 19.0 | 54.8 | 54.8 |
| TOR | Manoah, Alek 4424 | 13.1 | 23.8 | 23.8 | 23.8 |
| SD | Darvish, Yu 3003 | 16.8 | 29.9 | 68.4 | 124.0 |
| NYM | Scherzer, Max 2588 | 10.0 | 35.1 | 104.6 | 236.3 |
* Player has yet to earn Box-Toppers points.
What are those numbers after players' names?
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