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Tracking who most helps their teams win the most games, based on box score stats. A method to measure & compare baseball's top players.
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Source: MLB.com

A Box-Toppers preview of the four Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29

Shawn Plank September 29, 2026

Four of the eight starting pitchers in Tuesday’s opening Wild Card round games earned more than 10 Box-Toppers points in 2026, and two are among the season’s top three players.

Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo—whose 23.0 Box-Toppers points rank second overall and second among National League pitchers—leads the way as he takes the mound for Game 1 against the Braves. Meanwhile, Box-Toppers’ top American League pitcher, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees (21.7 points, third overall), starts Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.

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Tags Playoff preview, Wild Card Series, Jesus Luzardo, Cam Schlittler, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez, Kyle Schwarber, Tyler Mahle, Martin Perez, Michael Harris, Chicago White Sox, Astros, Hagen Smith, AJ Blubaugh, Houston Astros, Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami, Sean Burke, Davis Martin, Yordan Alvarez, Peter Lambert, Tatsuya Imai, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Payton Tolle, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras, Max Fried, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, Jazz Chisholm, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Matthew Boyd, Michael King, Dansby Swanson, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman, Mason Miller, Ty France, Randy Vasquez, Cleveland Guardians, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers

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Yankees’ Schlittler, Padres’ King top players in Tuesday’s opening Wild Card games
September 30, 2026
Yankees’ Schlittler, Padres’ King top players in Tuesday’s opening Wild Card games
September 30, 2026

Cam Schlittler leads all Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Tuesday's opening Wild Card playoff action. Joining him as Tuesday's Players of the Game: Padres pitcher Michael King, Braves pitcher Chris Sale, and White Sox relief pitcher Grant Taylor.

Read more →
September 30, 2026
A Box-Toppers preview of the four Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29
September 29, 2026
A Box-Toppers preview of the four Wild Card Series beginning Tuesday, Sept. 29
September 29, 2026

Four of the eight starting pitchers in Tuesday’s opening Wild Card round games earned more than 10 Box-Toppers points in 2026, and two are among the season’s top three players.

Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo—whose 23.0 Box-Toppers points rank second overall and second among National League pitchers—leads the way as he takes the mound for Game 1 against the Braves. Meanwhile, Box-Toppers’ top American League pitcher, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees (21.7 points, third overall), starts Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Red Sox.

Read more →
September 29, 2026
Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski is 2026 Box-Toppers Player of the Year
September 28, 2026
Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski is 2026 Box-Toppers Player of the Year
September 28, 2026

Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski is 2026 Box-Toppers Player of the Year, finishing with 26.1 Box-Toppers points, most of any player this season.

Meanwhile, Cam Schlittler of the Yankees finishes as the top American League pitcher, Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers leads National League batters, and Pete Alonso of the Orioles rises to lead AL batters.

Read more →
September 28, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers finish 2026 atop Box-Toppers team rankings
September 28, 2026
Los Angeles Dodgers finish 2026 atop Box-Toppers team rankings
September 28, 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers finish 2026 atop Box-Toppers team rankings, leading for the ninth straight week and were the hottest team of the last 10 days of the season.

Meanwhile, the New York Yankees continue to lead American League teams.

Read more →
September 28, 2026
Mariners’ Gilbert tops players Sunday, Sept. 27; Miz extends lead, Wheeler rises to 5th
September 27, 2026
Mariners’ Gilbert tops players Sunday, Sept. 27; Miz extends lead, Wheeler rises to 5th
September 27, 2026

Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to 10th place overall on the final day of the regular season.

Plus, these players also won Player of the Game honors Sunday:

  • Brewers pitcher Jacob Misiorowski capped off his Box-Toppers Player of the Year season by extending his overall lead in 2026 Box-Toppers points.

  • Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler rose to fifth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings and third among National League pitchers.

  • Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer, in what could be the final start of his career, ended the season by extending his lead among active players in career Box-Toppers points.

Read more →
September 27, 2026

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© 2013-2026 Shawn Plank

Box-Toppers

Tracking who most helps their teams win the most games, based on box score stats. A method to measure & compare baseball's top players.

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.

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