NLCS preview: Brewers hold Box-Toppers advantages, but Dodgers bring experience

Shawn Plank October 13, 2025

Box-Toppers favors the top-seed Milwaukee Brewers over the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 National League Championship Series.

The Dodgers are the third-seeded NL playoff team but rank higher than the Brewers in final 2025 Box-Toppers team rankings—in fifth place overall with their players accumulating 117.9 Box-Toppers points during the season, third among NL teams and most among surviving postseason teams. Brewers players have a combined 112.6 Box-Toppers points in 2025, ninth among all teams and fifth among NL teams.

Box-Toppers’ NL Division Series preview: Dodgers vs. Phillies, Cubs vs. Brewers

Shawn Plank October 4, 2025

The Philadelphia Phillies are Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team while National League top-seed Milwaukee Brewers rank fifth among NL playoff teams in Box-Toppers points.

A Box-Toppers look at both National League Division Series, which begin Saturday.

Tigers’ Skubal is 2025 Box-Toppers Player of the Year; Skenes rises to lead NL pitchers

Shawn Plank September 29, 2025

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is 2025 Box-Toppers Player of the Year, holding the lead in Box-Toppers points since Aug. 31.

Meanwhile, Paul Skenes of the Pirates rises to first place among National League pitchers, passing previous leader Zack Wheeler of the Phillies on Sept. 24.

Skubal leads player rankings for 3rd week; Schwarber rises to lead NL batters

Shawn Plank September 19, 2025

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for the third week in a row.

Meanwhile, Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies rises this week to lead National League batters, passing the previous leader, Christian Yelich of the Brewers. Additionally, Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler, who is out for the season, continues to lead National League pitchers, as second-place Paul Skenes of the Pirates was again unable to surpass him this week.

Mariners’ Woo tops players for Saturday, Sept. 13, Schwarber rises to lead NL batters

Shawn Plank September 14, 2025

Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to sixth place in season player rankings.

Also Saturday, Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies rises to first place among National League batters in 2025 Box-Toppers points after earning Player of the Game honors.

Skubal leads player rankings for 2nd week; Skenes unable to pass Wheeler for NL lead

Shawn Plank September 12, 2025

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for the second week in a row.

Meanwhile, Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler, out for the season, continues to lead National League pitchers, as second-place Paul Skenes of the Pirates was unable to pass him this week, despite a valiant challenge.

Skubal passes Wheeler to lead season player rankings; Skenes challenges for NL lead

Shawn Plank September 5, 2025

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal rises to lead Box-Toppers season player rankings this week, passing Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler, who led since mid-May but is now out for the season.

Wheeler, however, still clings to a razor-thin lead among National League pitchers in 2025 Box-Toppers points. Meanwhile, George Springer of the Blue Jays rises this week to first place among American League batters and Christian Yelich of the Brewers maintains his lead among NL batters.

Phillies’ Wheeler, though out for season, clings to player rankings lead for 15th week

Shawn Plank August 29, 2025

Though he’s now out for the season, Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler maintains his lead in Box-Toppers season player rankings for the 15th straight week.

Meanwhile, all Box-Toppers category leaders remain unchanged since last week: Tarik Skubal of the Tigers leads American League pitchers, Christian Yelich of the Brewers leads National League batters and José Ramírez of the Guardians leads AL batters.

Phillies’ Schwarber tops players for Thursday, Aug. 28, with 4-home run game

Shawn Plank August 29, 2025

Kyle Schwarber of the Phillies is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day with his four-home run game.

Also Thursday, Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet maintains his fifth-place spot in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Wheeler’s player rankings lead shrinks with 2025 return uncertain after blood clot

Shawn Plank August 22, 2025

While Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for the 14th straight week, his lead has shrunk to less than 1.0 Box-Toppers point and his return date from the injured list is uncertain.

Meanwhile, all Box-Toppers category leaders remain unchanged since last week, with American League pitching leader Tarik Skubal creeping within 0.7 points of Wheeler.

Orioles’ Young tops players for Friday, Aug. 15; Brewers’ Yelich extends NL batting lead

Shawn Plank August 16, 2025

Orioles pitcher Brandon Young is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, earning his first career Box-Toppers points.

Also Friday, Christian Yelich of the Brewers extends his lead among National League batters in 2025 Box-Toppers points—becoming the first batter to reach 10 Box-Toppers points this season—after earning NL Batter of the Day honors.

*NOTE: Carlos Rodón has 12.7 Box-Toppers points (not 13.0) but is still in ninth place overall.*

Wheeler expands Box-Toppers player rankings lead; Ramírez rises to lead AL batters

Shawn Plank August 15, 2025

Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for the 13th straight week, expanding his lead since last week.

Meanwhile, José Ramírez of the Guardians rises to first place among American League batters in 2025 Box-Toppers points, passing Riley Greene of the Tigers, who had led for the past 11 weeks.

Wheeler’s Box-Toppers player rankings lead narrows with Skubal, Skenes making gains

Shawn Plank August 8, 2025

Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for the 12th straight week, but his lead has narrowed.

Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal, who leads American League pitchers for the fifth week and ranks second overall, is now within 1.7 Box-Toppers points over Wheeler and could pass Wheeler for the overall lead in his next scheduled start Friday.

Phillies’ Wheeler leads Box-Toppers player rankings; Yelich rises to lead NL batters

Shawn Plank August 1, 2025

Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for the 12th straight week.

Meanwhile, Christian Yelich of the Brewers rises to lead National League batters this week, while other category leaders remain the same: Tarik Skubal of the Tigers continues to lead American League pitchers and Riley Greene of the Tigers continues to lead AL batters.

Padres’ Darvish tops players for Wednesday, July 30; Athletics’ Springs tops AL players

Shawn Plank July 31, 2025

Padres pitcher Yu Darvish is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Other Player of the Game winners Wednesday include Athletics pitcher Jeffrey Springs, Jose Altuve of the Astros and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs.

Cardinals’ Pallante tops players for Monday, July 28; Dodgers’ Yamamoto rises to 6th

Shawn Plank July 29, 2025

Cardinals pitcher Andre Pallante is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Monday, Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto rises to sixth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. In addition, Christian Yelich of the Brewers rises to first place among National League batters after earning NL Batter of the Day honors.

Phillies’ Wheeler leads player rankings for 10th week; Tigers’ Skubal leads AL players

Shawn Plank July 25, 2025

Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler leads Box-Toppers season player rankings for the 10th straight week.

Meanwhile, all category leaders continue their Box-Toppers points leads since last week: Tarik Skubal of the Tigers leads American League pitchers, Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs leads National League batters and Riley Greene of the Tigers leads AL batters.

Brewers’ Priester tops players for Friday, July 18; Cubs’ Suzuki extends NL batting lead

Shawn Plank July 19, 2025

Brewers pitcher Quinn Priester is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day as regular-season games resume after the All-Star break.

Also Friday, Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs extends his lead in Box-Toppers points among National League batters after earning Player of the Game honors.

High by team: Pitchers lead 27 of 30 clubs in 2025 Box-Toppers points at All-Star break

Shawn Plank July 18, 2025

On 27 of the 30 Major League clubs, pitchers are the team’s leader in 2025 Box-Toppers points. Batters lead the other three teams.

Pitchers are dominating much the way they are winning the overwhelming majority of Box-Toppers points this season compared to batters. Pitchers are winning 61 percent of all points this season compared to 39 percent for batters. The all-time record-low share of points earned by batters is 37.2 percent set in 2024. (Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.)

**Box-Toppers’ list of worthy but unchosen 2025 All-Stars includes Seiya Suzuki of the Cubs, Christian Yelich of the Brewers, Padres pitcher Nick Pivetta and George Springer of the Blue Jays.** **Details**.

Suzuki, Yelich, Pivetta, Springer lead Box-Toppers list of worthy but unchosen All-Stars

Shawn Plank July 15, 2025

Seiya Suzuki, Christian Yelich, Nick Pivetta, Sonny Gray and George Springer lead Box-Toppers’ list of 2025 “worthy but unchosen” All-Stars.