Verlander signing by Tigers leads flurry of player moves as spring training opens

Shawn Plank February 17, 2026

As Major League spring training camps open, a flurry of veteran signings this past week is reshaping baseball rosters, including Justin Verlander returning to the Detroit Tigers, bringing his 250.0 career Box-Toppers points back to where his journey began.

Other major moves include Zac Gallen reuniting with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres taking flyers on Nick Castellanos and Germán Márquez. The Baltimore Orioles added consistency with Chris Bassitt, while the Pittsburgh Pirates bolstered their lineup with veteran Marcell Ozuna.

Yankees’ Rodón tops players for Friday, July 11, rising to 6th in player rankings

Shawn Plank July 12, 2025

Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to sixth in player rankings.

Other Player of the Game winners Friday include Cal Raleigh of the Mariners, Rockies pitcher Germán Márquez, Sean Murphy of the Braves, Ceddanne Rafaela of the Red Sox and Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer.

Marlins’ Alcantara, Royals’ Keller top players in spring games for Friday, March 24

Shawn Plank March 25, 2023

Marlins pitcher Sandy Alcantara is Box-Toppers Player of the Day in Friday’s spring training games.

Alcantara struck out eight over three scoreless and hitless innings, allowing no walks, in the 3-2 win over the Astros. Alcantara did not earn the win, picking up a no-decision, because the Astros took the lead after he exited.

Rockies’ Marquez, Angels’ Rosenberg top players in spring games for Tuesday, March 14

Shawn Plank March 15, 2023

Rockies pitcher German Marquez is Box-Toppers Player of the Day in Tuesday’s spring training games.

Marquez struck out seven over four scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks, in the 5-2 win over the Cubs.

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

Shawn Plank December 29, 2022

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.

Mariners’ Ray tops players for Sunday, Aug. 28; Astros’ Verlander maintains player rankings lead

Shawn Plank August 29, 2022

Mariners pitcher Robbie Ray is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also, three of the top five players in Box-Toppers season player rankings earn Player of the Game honors Sunday, all maintaining their ranking—Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, Shohei Ohtani of the Angels and Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias.

A Box-Toppers look at each team’s 2022 opening game starting pitcher

Shawn Plank April 7, 2022

Starting a new baseball season means putting your best foot forward, which for teams usually means putting your best pitcher on the mound to start the first game of the season.

However, only four of Box-Toppers’ top-ranked pitchers in 2021 are starting their team’s first game of 2022.

While Box-Toppers stat reflects the decline of batters, they still dominate WAR

Shawn Plank March 4, 2022

Looking at the top 10 players in the Wins Above Replacement (WAR) statistic for each of the past 25 seasons, gives the impression batters are holding steady as the dominant force in baseball.

Yet, in recent years, batters are striking out more and hitting for lower batting averages against pitchers who are holding batters down and stealing their lunch money. Looking at the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points for each of the past 25 seasons provides a more accurate reflection of the game—one in which batters performed well and even dominated through about 2009, until pitchers’ announced their presence with authority from 2010 on.

6 of top 10 strikeout leaders also among Box-Toppers’ top 10 players for 2021

Shawn Plank February 28, 2022

Six of the 10 top strikeout leaders in 2021 were also among the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points for the season.

Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray led all players with 248 strikeouts. He ranked sixth overall in Box-Toppers points with 17.7, second among American League pitchers. Ray won the AL Cy Young Award.

A look at how 2021 wins leaders fared in Box-Toppers points

Shawn Plank February 21, 2022

Julio Urias of the Dodgers, who led all pitchers in wins in 2021 with 20, also ranked fourth among all players in Box-Toppers points with 19.1.

Among the 13 pitchers with 14 or more wins in 2021, Urias is one of five who were among the top 10 in Box-Toppers points for the season. Meanwhile, Max Scherzer of the Dodgers, who led all players in Box-Toppers points in 2021, also had Box-Toppers’ highest Sincere Win Differential (SWD) of +10.1.

7 of top 10 in earned run average also among top 10 in Box-Toppers points for 2021

Shawn Plank February 14, 2022

Seven of the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points in 2021 also recorded among the 10 lowest earned run averages for the season.

Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes, who had the lowest ERA (2.43), ranked fifth in Box-Toppers points for 2021 (18.1), fourth among National League pitchers. Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer, who led all players with 25.1 Box-Toppers points, had the second-lowest ERA (2.46).

Comeback Player winners Mancini, Posey rank far outside Box-Toppers’ top 25 most improved players

Shawn Plank November 23, 2021

Trey Mancini of the Orioles and Buster Posey of the Giants were named Comeback Players of the Year for 2021 Monday.

Both ranked far outside Box-Toppers’ 25 most-improved players list for 2021 and neither were among Box-Toppers’ top candidate in either league for the player who had the biggest bounce back to a successful season this year.

Robbie Ray of the Blue Jays and Corbin Burnes of the Brewers were voted winners of the 2021 Cy Young Awards. They beat Box-Toppers top-ranked pitchers, Gerrit Cole of the Yankees in the American League and Max Scherzer of the Dodgers in the National League.

Ray, Burnes win 2021 Cy Young Awards over Box-Toppers leaders Cole, Scherzer

Shawn Plank November 18, 2021

Robbie Ray of the Blue Jays and Corbin Burnes of the Brewers won 2021 Cy Young Awards over Box-Toppers’ two top-ranked pitchers for 2021.

Ray won the American League Cy Young Award after ranking second in 2021 Box-Toppers points among AL pitchers, behind Gerrit Cole of the Yankees. Burnes won the National League Cy Young Award after ranking fourth in 2021 Box-Toppers points among NL pitchers, behind Max Scherzer of the Dodgers.

These five players were 2021 Silver Slugger Award winners and also led their league’s position in Box-Toppers points for the season: Xander Bogaerts of the Red Sox, Aaron Judge of the Yankees, Ozzie Albies of the Braves, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Padres and Nick Castellanos of the Reds.

How 2021 Silver Sluggers winners fared in Box-Toppers rankings

Shawn Plank November 12, 2021

Only five of the 17 batters winning Silver Slugger Awards Thursday also were among the leaders at their positions in 2021 Box-Toppers point totals.

The awards are given to the top batter in each position in both leagues, voted on by Major League Baseball coaches and managers.

Max Scherzer is only 2021 Box-Toppers points leader to win a Players Choice Award

Shawn Plank November 7, 2021

Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer is the only Box-Toppers points leader to win one of nine Players Choice Awards for 2021 as voted by the players’ union.

Scherzer, who led all players in 2021 Box-Toppers points with 25.1, was voted National League Outstanding Pitcher.

Dodgers’ Buehler tops players for Sunday, Oct. 3, rising to 10th in player rankings

Shawn Plank October 3, 2021

Dodgers pitcher Walker Buehler is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to 10th place in season player rankings on the final day of the regular season.

Buehler struck out 11 over five innings, allowing one run, three hits and one walk, in the 10-3 win over the Brewers.

Dodgers’ Urias tops players for Friday, Sept. 10; Marquez, Urias rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank September 11, 2021

Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to fifth place in season player rankings.

Also Friday, Rockies pitcher German Marquez rises to fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Indians’ Morgan tops players for Tuesday, Aug. 17; Marquez, Burnes rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank August 18, 2021

Indians pitcher Eli Morgan is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Tuesday, Rockies pitcher German Marquez maintains fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes rises to ninth in season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors.

Indians’ Quantrill tops players for Friday, Aug 6; Marquez, Bassitt rise in player rankings top 10

Shawn Plank August 7, 2021

Indians pitcher Cal Quantrill is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Friday, two players rise in Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after earning Player of the Game honors—Rockies pitcher German Marquez rises to third place and Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt rises to seventh place.

Braves’ Swanson tops players for Saturday, July 31; Marquez rises, Pujols extends record streak

Shawn Plank August 1, 2021

Dansby Swanson of the Braves is Saturday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Also Saturday, Rockies pitcher German Marquez rises to fifth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings after earning Player of the Game honors. Plus, Albert Pujols of the Dodgers extends his record streak of earning Box-Toppers points in consecutive seasons to 21 after earning his first Player of the Game honor of 2021 Saturday.