Brewers' Chase Anderson top players for Friday, April 8; Indians' Salazar tops AL players

Shawn Plank April 9, 2016

Brewers pitcher Chase Anderson is Friday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Anderson pitched five scoreless innings, striking out five, in the 6-4 win over the Astros. Anderson earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and is in fifth place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of April 8:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	2.0
2	Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	2.0
3	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	2.0
4	Rizzo, Anthony 3063	1b	chi nl	2.0
5	Anderson, Chase 3328	pi sp	mil nl	2.0
6	Nicasio, Juan 2888	pi sp	pit nl	2.0
7	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	1.7
8	Salazar, Danny 3223	pi sp	cle al	1.7
9	Odorizzi, Jake 3291	pi sp	tb al	1.7
10	Volquez, Edinson 2220	pi sp	kc al	1.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

American League Player of the Day—Indians pitcher Danny Salazar struck out seven over 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits, in the 7-1 win over the White Sox.

National League Batter of the Day—Starling Marte of the Pirates hit an eighth-inning, go-ahead grand slam in the 6-5 win over the Reds. Marte also went 3-for-4.

American League Batter of the Day—Brock Holt of the Red Sox hit a grand slam and doubled, going 2-for-4, driving in five total runs, in the 8-7 win over the Blue Jays.

Notable—Athletics closing pitcher Ryan Madson earned his first Player of the Game honors in nearly five years. Madson (1IP 0H 0R 2K Sv in the 3-2 win over the Mariners) last earned a Box-Toppers point when he earned Player of the Game honors on May 30, 2011, with the Phillies. Madson now has 21.7 career Box-Toppers points.

Debut—Trevor Brown of the Giants made his Box-Toppers debut Friday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Brown (HR 1-3 2BI in the 3-2 win over the Dodgers) made his Major League debut Sept. 19, 2015, and was playing in his 15th career game. He is the 3,610th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Anderson earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Salazar earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Marte and Holt each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

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.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/8
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    6.0
    Brewers
    Chase Anderson (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    4
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    AL
    5.1
    Indians
    Danny Salazar (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    2
    1
    1
    3
    7
  

    
    5.0
    Tigers
    Jordan Zimmermann (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    3
    3
  

    
    5.0
    Mets
    Jacob deGrom (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    1
    1
    0
    6
  

    
    4.2
    Padres
    Robbie Erlin (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.2
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Pirates
    Starling Marte, LF
    4
    1
    3
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Red Sox
    Brock Holt, 3B
    4
    1
    2
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Orioles
    Chris Davis, 1B
    2
    3
    1
    1
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Cardinals
    Trevor Rosenthal (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Athletics
    Ryan Madson (S,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Royals
    Wade Davis (S,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    1.0
    Dbacks
    Jean Segura, 2B
    4
    2
    3
    0
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Giants
    Trevor Brown, C
    3
    1
    1
    2
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    0.0
    Rangers
    Delino DeShields, CF
    4
    2
    2
    0
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

  
  

Cubs' Anthony Rizzo tops players for Thursday, April 7; White Sox' Latos tops AL players

Shawn Plank April 8, 2016

Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Rizzo hit a three-run homer, tripled and went 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in six runs, in the 14-6 win over the Diamondbacks.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of April 7:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	2.0
2	Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	2.0
3	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	2.0
4	Rizzo, Anthony 3063	1b	chi nl	2.0
5	Nicasio, Juan 2888	pi sp	pit nl	2.0
6	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	1.7
7	Odorizzi, Jake 3291	pi sp	tb al	1.7
8	Volquez, Edinson 2220	pi sp	kc al	1.7
9	Souza, Steven Jr. 3461	rf	tb al	1.7
10	Latos, Mat 2644	pi sp	chi al	1.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Rizzo receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and is now in fourth place in Box-Toppers season player rankings. He had 8.5 points in 2015, ranked ninth among National League batters.

American League Player of the Day—White Sox pitcher Mat Latos pitched six scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out two, in the 6-1 win over the Athletics.

American League Batter of the Day—Mark Teixeira of the Yankees hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-4, scoring twice, in the 8-5 win over the Astros.

Teixeira has now earned Box-Toppers points in 14 consecutive seasons. He earned his first points in 2003 with the Rangers and has 98.8 career Box-Toppers points, which ranks 70th among all players since 1995 when Box-Toppers tracking began and 27th among all batters. He ranks seventh among active batters. Teixeira’s best season was 2009 with the Yankees when he had 11.5 points, ranked sixth among AL batters. He had 7.5 points in 2015 with the Yankees, 17th among AL batters.

National League Batter of the Day—There is no separate NL Batter of the Day for Thursday because the overall Player of the Day was an NL batter, Anthony Rizzo.

Streak—Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez has now earned Box-Toppers points in 10 straight seasons after earning Player of the Game honors Thursday. Jimenez (7IP 8H 2R 9K W in the 4-2 win over the Twins) earned his first Box-Toppers points with the Rockies in 2007 and has 75.8 career points, ranked 10th among active AL pitchers. His best season was 2013 with the Indians when he had 14.5 Box-Toppers points, ninth among AL pitchers. He had 8.7 points in 2015 with the Orioles, ranked 25th among AL pitchers.

Scoring—Rizzo earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Latos earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day and Teixeira earns 1.5 points for being AL Batter of the Day. All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/7
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    8.0
    Cubs
    Anthony Rizzo, 1B
    4
    3
    3
    6
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    Reds
    Jay Bruce, RF
    4
    2
    3
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    AL
    6.0
    White Sox
    Mat Latos (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    5.0
    Orioles
    Ubaldo Jimenez (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    8
    2
    1
    0
    9
  

    
    4.0
    Giants
    Joe Panik, 2B
    5
    3
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Yankees
    Mark Teixeira, 1B
    4
    2
    2
    3
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Marlins
    David Phelps (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    2
    0
    0
    2
    3
  

    
    2.0
    `Angels
    Hector Santiago
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    4
    3
    2
    2
    7
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Pirates' Juan Nicasio tops players for Wednesday, April 6; Rays' Souza tops AL players

Shawn Plank April 7, 2016

Pirates pitcher Juan Nicasio is Wednesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Nicasio struck out seven over six innings, allowing one run and two hits, in the 5-1 win over the Cardinals. Nicasio earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and is in fourth place in Box-Toppers player rankings for the season.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2016 season as of April 6:


	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Kershaw, Clayton 2494	pi sp	lad nl	2.0
2	Liriano, Francisco 2104	pi sp	pit nl	2.0
3	Syndergaard, Noah 3472	pi sp	nym nl	2.0
4	Nicasio, Juan 2888	pi sp	pit nl	2.0
5	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	tex al	1.7
6	Odorizzi, Jake 3291	pi sp	tb al	1.7
7	Volquez, Edinson 2220	pi sp	kc al	1.7
8	Souza, Steven Jr. 3461	rf	tb al	1.7
9	Goldschmidt, Paul 2935	1b	ari nl	1.5
10	Kinsler, Ian 2144	2b	det al	1.5

What are those numbers after players' names?

American League Player of the Day—Steven Souza of the Rays hit two home runs, including a three-run go-ahead homer in the eighth inning, in the 5-3 win over the Blue Jays. Souza also doubled and went 4-for-4.

National League Batter of the Day—Matt den Dekker of the Nationals hit a seventh-inning, pinch-hit, two-run, go-ahead double in the 3-1 win over the Braves.

American League Batter of the Day—There is no separate AL Batter of the Day for Wednesday because the over AL Player of the Day is a batter, Steven Souza.

Streaks—Two players Wednesday extended their streak of 10 or more consecutive seasons earning at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point:

Robinson Cano of the Mariners has now earned Box-Toppers points in 12 straight seasons. Cano (2HR 2-4 2R 5BI) was Player of the Game in the 9-5 win over the Rangers and earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point. Cano earned his first points in 2005 with the Yankees. He has 68.4 career points, most among active AL second basemen and fourth among all second basemen since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995. His best year was 2013 with the Yankees when he had 12.5 points, fourth among AL batters. In 2015, he had 6.5 points with the Mariners, 22nd among all AL batters and third among AL second basemen.
Yovani Gallardo of the Orioles has now earned Box-Toppers points in 10 straight seasons. Gallardo (5IP 2H R 4K W) was Player of the Game in the 4-2 win over the Twins and earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point. Gallardo earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2007 with the Brewers. He has 88.7 career points, ranking 98th among all players since 1995 when Box-Toppers tracking began and eighth among active AL pitchers. His best year was 2011 with the Brewers when he had 19.9 points, ranked fourth among NL pitchers. In 2015, he had 5.0 points with the Rangers.

Debut—Dodgers pitcher Kenta Maeda made his Box-Toppers debut Wednesday, the first time in his career he earned Player of the Game honors. Maeda (6IP 5H 0R 4K W in the 7-0 win over the Padres) was making his Major League debut. He is the 3,609th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995. Maeda also hit a home run in the game.

Scoring—Nicasio earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Souza earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day and den Dekker earns 1.5 points for being NL Batter of the Day. All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/6
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    Pirates
    Juan Nicasio (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    1
    1
    0
    7
  

    
    7.0
    `Reds
    Brandon Finnegan
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    2
    2
    1
    9
  

    AL
    6.0
    Rays
    Steven Souza, RF
    4
    2
    4
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Yankees
    Starlin Castro, SS
    5
    1
    4
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Mariners
    Robinson Cano, 2B
    4
    2
    2
    5
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Dodgers
    Kenta Maeda (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    
    3.0
    Indians
    Carlos Santana, DH
    3
    1
    2
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Tigers
    Victor Martinez, PH-DH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Athletics
    Sonny Gray (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    1
    1
    4
    5
  

    BAT
    2.0
    Nationals
    Matt den Dekker, PH-LF
    1
    0
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Orioles
    Yovani Gallardo (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    1
    1
    3
    4
  

    
    2.0
    Brewers
    Jeremy Jeffress (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    1.0
    Rockies
    DJ LeMahieu, 2B
    4
    2
    2
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Mets' Noah Syndergaard tops players for Tuesday, April 5; Rays' Odorizzi tops AL players

Shawn Plank April 6, 2016

Mets pitcher Noah Syndergaard is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Syndergaard struck out nine over six scoreless innings, allowing three hits, in the 2-0 win over the Royals.

American League Player of the Day—Rays pitcher Jake Odorizzi struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits, in the 3-2 win over the Blue Jays. Odorizzi did not earn the win, picking up a no decision, because when he exited, the Rays trailed 2-1.

American League Batter of the Day—Ian Kinsler of the Tigers hit a three-run homer and went 3-for-6, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 8-7 win over the Marlins.

Kinsler has now earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point for 11 straight seasons. He earned his first points in 2006 with the Rangers and has 57.6 career points, second among active AL second basemen (behind Robinson Cano of the Mariners who has 67.4). Kinsler’s best season was 2009 with the Rangers when he had 11.2 points, eighth among AL batters. In 2015, he had 6.5 points, fourth among AL second basemen.

National League Batter of the Day—Paul Goldschmidt of the Diamondbacks homered, tripled and went 2-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 11-6 win over the Rockies. Goldschmidt ranked fourth among NL batters in Box-Toppers points in 2015 with 10.2.

Notable—David Price (6IP 5H 2R 10K W in the 6-2 win over the Indians) earns his first Player of the Game honor pitching for the Red Sox. Price had 21.1 Box-Toppers points in 2015 pitching for the Tigers and Blue Jays, second among AL pitchers.

Streak—Cubs pitcher Jon Lester has now earned Box-Toppers points in 11 straight seasons. Lester (7IP 4H R 4K W) was Player of the Game in the 6-1 win over the Angels. He earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2006 with the Red Sox and has 122.1 career Box-Toppers points, which ranks fifth among active NL pitchers. His best year was 2010 with the Red Sox when he led AL pitchers with 23.4 Box-Toppers points. In 2015, he had 12.0 points with the Cubs, 13th among NL pitchers.

Scoring—Syndergaard earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Odorizzi earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Kinsler and Goldschmidt each earn 1.5 points for being top batter in their league for the day. All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/5
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Mets
    Noah Syndergaard (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    9
  

    
    10.0
    Dodgers
    Scott Kazmir (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    AL
    6.2
    `Rays
    Jake Odorizzi
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    4
    2
    1
    2
    10
  

    
    5.0
    Cubs
    Jon Lester (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    0
    4
  

    
    5.0
    Red Sox
    David Price (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    2
    2
    2
    10
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Tigers
    Ian Kinsler, 2B
    6
    2
    3
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Dbacks
    Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
    4
    1
    2
    4
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Mariners
    Seth Smith, RF
    3
    2
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Giants
    Johnny Cueto (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    6
    1
    1
    0
    4
  

    
    3.0
    Pirates
    Kyle Lobstein (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    2.0
    White Sox
    David Robertson (S,2)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    Astros
    Luke Gregerson (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw tops players for Monday, April 4, moves into 12th in Box-Toppers' 'all-time' rankings

Shawn Plank April 5, 2016

Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw is Monday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.

Kershaw struck out nine over seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit, in the 15-0 win over the Padres.

Kershaw receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and takes the lead in Box-Toppers player rankings after the second day of the season. He passes Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano, who was Sunday’s Player of the Day. While both players have 2.0 Box-Toppers points on the season, Kershaw ranks ahead on a tiebreaker because he had more Box-Toppers points in 2015—25.7 vs. 14.9.

Kershaw’s 25.7 points ranked second among all players in 2015 (behind Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta’s 29.1). Kershaw led all National League pitchers in points from 2011 to 2014. He led all players in 2011, 2013 and 2014.

In addition, Kershaw passes John Smoltz to move into 12th place in career Box-Toppers player rankings since 1995, when Box-Toppers tracking began. Kershaw now has 161.3 career Box-Toppers points, passing Smoltz’s 160.9 points. Kershaw trails 11th place player, Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez (162.7).

American League Player of the Day—Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels struck out eight over seven innings, allowing two runs and four hits, in the 3-2 win over the Mariners. Hamels ranked eighth among AL pitchers in 2015 with 15.4 Box-Toppers points.

Hamels also has now earned at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point for 11 straight seasons. He earned his first points in 2006 with the Phillies and in each of his 10 previous seasons, has earned at least 10.0 Box-Toppers points per season. He has 127.9 career Box-Toppers points, which ranks 30th among all players since 1995 (when Box-Toppers tracking began). It ranks third among active AL pitchers, behind CC Sabathia of the Yankees (179.0) and Felix Hernandez of the Mariners (162.7). His best season was 2011 with the Phillies, when he had 15.8 points, ranked eighth among NL pitchers.

National League Batter of the Day—Denard Span of the Giants hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in five runs, in the 12-3 win over the Brewers.

American League Batter of the Day—Michael Saunders of the Blue Jays hit a two-run homer and doubled, going 2-for-4, in the 5-3 win over the Rays.

Notable—Two other pitchers who ranked among Box-Toppers’ top 10 players in 2015 also earned Player of the Game honors Monday:

Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta (7.0IP 2H 0R 6K W in the 9-0 win over the Angels) had the second-highest Box-Toppers game score (+10.0) of Monday’s Players of the Day, but only earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, since he lost overall Player of the Day and NL Player of the Day honors to Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who had a Box-Toppers game score of +14.0. Arrieta led all players in 2015 with 29.1 Box-Toppers points.
Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer (7.0IP 3H 2R 7K ND in the 4-3 win over the Braves) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point. He had 21.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015, sixth among all players and fourth among NL pitchers.

Debuts—Two players made their Box-Toppers debut Monday, the first time in their career they earned Player of the Game honors:

Trevor Story of the Rockies (2HR 2-6 2R 4BI in the 10-6 win over the Diamondbacks) was making his Major League debut Monday. He is the 3,607th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.
Tyler Wilson of the Orioles (3.0IP 2H 0R K ND in the 3-2 win over the Twins) made his Major League debut May 20, 2015, and was playing in his 10th career game. He is the 3,608th player to debut in Box-Toppers since record keeping began in 1995.

Scoring—Kershaw earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Hamels earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Span and Saunders each earn 1.5 points for being top batter in their league for the day. All of Monday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/4
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    14.0
    Dodgers
    Clayton Kershaw (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    9
  

    
    10.0
    Cubs
    Jake Arrieta (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Giants
    Denard Span, CF
    4
    2
    2
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    `Nationals
    Max Scherzer
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    3
    2
    2
    2
    7
  

    AL
    4.0
    Rangers
    Cole Hamels (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    2
    2
    3
    8
  

    
    3.0
    `Reds
    Raisel Iglesias
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    6
    2
    2
    0
    7
  

    
    2.0
    Rockies
    Trevor Story, SS
    6
    2
    2
    4
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    `Orioles
    Tyler Wilson
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    BAT
    1.0
    Blue Jays
    Michael Saunders, LF
    4
    1
    2
    2
    0
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    White Sox
    Adam Eaton, RF
    3
    1
    2
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Pirates' Francisco Liriano tops players in Sunday, April 3's opening day games

Shawn Plank April 4, 2016

Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano is Sunday’s Box-Toppers opening day Player of the Day.

Liriano struck out 10 over six scoreless innings, allowing three hits, in the 4-1 win over the Cardinals.

Liriano receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being opening day Player of the Day and now leads all players in Box-Toppers points with 2.0. He had 14.9 Box-Toppers points in 2015, ranked ninth among National League pitchers.

American League Player of the Day—Royals pitcher Edinson Volquez pitched six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out five, in the 4-3 win over the Mets.

Volquez has now earned Box-Toppers points in 11 consecutive seasons. He first earned Box-Toppers points in 2006 with the Rangers and has 59.5 career Box-Toppers points, ranked 19th among active AL pitchers. His best year was 2008 with the Reds when he had 15.1 points, ranked sixth among NL pitchers. He had 7.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Royals.

Notable—Blue Jays closer Roberto Osuna was Player of the Game in the other regular season game Sunday. Osuna struck out two in one scoreless inning and earned the save in the 5-3 win over the Rays.

Also, Sunday, Angels pitcher A.J. Achter was Player of the Game in the final spring training game of the season, a 6-4 win over the Cubs. Achter struck out two in a scoreless seventh inning, picking up a no decision. (Achter earns no Box-Toppers points because he was playing in a spring training game.)

Scoring—Liriano earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Volquez earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. All of Sunday’s other regular season Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/3
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    8.0
    Pirates
    Francisco Liriano (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    5
    10
  

    AL
    6.0
    Royals
    Edinson Volquez (W,1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    3
    5
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Roberto Osuna (S,1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    Spring training
  

    
    3.0
    `Angels
    A.J. Achter
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

A 2016 opening day introduction to Box-Toppers player tracking

Shawn Plank April 3, 2016

Play ball! Join us all year as we mark the 22nd season tracking baseball's top players with the hand-crafted metric, Box-Toppers points. Here is how it works.

Athletics' Eric Surkamp tops players in Saturday, April 2's final spring training games

Shawn Plank April 3, 2016

Athletics pitcher Eric Surkamp is Box-Toppers Player of the Day for Saturday, the final day of spring training.

Surkamp pitched seven scoreless innings of middle relief, striking out seven and allowing two hits, in the 4-1 win over the Giants. Surkamp had no Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the White Sox and Dodgers. He has 1.0 career Box-Toppers point, earned Sept. 16, 2014, with the White Sox.

National League Player of the Day—Jake Cave of the Reds tripled and went 2-for-2, scoring once and driving in two runs, in the 13-6 win over the Pirates. Cave has yet to make his regular season Major League debut and so has no career Box-Toppers points.

American League Batter of the Day—Mike Trout of the Angels hit two doubles and went 2-for-2, scoring once and driving in three runs, in the 8-1 win over the Dodgers. Trout had 12.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015, second among AL batters.

Trout had a Box-Toppers game score Saturday of +4.0, tied with Dae-Ho Lee of the Mariners, who was Player of the Game in the 8-5 win over the Rockies. But Trout won AL Batter of the Day honors on a tiebreaker because he had more doubles—2 vs. 1.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Surkamp would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Cave would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day and Trout would earn 1.5 points for being AL Batter of the Day. All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Thirteen spring training games were scheduled for Thursday—nine are listed below. One game is not included because it ended in a tie (Twins vs. Nationals), one game was cancelled (Tigers vs. Braves) and two other games were not included because they involved non-Major League teams (Phillies Futures vs. Phillies and Brewers vs. Biloxi).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/2
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Athletics
    Eric Surkamp (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Angels
    Mike Trout CF
    2
    1
    2
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Mariners
    Dae-Ho Lee 1B
    2
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    3.0
    Reds
    Jake Cave LF
    2
    1
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Indians
    Rajai Davis CF
    2
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    White Sox
    Travis Ishikawa 1B
    2
    2
    1
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Red Sox
    Kyle Martin (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    2.1
    `Dbacks
    Robbie Ray
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.1
    3
    1
    1
    3
    6
  

    
    2.1
    Marlins
    Chris Narveson (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Mets' Steven Matz tops players in Friday, April 1's spring training games

Shawn Plank April 2, 2016

Mets pitcher Steven Matz is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Friday.

Matz struck out six over five scoreless innings, allowing no hits, in the 8-1 win over the Cubs. Matz had 3.5 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Mets.

American League Player of the Day—Angels pitcher Hector Santiago pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out four, in the 5-1 win over the Dodgers. Santiago had 8.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Angels.

American League Batter of the Day—Anthony Gose of the Tigers hit a three-run homer and went 3-for-3, scoring twice, in the 9-4 win over the Rays. Gose has played in 342 regular season Major League games, but has yet to earn Player of the Game honors and so has no career Box-Toppers points.

National League Batter of the Day—Rickie Weeks of the Diamondbacks doubled and went 2-for-3, driving in two runs, in the 7-4 win over the Royals. Weeks had 1.0 Box-Toppers point in 2015 with the Mariners. He has 36.1 career Box-Toppers points since 2005. His best year was 2007 with the Brewers when he had 6.2 points.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Matz would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Santiago would earn 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Gose and Weeks would each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s top Batter of the Day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Fourteen spring training games were scheduled for Thursday—12 are listed below. Two games are not included because they ended in ties (Rays vs. Braves and Rockies vs. Mariners).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    4/1
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    Mets
    Steven Matz (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    0
    0
    0
    2
    6
  

    AL
    6.0
    Angels
    Héctor Santiago (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Tigers
    Anthony Gose CF
    3
    2
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Giants
    Jake Peavy (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    3
  

    
    4.2
    Indians
    Cody Anderson (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    
    4.0
    Astros
    Josh Fields (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Orioles
    Garabez Rosa 2B
    3
    2
    3
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Yankees
    Lane Adams PH-DH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Nationals
    Jonathan Papelbon (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Red Sox
    Luis Ysla (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    White Sox
    Nate Jones (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    BAT
    1.0
    Dbacks
    Rickie Weeks DH
    3
    0
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

  
  

Giants' Jeff Samardzija tops players in Thursday, March 31's spring training games

Shawn Plank April 1, 2016

Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Thursday.

Samardzija pitched five scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out five, in the 3-1 win over the Athletics. Samardzija had 9.4 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the White Sox, ranked 20th among American League pitchers. His best season was 2012 with the Cubs when he had 12.7 points, 16th among National League pitchers.

American League Player of the Day—J.D. Martinez of the Tigers hit three homers, going 3-for-4 and driving in four runs, in the 10-6 win over the Yankees. Martinez had 1.7 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Tigers. His best season was 2014 with the Tigers, when he had 5.0 points.

National League Batter of the Day—Sean Rodriguez of the Pirates hit a grand slam, going 1-for-2, in the 13-8 win over the Rays. Rodriguez had no Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Pirates. He had 5.0 points in 2014 with the Rays.

American League Batter of the Day—There is no separate AL Batter of the Day for Thursday because the AL Player of the Day was a batter, J.D. Martinez.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Samardzija would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Martinez would earn 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day and Rodriguez would earn 1.5 points for being NL Batter of the Day. All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Thirteen spring training games were scheduled for Thursday—11 are listed below. Two games are not listed because they involved non-Major League teams (Phillies vs. Phillies Futures and Padres vs. El Paso).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/31
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    Giants
    Jeff Samardzija (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    
    7.1
    Brewers
    Jimmy Nelson (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    2
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    7.0
    Cardinals
    Mike Leake (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    2
    0
    0
    0
    5
  

    AL
    6.0
    Tigers
    J.D. Martínez RF
    4
    3
    3
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    Orioles
    Yovani Gallardo (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Pirates
    Seán Rodríguez CF
    2
    1
    1
    4
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Angels
    Al Alburquerque (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.2
    Indians
    Carlos Carrasco (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    5
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Ryan Pressly (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    2.0
    Rockies
    Charlie Blackmon CF
    3
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Cubs
    Yasiel Balaguert 1B
    1
    1
    1
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

  
  

Cubs' Jon Lester tops players in Wednesday, March 30's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 30, 2016

Cubs pitcher Jon Lester is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Wednesday.

Lester struck out 10 over five scoreless innings, allowing one hit, in the 10-0 win over the Rockies. Lester had 12.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Cubs, ranked 13th among National League pitchers. Lester led American League pitchers in 2010 with 23.4 points when he was with the Red Sox.

American League Player of the Day—Tigers pitcher Shane Greene struck out nine over 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing three hits, in the 2-1 win over the Orioles. Greene had 3.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Tigers.

National League Batter of the Day—Phil Gosselin of the Diamondbacks tripled, doubled and went 3-for-4, scoring once and driving in five runs, in the 12-9 win over the Athletics. Gosselin had 1.0 Box-Toppers point in 2015 with the Diamondbacks. He also played for the Braves in 2015.

American League Batter of the Day—There is no AL Batter of the Day for Wednesday because no AL batter earned Player of the Game honors.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Lester would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Greene would earn 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day and Gosselin would earn 1.5 points for being NL Batter of the Day. All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Sixteen spring training games were scheduled for Thursday—14 are listed below. One game is not included because it ended in a tie (Red Sox vs. Pirates) and one other game was not included because it involved a non-Major League team (River Cats vs. Giants).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/30
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    13.0
    Cubs
    Jon Lester (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    10
  

    AL
    10.2
    Tigers
    Shane Greene (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.2
    3
    0
    0
    1
    9
  

    
    10.0
    Rays
    Drew Smyly (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    
    7.0
    Reds
    Josh Smith (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    1
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    
    6.0
    Rangers
    Cole Hamels (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    1
    1
    0
    5
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Dbacks
    Phil Gosselin 1B
    4
    1
    3
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    `Yankees
    Iván Nova
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    4.0
    Phillies
    Andrés Blanco SS
    4
    2
    2
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Cardinals
    Michael Wacha (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    2
  

    
    4.0
    `Padres
    Brandon Morrow
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    1
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    3.0
    Nationals
    Reed Johnson LF
    2
    2
    2
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Ryan Pressly (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.1
    Indians
    Corey Kluber (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.1
    6
    1
    1
    0
    6
  

    
    2.0
    Brewers
    Ramón Flores LF-1B
    2
    1
    1
    2
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Indians' pitcher Josh Tomlin tops players in Tuesday, March 29's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 30, 2016

Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Tuesday.

Tomlin pitched six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out 10, in the 4-1 win over the Mariners. Tomlin had 4.7 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Indians.

National League Player of the Day—Marlins pitcher Paul Clemens pitched three scoreless innings of middle relief, allowing no hits and striking out two, in the 1-0 win over the Mets. Clemens pitched the fifth, sixth and seventh innings and was not credited with the win. Clemens had no Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Phillies and Royals. He has 1.0 career Box-Toppers point, earned May 27, 2013, playing with the Astros.

American League Batter of the Day—Mike Moustakas of the Royals hit a three-run homer and doubled, going 2-for-3, scoring three times and driving in five runs, in the 16-10 win over the Giants. Moustakas had 7.7 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Royals, 14th among AL batters.

National League Batter of the Day—Nolan Arenado of the Rockies hit two home runs and went 3-for-3, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 6-1 win over the Diamondbacks. Arenado had 8.5 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Rockies, 10th among NL batters.

Notable—Three others who earned Player of the Game honors Tuesday:

Carlos Beltran of the Yankees homered and drove in three runs in the 5-4 win over the Pirates. Beltran had 3.5 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Yankees, but is the active leader in most consecutive seasons earning at least 1.0 Box-Toppers point with 17. If he earns a point during the regular season in 2016, he will extend that to 18 seasons, one short of the record set by Jason Giambi, who had a streak of 19 seasons from 1995 to 2013. (Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.)
Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta, 2015’s Box-Toppers points leader, struck out five over five innings, allowing two hits and one run, in the 9-5 win over the Athletics. Arrieta led all players in 2015 with 29.1 Box-Toppers points.
White Sox pitcher Chris Sale struck out five over 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run, in the 6-2 win over the Rangers. Sale ranked fourth among AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points in 2015 with 18.8.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Tomlin would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Clemens would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Moustakas and Arenado would each earn 1.5 points for being top batter in their league for the day. All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Sixteen spring training games were scheduled for Thursday—10 are listed below. Four games were cancelled (Yankees vs. Phillies, Blue Jays vs. Tigers, Nationals vs. Cardinals and Rays vs. Blue Jays) and two games are not included because they ended in ties (Braves vs. Orioles and Indians vs. Angels).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/29
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    13.0
    Indians
    Josh Tomln (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    10
  

    BAT
    7.0
    Royals
    Mike Moustakas 3B
    3
    3
    2
    5
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    5.0
    `Marlins
    Paul Clemens
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Rockies
    Nolan Arenado 3B
    3
    2
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Yankees
    Carlos Beltrán RF
    1
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Padres
    Adam Rosales SS
    1
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Cubs
    Jake Arrieta (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    1
    1
    2
    5
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Miguel Sano RF
    4
    1
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.1
    White Sox
    Chris Sale (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.1
    6
    1
    1
    0
    5
  

    
    1.1
    Reds
    A.J. Morris (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.1
    3
    0
    0
    3
    4
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

White Sox' Carlos Sanchez tops players in Monday, March 28's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 29, 2016

Carlos Sanchez of the White Sox is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Monday.

Sanchez hit two homers and went 3-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 11-7 win over the Rockies. Sanchez had 3.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the White Sox.

Sanchez had a Box-Toppers game score Monday of +5.0, tied with Whit Merrifield of the Royals, who was Player of the Game in the 11-3 win over the Padres. But Sanchez won Player of the Day on a tiebreaker—he had more runs batted in (4 vs. 3).

National League Player of the Day—Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez allowed one run over six innings, striking out four, in the 3-1 win over the Mets. Martinez had 13.7 Box-Toppers points in 2015, leading all Cardinals players and ranking 11th among NL pitchers.

National League Batter of the Day—Joey Votto of the Reds homered and went 4-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 9-8, walk-off win over the Brewers. Votto had 5.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015, most among returning Reds batters in 2016. Votto has 53.7 career Box-Toppers points since 2007, which ranks fourth among active NL first basemen. He has two seasons with 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points (2008 and 2009). In 2008, his 11.0 points ranked 10th among NL batters.

American League Batter of the Day—There is no separate AL Batter of the Day for Monday because the overall Player of the Day was an AL batter, Carlos Sanchez.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Sanchez would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Martinez would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day and Votto would earn 1.5 points for being NL Batter of the Day. All of Monday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Fifteen spring training games were scheduled for Monday—13 are listed below. One game is not included because it ended in a tie (Cubs vs. Dodgers) and one other game was cancelled (Marlins vs. Nationals).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/28
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    5.0
    White Sox
    Carlos Sánchez 2B
    4
    2
    3
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Royals
    Whit Merrifield LF
    4
    3
    3
    3
    1
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Astros
    George Springer RF
    3
    3
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    5.0
    Cardinals
    Carlos Martínez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    4
  

    
    5.0
    `Yankees
    Luis Cessa
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    1
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    4.0
    Twins
    Daniel Palka PH-DH
    1
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    `Blue Jays
    Marcus Stroman
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Reds
    Joey Votto 1B
    5
    2
    4
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Dodgers
    Justin Turner 3B
    3
    1
    1
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Mariners
    Brock Hebert 2B
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Orioles
    Nolan Reimold DH
    3
    1
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Dbacks
    David Peralta RF
    2
    2
    1
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Indians
    Yan Gomes C
    4
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Mariners' Robinson Cano tops players in Sunday, March 27's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 27, 2016

Robinson Cano of the Mariners is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day For Sunday.

Cano hit three home runs and went 4-for-4, scoring four times and driving in seven runs, in the 12-9 win over the Cubs. Cano had 6.5 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Mariners, third among American League second basemen. His 13.0 Box-Toppers points over 2014-2015 ranks first among AL second basemen over that span. His 67.4 career Box-Toppers points ranks first among active AL second basemen, fourth among all second basemen since 1995 (when Box-Toppers tracking began).

National League Player of the Day—Jabari Blash of the Padres hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 21-6 win over the Astros. Blash has yet to make his regular season Major League debut and so has no Box-Toppers points.

AL and NL Batters of the Day—There are no separate AL and NL Batters of the Day for Sunday because the overall Player of the Day was an AL batter, Robinson Cano, and the NL Player of the Day was a batter, Jabari Blash.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Cano would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Blash would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. All of Sunday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Seventeen spring training games were scheduled for Sunday—16 are listed below. One game is not included because it ended in a tie (Nationals vs. Mets).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/27
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Mariners
    Robinson Cano 2B
    4
    4
    4
    7
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    6.0
    Athletics
    Kendall Graveman (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    4
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    
    5.0
    White Sox
    Travis Ishikawa 1B
    5
    2
    3
    5
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Indians
    Collin Cowgill PR RF
    1
    2
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    4.0
    Padres
    Jabari Blash LF
    4
    2
    2
    4
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Angels
    Jeff Bandy C
    2
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Astros
    A.J. Reed DH
    5
    3
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Nationals
    Ryan Zimmerman 1B
    4
    1
    3
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Rangers
    Prince Fielder DH
    4
    1
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Twins
    Danny Santana CF-RF
    4
    1
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Rockies
    Raimel Tapia LF CF
    4
    2
    3
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Red Sox
    Dustin Pedroia 2B
    3
    1
    3
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Marlins
    J.T. Realmuto C
    3
    1
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Reds
    Scott Schebler LF
    3
    1
    1
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Tony Sánchez C
    2
    1
    2
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Orioles
    Nolan Reimold DH
    3
    1
    2
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

  
  

Twins' Kyle Gibson tops players in Saturday, March 26's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 27, 2016

Twins pitcher Kyle Gibson is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Saturday.

Gibson pitched six scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight, in the 3-0 win over the Pirates. Gibson had 8.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015, most among Twins players and 33rd among American League pitchers.

National League Player of the Day—Matt Duffy of the Giants homered and went 3-for-4, scoring three times and driving in two runs, in the 5-2 win over the Cubs. Duffy had 6.2 Box-Toppers points in 2015, fourth among NL third basemen.

American League Batter of the Day—Audry Perez of the Orioles hit a three-run homer an went 2-for-2, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 16-8 win over the Red Sox. Perez has played in three regular season Major League games, but has yet to earn Player of the Game honors and so has no Box-Toppers points.

National League Batter of the Day—There is no separate NL Batter of the Day for Saturday because the overall NL Player of the Day is a batter, Matt Duffy.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Gibson would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Duffy would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day and Perez would earn 1.5 points for AL Batter of the Day. All of Saturday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Eighteen spring training games were scheduled for Saturday—15 are listed below. Two games are not included because they ended in ties (Mets vs. Braves and Diamondbacks vs. Brewers) and one other game was postponed (Marlins vs. Astros).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/26
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Twins
    Kyle Gibson (W, 3-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    
    8.1
    `Astros
    Chris Devenski
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.1
    3
    0
    0
    0
    7
  

    
    7.0
    `Yankees
    Bryan Mitchell
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    1
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    BAT
    6.0
    Orioles
    Audry Pérez C
    2
    2
    2
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Tigers
    Justin Upton LF
    4
    3
    4
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    4.0
    Giants
    Matt Duffy 3B
    4
    3
    3
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Rockies
    Trevor Story SS
    3
    3
    3
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.1
    Rays
    Jake Odorizzi (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    5
    1
    1
    2
    6
  

    
    3.1
    Reds
    Caleb Cotham (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.1
    2
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    3.1
    Reds
    Tony Cingrani (Sv, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Mariners
    Kyle Seager 3B
    4
    1
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.1
    Dodgers
    Chris Hatcher (W, 1-1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.1
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    Royals
    Eric Hosmer 1B
    2
    2
    1
    1
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Angels
    Todd Cunningham PR-CF
    1
    2
    0
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Nationals
    Tanner Roark (W, 2-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    6
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Twins' Ervin Santana tops players in Friday, March 25's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 26, 2016

Twins pitcher Ervin Santana is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Friday.

Santana pitched six scoreless innings, striking out eight and allowing three hits, in the 6-1 win over the Rays. Santana had 5.4 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Twins. He has 93.3 career Box-Toppers points since 2005, which ranks seventh among active American League pitchers. His best year was 2008 with the Angels, when he had 16.7 points, ranked first among AL pitchers.

National League Player of the Day—Diamondbacks pitcher Shelby Miller allowed one run over 6 2/3 innings, striking out four and allowing three hits, in the 7-5 win over the Indians. Miller had 10.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Braves. His best year was 2013 with the Cardinals when he had 15.4 Box-Toppers points, ninth among NL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Rougned Odor of the Rangers hit three solo home runs and went 4-for-4, driving in four runs, in the 12-11 win over the Padres. Odor had 3.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015.

National League Batter of the Day—Rob Segedin of the Dodgers went 3-for-3, scoring once and driving in two runs, in the 13-0 win over the Giants. Segedin has yet to make his regular season Major League debut and so has no Box-Toppers points.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Santana would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Miller would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Odor and Segedin would each earn 1.5 points for being top batter in their league for the day. All of Friday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Sixteen spring training games were scheduled for Friday—11 are listed below. Three games are not included because they ended in ties (Astros vs. Braves, Cardinals vs. Mets and Blue Jays vs. Phillies) and two games were postponed or cancelled (Braves vs. Tigers and Nationals vs. Marlins).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/25
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    11.0
    Twins
    Ervin Santana (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    0
    0
    0
    8
  

    BAT
    7.0
    Rangers
    Rougned Odor 2B
    4
    3
    4
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    NL
    4.2
    Dbacks
    Shelby Miller (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.2
    3
    1
    1
    1
    4
  

    
    4.0
    `Mariners
    Félix Hernández
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    5
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    
    4.0
    Giants
    Sergio Romo (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    3
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Dodgers
    Rob Segedin 3B
    3
    1
    3
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Red Sox
    Dustin Pedroia 2B
    3
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Orioles
    Nolan Reimold LF
    2
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Rockies
    Pat Valaika 2B
    2
    1
    1
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Angels
    Jefry Marte 3B
    1
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Brewers
    Kirk Nieuwenhuis RF
    1
    0
    1
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Box-Toppers picks the Blue Jays over the Cubs in the 2016 World Series

Shawn Plank March 25, 2016

Blue Jays projected to win it all after beating Indians in ALCS. Cubs picked to win NLCS over the Dodgers.

Nationals' Max Scherzer tops players in Thursday, March 24's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 25, 2016

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Thursday.

Scherzer allowed two runs over five innings, striking out nine and allowing three hits, in the 8-2 win over the Cardinals. Scherzer had 21.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Nationals, ranked fourth among National League pitchers. In 2014, he had 22.1 points with the Tigers, ranked second among American League pitchers. And in 2013, he had 18.1 points with the Tigers, ranked first among AL pitchers.

American League Player of the Day—Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out five, in the 8-5 win over the Mets. Keuchel led AL pitchers in Box-Toppers points in 2015 with 21.4, ranked fourth among all players.

Scherzer and Keuchel both had Box-Toppers game scores Thursday of +6.0, but Scherzer won overall Player of the Day on a tiebreaker—he had more strikeouts than Keuchel—9 vs. 5.

American League Batter of the Day—Justin Ruggiano of the Rangers hit a pair of two-run homers, going 2-for-3, in the 12-5 win over the Reds. Ruggiano had 2.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Dodgers. He also played with the Mariners in 2015.

National League Batter of the Day—Martin Maldonado of the Brewers hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-3, scoring twice, in the 9-2 win over the Royals. Maldonado had 1.5 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Brewers.

Maldonado had a Box-Toppers game score Thursday of +4.0, tied with Kris Bryant of the Cubs, who was Player of the Game in the 16-14 win over the Giants. But Maldonado won NL Batter of the Day honors on a tiebreaker because he had more home runs—1 vs. 0.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Scherzer would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Keuchel would earn 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day. Ruggiano and Maldonado would each earn 1.5 points for being top batter in their league for the day. All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Sixteen spring training games were scheduled for Thursday—14 are listed below. One game is not included because it ended in a tie (Dodgers vs. Indians) and one other game was postponed (Phillies vs. Braves).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/24
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    6.0
    Nationals
    Max Scherzer (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    3
    2
    0
    3
    9
  

    AL
    6.0
    Astros
    Dallas Keuchel (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    3
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Rangers
    Justin Ruggiano LF
    3
    2
    2
    4
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    5.0
    Red Sox
    Joe Kelly (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    7.0
    5
    1
    1
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Brewers
    Martín Maldonado C
    3
    2
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Cubs
    Kris Bryant LF
    3
    2
    2
    3
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    `Rangers
    Cesar Ramos
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    3.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Oswaldo Arcia DH
    4
    2
    2
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Angels
    Cam Bedrosian (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    2.0
    Mariners
    Seth Smith DH
    4
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Orioles
    Mark Trumbo RF
    3
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Blue Jays
    Kevin Pillar CF
    3
    1
    2
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    2.0
    Dbacks
    Jason Bourgeois CF
    2
    1
    1
    2
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    1.0
    Rays
    Steve Pearce 1B
    4
    1
    3
    1
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Rays' Erasmo Ramirez top players in Wednesday, March 23's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 24, 2016

Rays pitcher Erasmo Ramirez is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Wednesday.

Ramirez allowed one run and three hits over six innings, striking out eight, in the 5-2 win over the Twins. Ramirez had 7.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015.

National League Player of the Day—Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg pitched five scoreless innings, allowing six hits and striking out nine, in the 13-0 win over the Yankees. Strasburg had 14.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015, ranking 10th among NL batters. His best year was 2012, when he had 20.4 Box-Toppers points, second among NL pitchers.

American League Batter of the Day—Tyler Naquin of the Indians homered twice and doubled, going 3-for-3, scoring three times, in the 7-6 win over the Royals. Naquin has yet to make his regular season Major League debut and has no Box-Toppers points.

National League Batter of the Day—Jason Bourgeois of the Diamondbacks hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-3, in the 10-6 win over the Giants. Bourgeois had 0.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Reds. He has 1.0 career point, earned Sept. 17, 2010, with the Astros.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Ramirez would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Strasburg would earn 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day. Naquin and Bourgeois would each earn 1.5 points for being top batter in their league for the day. All of Wednesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/23
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    9.0
    Rays
    Erasmo Ramírez (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    3
    1
    1
    0
    8
  

    NL
    8.0
    Nationals
    Stephen Strasburg (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    6
    0
    0
    0
    9
  

    
    7.0
    Rangers
    Derek Holland (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    4
    0
    0
    1
    7
  

    
    7.0
    `Cardinals
    Carlos Martínez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    2
    0
    0
    1
    5
  

    
    6.1
    `Blue Jays
    Aarón Sánchez
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.1
    4
    0
    0
    0
    4
  

    BAT
    5.0
    Indians
    Tyler Naquin CF
    3
    3
    3
    2
    2
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Athletics
    Jake Smolinski RF
    3
    2
    1
    4
    1
    2
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    White Sox
    John Danks (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    6.0
    7
    0
    0
    1
    6
  

    BAT
    3.0
    Dbacks
    Jason Bourgeois RF
    3
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Astros
    Ken Giles (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    1.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    1.0
    Pirates
    David Freese 3B
    2
    2
    1
    0
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    `Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
  

  
  

Marlins' Jose Fernandez tops players in Tuesday, March 22's spring training games

Shawn Plank March 23, 2016

Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez is Box-Toppers spring training Player of the Day for Tuesday.

Fernandez pitched five scoreless, no-hit innings, striking out four and walking one, in the 3-0 win over the Red Sox. Fernandez had 4.7 Box-Toppers points in 2015. His best season was his 2013 rookie year, when he had 19.0 Box-Toppers points, ranking fourth among all players.

American League Player of the Day—Jimmy Rollins of the White Sox hit a three-run homer and went 3-for-4, scoring three times, in the 8-7 win over the Giants. Rollins had 3.0 Box-Toppers points in 2015 with the Dodgers. He has 50.4 career points since 2001, which ranks third among active shortstops. His best year was 2007 with the Phillies when he had 4.7 points, fourth among NL shortstops.

National League Batter of the Day—Derek Norris of the Padres homered, doubled and went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 17-5 win over the Rangers. Norris had 4.5 Box-Toppers points in 2015, his best season, when he ranked fourth among NL catchers.

Notable—James Loney of the Rays was Player of the Game in the 4-1 win over the Cuban National Team, in a game played in Havana, Cuba. Loney homered and went 2-for-2, driving in three runs. Loney had no Box-Toppers points in 2015, but has 32.4 career points since 2006. His best year was 2008 with the Dodgers, when he had 6.0 points.

Scoring—No Box-Toppers points are awarded in spring training games, but if it were the regular season, Fernandez would earn 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, Rollins would earn 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day and Norris would earn 1.5 points for being NL Batter of the Day. All of Tuesday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) would earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Note—Fifteen spring training games were scheduled for Tuesday—13 are listed below. One game is not included because it ended in a tie (Giants vs. Diamondbacks) and one other game was cancelled (Angels vs. a non-Major League opponent).

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

  
    

  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
  

    3/22
    Score
    Team
    Player
    AB
    R
    H
    BI
    BB
    K
    
    IP
    H
    R
    ER
    BB
    K
  

    MLB
    8.0
    Marlins
    José Fernández (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    5.0
    0
    0
    0
    1
    4
  

    AL
    5.0
    White Sox
    Jimmy Rollins SS
    4
    3
    3
    3
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.1
    Royals
    Chris Young (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.1
    0
    1
    1
    3
    5
  

    BAT
    4.0
    Padres
    Derek Norris C
    4
    2
    2
    4
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    *Rays
    James Loney 1B
    2
    1
    2
    3
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Blue Jays
    Ryan Goins 2B
    2
    2
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    4.0
    Twins
    Logan Darnell (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    2
  

    
    3.0
    Astros
    Carlos Correa SS
    3
    2
    2
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Twins
    Daniel Palka DH
    3
    2
    2
    2
    0
    1
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Angels
    Geovany Soto PH-DH
    1
    1
    1
    2
    1
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    3.0
    Rockies
    Christian Bergman (W, 1-0)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    4.0
    1
    0
    0
    3
    3
  

    
    3.0
    Cubs
    Trevor Cahill (SV, 1)
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    
    2.0
    0
    0
    0
    0
    1
  

    
    2.0
    Yankees
    Didi Gregorius SS
    3
    2
    2
    1
    0
    0
    
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
    -
  

    
    
    * Game was against a non-Major League opponent, Rays beat Cuban National Team, 4-1
  

  
  

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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.