Tigers pitcher Max Scherzer, Thursday’s Player of the Day, strengthens his second-place spot in Box-Toppers player rankings and becomes the second player this season with 20.0 or more Box-Toppers points.
Scherzer pitched eight scoreless innings and struck out 14 in the 5-2 win over the Pirates. He earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 20.1 for the season, maintaining his second-place spot in Box-Toppers player rankings. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) He trails only Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22.1 Box-Toppers points).
Scherzer holds a dominant lead among all American League pitchers in Box-Toppers points—second-place Felix Hernandez of the Mariners has 15.8 Box-Toppers points.
This is Scherzer’s highest point total of any season, beating 2013, when he led all American League players with 18.1 Box-Toppers points.
Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg is National League Player of the Day. Strasburg struck out eight over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 4-1 win over the Mets. Strasburg earns 1.7 Box-Toppers point, giving him 11.7 for the season. He ranks 17th among all players and sixth among NL pitchers.
Dee Gordon of the Dodgers is NL Batter of the Day. Gordon went 3-for-4 and scored four runs in the 6-4 win over the Braves.
Dustin Pedroia of the Red Sox is AL Batter of the Day. Pedroia doubled and went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 9-4 win over the Astros.
Scherzer receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Strasburg receives 1.7 for NL Player of the Day. Gordon and Pedroia each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.
All of Thursday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.
Box-Toppers watches the daily performances of selected star players and Box-Toppers points leaders. To see how they performed Thursday, click here.
Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. Players earn Box-Toppers points for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.
Top player from each game
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score
| 814 | Score | Team | Player | AB | R | H | BI | BB | K | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 17.0 | Tigers | Max Scherzer (W, 14-4) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | |
| 16.0 | Brewers | Mike Fiers (W, 2-1) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | ||
| NL | 9.0 | Nationals | Stephen Strasburg (W, 9-10) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | |
| 5.0 | Rays | Jake Odorizzi (W, 9-9) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 7 | ||
| 5.0 | Marlins | Mike Dunn (W, 10-5) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| BAT | 3.0 | Dodgers | Dee Gordon 2B | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 3.0 | Rockies | Charlie Culberson SS | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| BAT | 2.0 | Red Sox | Dustin Pedroia 2B | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2.0 | Cardinals | Jon Jay PH, CF | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2.0 | `Royals | Wade Davis | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.