A look at Box-Toppers' top 100 players for 2017-18 and 2013-18

Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer is Box-Toppers’ top-ranked player over both the past two seasons and past six seasons.

Players on 3 top 100 lists

Here are the 37 players who made Box-Toppers’ three top 100 lists—the list of top 100 players for 2018, 2017-18 (past two seasons) and 2013-18 (past six seasons). Players are listed in order of their rank on the 2013-18 list with their Box-Toppers point (BTP) total shown for 2018, 2017-18 and 2013-18.

Player Pos Team ‘18 ’17-18 ’13-18
Scherzer, Max 2588 pi sp dc nl 25.1 50.1 137.0
Kershaw, Clayton 2494 pi sp lad nl 8.0 31.1 134.4
Sale, Chris 2806 pi sp bos al 20.1 45.2 110.9
Kluber, Corey 3200 pi sp cle al 21.7 43.7 109.1
Greinke, Zack 1871 pi sp ari nl 13.0 33.1 99.4
Lester, Jon 2173 pi sp chi nl 10.7 21.4 84.6
Carrasco, Carlos 2885 pi sp cle al 19.1 40.9 82.0
Price, David 2593 pi sp bos al 14.4 19.1 79.4
Arrieta, Jake 2738 pi sp phi nl 7.7 14.4 78.9
deGrom, Jacob 3343 pi sp nym nl 16.8 32.5 77.6
Hamels, Cole 2135 pi sp chi nl 11.1 20.5 76.5
Verlander, Justin 2112 pi sp hou al 24.1 38.8 73.9
Teheran, Julio 3176 pi sp atl nl 12.7 17.7 64.2
Cole, Gerrit 3232 pi sp hou al 18.0 25.0 60.9
Tanaka, Masahiro 3305 pi sp nyy al 13.4 24.8 59.6
Gonzalez, Gio 2626 pi sp mil nl 7.7 17.4 56.8
Happ, J.A. 2536 pi sp nyy al 15.7 21.4 56.6
Quintana, Jose 3040 pi sp chi nl 10.1 25.1 54.9
Corbin, Patrick 3027 pi sp ari nl 16.0 25.7 52.2
Bauer, Trevor 3065 pi sp cle al 14.1 23.8 51.3
Gray, Sonny 3259 pi sp nyy al 8.7 17.1 49.9
Trout, Mike 2949 cf ana al 8.0 13.0 49.5
Rizzo, Anthony 3063 1b chi nl 10.0 25.5 47.5
Goldschmidt, Paul 2935 1b ari nl 7.5 14.9 46.3
Nola, Aaron 3569 pi sp phi nl 21.1 36.9 45.6
Severino, Luis 3567 pi sp nyy al 17.7 38.8 43.8
Paxton, James 3280 pi sp sea al 17.0 30.7 41.8
Porcello, Rick 2573 pi sp bos al 11.4 14.4 41.1
Hill, Rich 2215 pi sp lad nl 9.7 22.4 40.8
Morton, Charlie 2503 pi sp hou al 14.8 22.5 39.2
Vargas, Jason 2055 pi sp nym nl 8.0 19.0 36.7
Chacin, Jhoulys 2711 pi sp mil nl 13.7 25.1 36.5
Snell, Blake 3688 pi sp tb al 27.2 32.2 36.2
Ryu, Hyun-Jin 3139 pi sp lad nl 10.1 15.1 36.2
Harper, Bryce 3011 rf dc nl 7.5 14.5 35.9
Fiers, Mike 3029 pi sp oak al 10.7 17.1 35.5
Ray, Robbie 3502 pi sp ari nl 7.7 23.7 34.4
BTP: Box-Toppers points
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Scherzer has the most Box-Toppers points over the past two seasons (50.1 over 2017 and 2018) and the most points over the past six seasons (137.0 from 2013 to 2018).

(See the chart below for Top 100 players of 2017-18 and 2013-18.)

Notably, Scherzer takes over the six-year rolling total lead from Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who held the lead each of the past five seasons. Kershaw took the lead in 2013 when he had the most points over the previous six seasons (102.1 from 2008 to 2013), holding the lead over Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (92.6). Kershaw held the lead in 2017 for the fifth straight season when he had 147.2 points from 2012 to 2017, ahead of second-place Scherzer, who had 128.9 points in that span.

However, in 2018, Kershaw had a significant decline in his season Box-Toppers point total. After earning more than 20 Box-Toppers points for a record seven straight seasons and finishing among the top three players each of those years, Kershaw earned just 8.0 Box-Toppers points in 2018, 73rd among all players. While that caused a decline in his rolling six-season Box-Toppers point total, he’s still in second place over 2013 to 2018 with 134.4 points, just 2.6 points behind Scherzer.

Here are Scherzer’s season-by-season Box-Toppers point totals for the past six seasons:

  • 2013—18.1 points with the Tigers, first among American League pitchers, fifth among all players.

  • 2014—22.1 points with the Tigers, second among AL pitchers, fifth among all players.

  • 2015—21.0 points with the Nationals, fourth among NL pitchers, sixth among all players.

  • 2016—25.7 points with the Nationals, first among all players.

  • 2017—25.0 points with the Nationals, first among NL pitchers, second among all players.

  • 2018—25.1 points with the Nationals, first among NL pitchers, second among all players.

So in the past six seasons, Scherzer has led his league’s pitchers in Box-Toppers points four times, has been among his league’s top four players each season, has been among the overall top six players each season and led all players once.

Rays pitcher Blake Snell, who led all players with 27.2 Box-Toppers points in 2018, ranks 10th among all players over the past two seasons, with 32.2 points over 2017 and 2018. He ranks just 85th over the past six seasons, with 36.2 points from 2013 to 2018. (Snell’s rookie season was 2016.)

Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale has the most Box-Toppers points among AL players over both the past two and past six seasons. Sale has 45.2 points over 2017-18, second among all players over the span, 4.9 points behind Scherzer. Sale has 110.9 points from 2013 to 2018, third among all players over that span. Sale led all players in Box-Toppers points in 2017 with 25.1 points.

There are just four players with more than 100 Box-Toppers points over the past six seasons. In addition to the three already mentioned—Scherzer (137.0), Kershaw (134.4) and Sale (110.9)—Indians pitcher Corey Kluber has 109.1 points from 2013 to 2018, fourth among all players. Kluber ranks third among players in points over the past two seasons, with 43.7 points over 2017 and 2018.

Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs is the top-ranked batter over the past two seasons with 25.5 Box-Toppers points over 2017-18, 16th among all players. Rizzo led all batters in 2017 with 15.5 points and had 10.0 points in 2018, second among NL batters. Rizzo has 41.5 points over the past six seasons, 41st among all players, fifth among all batters.

Edwin Encarnacion is the top-ranked batter over the past six seasons with 55.2 Box-Toppers points from 2013 to 2018, 26th among all players. Encarnacion, who was with the Indians the past two seasons, but was traded to the Mariners this offseason, has 18.6 points over the past two seasons, 40th among all players over 2017-18, third among all batters.

Jose Fernandez, who died in a boating accident near the end of the 2016 season, still ranks 29th among all players over the past six seasons, with 53.1 points earned from 2013 through 2016. Despite having no points for the past two seasons, the late Marlins pitcher still has more points since 2013 than all but 28 other players. Oddly, Fernandez ranks higher in the six-year rolling total this year (29th) than he did last year, when he was 30th from 2012 to 2017 with 53.1 points. (Fernandez did not debut until 2013.)

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Over the past two seasons, a large majority of players in Box-Toppers top 100 are pitchers—72. In Box-Toppers’ top 100 players list for 2018, 82 are pitchers. Here is a breakdown of players on the top 100 list for 2017-18 by their primary position: 

  • 69—Starting pitcher

  • 9—Outfield (1 CF, 4 LF, 4 RF)

  • 5—Third base

  • 5—First base

  • 4—Shortstop

  • 3—Closing pitcher

  • 3—Designated hitter

  • 2—Second base

  • 0—Catcher

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There are five teams that each have seven players among the top 100 over the past two seasons, 2017 and 2018—Red Sox, Indians, Dodgers, Brewers and Yankees. One team, the Cubs, has six players on the list. Four other teams each have five players on the list—Diamondbacks, Nationals, Astros and Twins. There are four teams that have no players on the list—White Sox, Royals, Padres and Giants.

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On the top 100 list for players over the past six seasons, there are 78 pitchers. Here is a breakdown of players on the top 100 list for 2013-18 by their primary position:

  • 73—Starting pitcher

  • 7—Outfield (2 CF, 2 LF, 3 RF)

  • 6—First base

  • 3—Closing pitcher

  • 3—Designated hitter

  • 3—Third base

  • 2—Second base

  • 1—Shortstop  

  • 0—Catcher

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The Yankees have the most players among the top 100 for 2013-2018 with eight. The Cubs have the next most with seven. There are two teams with six players each—Indians and Dodgers. There are four teams with five players each—Diamondbacks, Nationals, Astros and Mariners. There is one team that has no players on the list—the Marlins. However, Jose Fernandez, who was with the Marlins before he died in 2016, is on the list.

There are 37 players who make all three top 100 lists—for the 2018 season (see post about that list here), for 2017-18 and for 2013-18 (see the chart “Players on 3 top 100 lists”).

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.

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From 2017 for comparison: A look at Box-Toppers’ top 100 players for 2016-17 and 2012-17.

Top 100 players of 2017-18 & 2013-18

Here are two lists of Box-Toppers Top 100 players, ranked by Box-Toppers points (BTP). The list at left is the top 100 players of the past two seasons (2017-18). The list at right is the top 100 players over the past six seasons (2013-18).

Leaders 2017-2018 Pos Team BTP Leaders 2013-2018 Pos Team BTP
1 Scherzer, Max 2588 pi sp dc nl 50.1 1 Scherzer, Max 2588 pi sp dc nl 137.0
2 Sale, Chris 2806 pi sp bos al 45.2 2 Kershaw, Clayton 2494 pi sp lad nl 134.4
3 Kluber, Corey 3200 pi sp cle al 43.7 3 Sale, Chris 2806 pi sp bos al 110.9
4 Carrasco, Carlos 2885 pi sp cle al 40.9 4 Kluber, Corey 3200 pi sp cle al 109.1
5 Verlander, Justin 2112 pi sp hou al 38.8 5 Greinke, Zack 1871 pi sp ari nl 99.4
6 Severino, Luis 3567 pi sp nyy al 38.8 6 Lester, Jon 2173 pi sp chi nl 84.6
7 Nola, Aaron 3569 pi sp phi nl 36.9 7 Strasburg, Stephen 2736 pi sp dc nl 83.0
8 Greinke, Zack 1871 pi sp ari nl 33.1 8 Carrasco, Carlos 2885 pi sp cle al 82.0
9 deGrom, Jacob 3343 pi sp nym nl 32.5 9 Price, David 2593 pi sp bos al 79.4
10 Snell, Blake 3688 pi sp tb al 32.2 10 Arrieta, Jake 2738 pi sp phi nl 78.9
11 Kershaw, Clayton 2494 pi sp lad nl 31.1 11 deGrom, Jacob 3343 pi sp nym nl 77.6
12 Paxton, James 3280 pi sp sea al 30.7 12 Bumgarner, Madison 2753 pi sp sf nl 77.0
13 Strasburg, Stephen 2736 pi sp dc nl 29.2 13 Hamels, Cole 2135 pi sp chi nl 76.5
14 Berrios, Jose 3791 pi sp min al 26.8 14 Verlander, Justin 2112 pi sp hou al 73.9
15 Corbin, Patrick 3027 pi sp ari nl 25.7 15 Hernandez, Felix 2064 pi sp sea al 66.4
16 Rizzo, Anthony 3063 1b chi nl 25.5 16 Teheran, Julio 3176 pi sp atl nl 64.2
17 Chacin, Jhoulys 2711 pi sp mil nl 25.1 17 Archer, Chris 3194 pi sp pit nl 62.8
18 Clevinger, Mike 3707 pi sp cle al 25.1 18 Cole, Gerrit 3232 pi sp hou al 60.9
19 Quintana, Jose 3040 pi sp chi nl 25.1 19 Cueto, Johnny 2400 pi sp sf nl 59.6
20 Cole, Gerrit 3232 pi sp hou al 25.0 20 Tanaka, Masahiro 3305 pi sp nyy al 59.6
21 Tanaka, Masahiro 3305 pi sp nyy al 24.8 21 Wainwright, Adam 2150 pi sp stl nl 59.3
22 Bauer, Trevor 3065 pi sp cle al 23.8 22 Darvish, Yu 3003 pi sp chi nl 57.2
23 Ray, Robbie 3502 pi sp ari nl 23.7 23 Keuchel, Dallas 3050 pi sp hou al 56.9
24 Morton, Charlie 2503 pi sp hou al 22.5 24 Gonzalez, Gio 2626 pi sp mil nl 56.8
25 Hill, Rich 2215 pi sp lad nl 22.4 25 Happ, J.A. 2536 pi sp nyy al 56.6
26 Rodriguez, Eduardo 3480 pi sp bos al 22.1 26 Encarnacion, Edwin 2098 dh cle al 55.2
27 Godley, Zack 3538 pi sp ari nl 21.7 27 Quintana, Jose 3040 pi sp chi nl 54.9
28 Happ, J.A. 2536 pi sp nyy al 21.4 28 Kimbrel, Craig 2825 pi cp bos al 53.4
29 Taillon, Jameson 3658 pi sp pit nl 21.4 29 Fernandez, Jose 3147 pi sp Died* 53.1
30 Lester, Jon 2173 pi sp chi nl 21.4 30 Liriano, Francisco 2104 pi sp det al 52.7
31 Maeda, Kenta 3609 pi sp mr lad nl 20.7 31 Corbin, Patrick 3027 pi sp ari nl 52.2
32 Stanton, Giancarlo 2737 dh rf lf nyy al 20.7 32 Bauer, Trevor 3065 pi sp cle al 51.3
33 Wood, Alex 3246 pi sp lad nl 20.7 33 Lynn, Lance 2992 pi sp nyy al 49.9
34 Hamels, Cole 2135 pi sp chi nl 20.5 34 Gray, Sonny 3259 pi sp nyy al 49.9
35 McCullers, Lance 3488 pi sp hou al 20.1 35 Trout, Mike 2949 cf ana al 49.5
36 Pivetta, Nick 3825 pi sp phi nl 19.7 36 Kazmir, Scott 1947 pi sp released 49.3
37 Marquez, German 3788 pi sp col nl 19.4 37 Cabrera, Miguel 1776 1b det al 49.1
38 Price, David 2593 pi sp bos al 19.1 38 Iwakuma, Hisashi 3048 pi sp sea al 48.2
39 Vargas, Jason 2055 pi sp nym nl 19.0 39 Zimmermann, Jordan 2612 pi sp det al 47.7
40 Encarnacion, Edwin 2098 dh cle al 18.6 40 Donaldson, Josh 3144 3b cle al 47.6
41 Freeland, Kyle 3763 pi sp col nl 18.4 41 Rizzo, Anthony 3063 1b chi nl 47.5
42 Darvish, Yu 3003 pi sp chi nl 18.4 42 Santana, Ervin 2005 pi sp min al 46.9
43 Odorizzi, Jake 3291 pi sp min al 18.1 43 Colon, Bartolo pi sp tex al 46.3
44 Martinez, J.D. 2922 lf dh rf bos al 18.0 44 Goldschmidt, Paul 2935 1b ari nl 46.3
45 Diaz, Edwin 3690 pi cp sea al 18.0 45 Lackey, John 1640 pi sp free agent 45.8
46 Foltynewicz, Mike 3455 pi sp atl nl 17.7 46 Nola, Aaron 3569 pi sp phi nl 45.6
47 Teheran, Julio 3176 pi sp atl nl 17.7 47 Samardzija, Jeff 2495 pi sp sf nl 45.1
48 Gonzalez, Gio 2626 pi sp mil nl 17.4 48 Stanton, Giancarlo 2737 dh rf lf nyy al 44.4
49 Fiers, Mike 3029 pi sp oak al 17.1 49 Odorizzi, Jake 3291 pi sp min al 44.2
50 Gray, Sonny 3259 pi sp nyy al 17.1 50 Severino, Luis 3567 pi sp nyy al 43.8
51 Bundy, Dylan 3655 pi sp bal al 17.1 51 Martinez, Carlos 3371 pi sp stl nl 43.6
52 Betts, Mookie 3404 rf bos al 16.9 52 Davis, Chris 2478 1b bal al 43.4
53 Anderson, Chase 3328 pi sp mil nl 16.8 53 McCutchen, Andrew 2637 rf cf nyy al 42.5
54 Urena, Jose 3492 pi sp fla nl 16.7 54 Leake, Mike 2709 pi sp sea al 42.4
55 Healy, Ryon 3685 1b sea al 16.7 55 Salazar, Danny 3223 pi sp cle al 42.0
56 Gennett, Scooter 3254 2b cin nl 16.7 56 Paxton, James 3280 pi sp sea al 41.8
57 Yelich, Christian 3334 rf lf mil nl 16.5 57 Cano, Robinson 2092 2b sea al 41.5
58 Martinez, Carlos 3371 pi sp stl nl 16.5 58 Harvey, Matt 3075 pi sp cin nl 41.4
59 Gray, Jon 3634 pi sp col nl 16.4 59 Porcello, Rick 2573 pi sp bos al 41.1
60 Castillo, Luis Miguel 3840 pi sp cin nl 16.4 60 Upton, Justin 2411 lf ana al 40.9
61 Odor, Rougned 3336 2b tex al 16.2 61 Shields, James 2157 pi sp chi al 40.8
62 Judge, Aaron 3767 rf nyy al 16.2 62 Hill, Rich 2215 pi sp lad nl 40.8
63 Manaea, Sean 3637 pi sp oak al 16.1 63 Gonzalez, Carlos 2460 rf col nl 40.5
64 Keuchel, Dallas 3050 pi sp hou al 16.1 64 Hendricks, Kyle 3386 pi sp chi nl 40.5
65 Santana, Ervin 2005 pi sp min al 16.1 65 Kennedy, Ian 2723 pi sp kc al 40.4
66 Ramirez, Jose 3436 3b cle al 16.0 66 Estrada, Marco 2847 pi sp tor al 40.4
67 Kimbrel, Craig 2825 pi cp bos al 15.7 67 Freeman, Freddie 2887 1b atl nl 40.2
68 Cahill, Trevor 2658 pi sp oak al 15.4 68 Wood, Alex 3246 pi sp lad nl 40.1
69 Sabathia, C.C. 1492 pi sp nyy al 15.4 69 Roark, Tanner 3261 pi sp dc nl 39.7
70 Baez, Javier 3395 ss 2b 3b chi nl 15.2 70 Morton, Charlie 2503 pi sp hou al 39.2
71 Buehler, Walker 3943 pi sp lad nl 15.1 71 Gausman, Kevin 3191 pi sp atl nl 39.0
72 Ryu, Hyun-Jin 3139 pi sp lad nl 15.1 72 McHugh, Collin 3316 pi mr cp hou al 38.9
73 Goldschmidt, Paul 2935 1b ari nl 14.9 73 Hosmer, Eric 2886 1b sd nl 38.5
74 Gausman, Kevin 3191 pi sp atl nl 14.8 74 Duffy, Danny 2915 pi sp kc al 38.4
75 Hader, Josh 3881 pi cp mr mil nl 14.7 75 Gonzalez, Miguel 3062 pi sp chi al 38.2
76 Straily, Dan 3080 pi sp fla nl 14.7 76 Hammel, Jason 2235 pi sp kc al 38.1
77 Harper, Bryce 3011 rf dc nl 14.5 77 Richards, Garrett 3042 pi sp ana al 38.1
78 Shaw, Travis 3544 3b mil nl 14.5 78 Syndergaard, Noah 3472 pi sp nym nl 38.1
79 Rendon, Anthony 3258 3b dc nl 14.5 79 Cespedes, Yoenis 3008 lf nym nl 37.9
80 Porcello, Rick 2573 pi sp bos al 14.4 80 Miller, Shelby 3134 pi sp ari nl 37.4
81 Newcomb, Sean 3831 pi sp atl nl 14.4 81 Jones, Adam 2347 cf bal al 37.0
82 Arrieta, Jake 2738 pi sp phi nl 14.4 82 Vargas, Jason 2055 pi sp nym nl 36.7
83 Arenado, Nolan 3306 3b col nl 14.2 83 Chacin, Jhoulys 2711 pi sp mil nl 36.5
84 Nelson, Jimmy 3299 pi sp mil nl 14.0 84 Ryu, Hyun-Jin 3139 pi sp lad nl 36.2
85 LeBlanc, Wade 2669 pi sp sea al 13.7 85 Snell, Blake 3688 pi sp tb al 36.2
86 Rosario, Eddie 3542 lf min al 13.7 86 Beltre, Adrian 1141 3b tex al 35.9
87 Archer, Chris 3194 pi sp pit nl 13.7 87 Harper, Bryce 3011 rf dc nl 35.9
88 Flaherty, Jack 3971 pi sp stl nl 13.1 88 Sanchez, Anibal 2187 pi sp atl nl 35.9
89 Lindor, Francisco 3586 ss cle al 13.1 89 Jimenez, Ubaldo 2349 pi sp free agent 35.6
90 Trout, Mike 2949 cf ana al 13.0 90 Fiers, Mike 3029 pi sp oak al 35.5
91 Williams, Trevor 3792 pi sp pit nl 13.0 91 Tillman, Chris 2754 pi sp tex al 35.4
92 Boyd, Matthew 3550 pi sp det al 12.7 92 Chapman, Aroldis 2826 pi cp nyy al 35.1
93 Machado, Manny 3087 ss lad nl 12.7 93 Pujols, Albert 1438 dh ana al 35.0
94 Reynolds, Mark 2297 1b 3b 2b ph dc nl 12.5 94 Arenado, Nolan 3306 3b col nl 34.9
95 Conforto, Michael 3622 lf nym nl 12.5 95 Machado, Manny 3087 ss lad nl 34.9
96 Choo, Shin-Soo 2267 dh tex al 12.5 96 Jansen, Kenley 2871 pi cp lad nl 34.7
97 Smoak, Justin 2731 1b tor al 12.5 97 Murphy, Daniel 2589 2b chi nl 34.5
98 Upton, Justin 2411 lf ana al 12.5 98 Hellickson, Jeremy 2778 pi sp dc nl 34.5
99 Iglesias, Jose 3532 ss det al 12.5 99 Ray, Robbie 3502 pi sp ari nl 34.4
100 Sano, Miguel 3527 3b min al 12.5 100 Moore, Matt 2975 pi mr sp tex al 34.2
BTP: Box-Toppers points
* Jose Fernandez died Sept. 25, 2016, in a boating accident. He played for the Miami Marlins.
What are those numbers after players' names?
About Box-Toppers’ team abbreviations
Note: Players are listed with the team with whom they finished the 2018 season. Several players on the list were not on a team for reasons including they had retired, been released, or were unsigned free agents.