Padres pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne is Friday’s Player of the Day, while Athletics pitcher Jon Lester rises to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings.
In addition Friday, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw’s chances were diminished for breaking the single-season record for Box-Toppers points. While Kershaw earned a win, he did not earn Player of the Game. And while he holds a commanding lead among players in Box-Toppers points for the season (with 30.5) he is now less likely to break the all-time single-season record of 33.7 set by Randy Johnson in both 2000 and 2002. More on Kershaw’s chances to break the record.
Despaigne pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out six, in the 5-0 win over the Mets.
Lester rose to 10th place in Box-Toppers player rankings after earning American League Player of the Day honors Friday. (See the updated top 10 player list on the home page.) Lester struck out seven over seven innings, allowing one run, in the 3-1 win over the Phillies. He earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being AL Player of the Day, giving him 16.4 for the season. He ranks sixth among AL pitchers.
Michael Cuddyer of the Rockies is National League Batter of the Day. Cuddyer hit a grand slam and went 3-for-5 with three runs and seven RBIs in the 15-3 win over the Diamondbacks.
David Ortiz of the Red Sox is AL Batter of the Day. Ortiz hit two home runs and went 3-for-5, driving in three runs, in the 5-3 win over the Orioles.
Notable: Cardinals pitcher John Lackey became the 53rd player to earn 10.0 or more Box-Toppers points this season after he earned Player of the Game honors Friday. Lackey (7.2IP R 5K W in the 2-1 win over the Reds) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 10.7 for the season. He ranks 43rd among all players and 19th among NL pitchers.
Despaigne receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Lester receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Cuddyer and Ortiz each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.
All of Friday’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, 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
| 919 | Score | Team | Player | AB | R | H | BI | BB | K | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | 10.0 | Padres | Odrisamer Despaigne (W, 4-7) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | |
| BAT | 8.0 | Rockies | Michael Cuddyer RF | 5 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 6.0 | Mets | Zack Wheeler (W, 11-10) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 6.0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | ||
| 5.0 | Dodgers | A.J. Ellis C | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| AL | 5.0 | Athletics | Jon Lester (W, 16-10) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 7 | |
| 4.2 | Cardinals | John Lackey (W, 3-2) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 7.2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
| 4.2 | Yankees | Adam Warren (S, 3) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| BAT | 3.0 | Red Sox | David Ortiz DH | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 3.0 | Tigers | Ian Kinsler 2B | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 3.0 | Mariners | Dustin Ackley LF | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 3.0 | Rangers | Dan Robertson RF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2.0 | Twins | Oswaldo Arcia RF | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1.2 | White Sox | Zach Putnam (S, 6) | - | - | - | - | - | - | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| 1.0 | Pirates | Russell Martin C | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||
| 1.0 | Nationals | Adam LaRoche 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - |