Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks is Box-Toppers top player in Friday’s four league division series playoff games.
The other three Players of the Game Friday:
- Justin Turner of the Dodgers.
- Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin.
- Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel.
NLDS Game 1: Cubs 3, Nationals 0
Cubs pitcher Kyle Hendricks pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits, three walks and striking out six.
During the regular season, Hendricks had 3.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 280th among all players, 76th among NL pitchers.
Hendricks had the highest Box-Toppers game score (+8.0) among the four who earned Player of the Game honors Friday. However, Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (22.5 Box-Toppers points, ranked fourth among all players, third among NL pitchers) actually had a higher Box-Toppers game score in the loss. Strasburg (7IP 3H 2R 0ER BB 10K L) had a Box-Toppers game score of +11.0.
Jon Jay had the highest Box-Toppers game score (+1.0) among Cubs batters, hitting a pinch-hit double (1-1 R).
The Cubs now lead the best-of-five game series, 1-0, which resumes Saturday in Washington.
NLDS Game 1: Dodgers 9, Diamondbacks 5
Justin Turner of the Dodgers hit a three-run homer and went 3-for-4, scoring once and driving in five runs.
During the regular season, Turner had 2.5 Box-Toppers points, 98th among NL batters.
Turner had a Box-Toppers game score Friday of +5.0.
Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (23.1 Box-Toppers points, ranked third among all players, second among NL pitchers) had a Box-Toppers game score of -2.9 (6.1IP 5H 4R 3BB 7K W).
The Dodgers now lead the best-of-five game series, 1-0, which resumes Saturday in Los Angeles.
ALDS Game 2: Indians 9, Yankees 8 (13 innings)
Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin pitched two perfect innings of extra-innings relief, striking out three and earning the win.
Tomlin, normally a starter, pitched the 12th and 13th innings as the Indians ran out of relievers.
Tomlin had just 3.0 Box-Toppers points on the season, 86th among AL pitchers. His Box-Toppers game score of +5.0 was highest among Indians’ players.
Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (22.0 Box-Toppers points, fifth among all players, second among AL pitchers) had a Box-Toppers game score Friday of -13.8 (2.2IP 7H 6R BB 4K ND).
Indians top batter Friday was Francisco Lindor, who had a Box-Toppers game score of +2.0 (GS 1-5 2R 4BI).
The Indians now lead the best-of-five game series, 2-0, which resumes Sunday in New York.
ALDS Game 2, Astros 8, Red Sox 2
Astros pitcher Dallas Keuchel struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run, three hits and three walks.
During the regular season Keuchel had 9.4 Box-Toppers points, 48th among all players, 15th among AL pitchers. He had a Box-Toppers game score Friday of +4.2, most among Astros players.
Carlos Correa had the highest Box-Toppers game score (+4.0) among Astros batters (HR 2B 2-4 2R 4BI).
The Astros now lead the best-of-five game series, 2-0, which resumes Sunday in Boston.
Top player from each game
| BTG | Game | Player of the Game | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
| 8.0 | CHC 3, WSH 0 | Kyle Hendricks W (1-0) | - | - | - | - | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | |
| 5.0 | LAD 9, ARI 5 | Justin Turner 3B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 5.0 | CLE 9, NYY 8 (F/13) | Josh Tomlin W (1-0) | - | - | - | - | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4.2 | HOU 8, BOS 2 | Dallas Keuchel W (1-0) | - | - | - | - | 5.2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
Coming Saturday: The National League Division Series playoffs resume with two Game 2s:
NL Division Series Game 2, Cubs lead Nationals, 1-0
The pitching matchup Saturday:
Cubs—Jon Lester, 10.7 Box-Toppers points, 33rd among all players, 16th among NL pitchers.
Nationals—Gio Gonzalez, 9.7 Box-Toppers points, 41st among all players, 20th among NL pitchers.
NL Division Series Game 2, Dodgers lead Diamondbacks, 1-0
The pitching matchup Saturday:
Diamondbacks—Robbie Ray, 16.0 Box-Toppers points, 10th among all players, fifth among NL pitchers.
Dodgers—Rich Hill, 12.7 Box-Toppers points, 21st among all players, 12th among NL pitchers.
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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