Yankees pitcher James Paxton is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s American League Championship Series Game 5 win over the Astros.
Paxton struck out nine over six innings, allowing one run, four hits and four walks, in the 4-1 win, forcing Game 6 of the series Saturday in Houston. The Astros lead the best-of-seven series, 3-2.
Paxton earned 14.1 Box-Toppers points in the regular season, 19th among all players and eighth among AL pitchers.
Friday was his first Player of the Game honor of the 2019 postseason in his third appearance.
Paxton had a Box-Toppers game score Friday of +5.0, highest among Astros players. Centerfielder Aaron Hicks had a Box-Toppers game score of +2.0, highest among Yankees batters. Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander had a Box-Toppers game score of +3.0 in the loss (7IP 5H 4R 0BB 9K L). Verlander has earned Player of the Game honors twice this postseason, including in Game 2 of the ALCS.
Top player from each game
Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score (BTG)| BTG | Game | Player | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +5.0 | NYY 4, HOU 1 | James Paxton (W, 1‑0) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
` Pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
Coming Saturday:
ALCS Game 6: Astros lead Yankees, 3-2
Both teams have set up a “bullpen game” of mostly relief pitchers since they’re out of fresh aces, saving starters Gerrit Cole of the Astros and Luis Severino of the Yankees for a Game 7, if it is necessary.
The pitching matchup Saturday:
Yankees—Chad Green, 1.0 Box-Toppers point, 652nd among all players, 157th among AL pitchers, 59th among AL middle relievers.
Green has appeared in five 2019 postseason games, pitching a total of 5 2/3 innings, but has not won Box-Toppers Player of the Game in any of them. Check his 2019 postseason appearances on Baseball-Reference.
Astros—Brad Peacock, 7.0 Box-Toppers points, 109th among all players, 31st among AL pitchers.
Peacock has made one 2019 postseason appearance. In fact, he was the last Astros pitcher to appear—he relieved Justin Verlander in Friday’s Game 5 loss, pitching the eighth inning (1IP 0H 0R 0BB K ND).
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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