Braves pitcher Spencer Strider had the biggest decline in Box-Toppers points from 2023 to 2024.
Big dippers
Here are players whose Box-Toppers point total declined most from 2023 to 2024. Players are listed in order of their Box-Toppers point decline. Their Box-Toppers points (BTP) for 2024, if any, are also shown.| Player | Pos | Team | BTP | Dip | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strider, Spencer 4626 | pi sp | atl nl | 1.0 | -20.1 |
| 2 | Luzardo, Jesus 4282 | pi sp | fla nl | 2.0 | -15.8 |
| 3 | Scherzer, Max 2588 | pi sp | tex al | 2.0 | -13.4 |
| 4 | Bassitt, Chris 3413 | pi sp | tor al | 7.7 | -12.4 |
| 5 | Rodriguez, Eduardo 3480 | pi sp | ari nl | 1.0 | -12.0 |
| 6 | Senga, Kodai 4762 | pi sp | nym nl | 1.0 | -11.7 |
| 7 | Bautista, Felix 4668 | pi cp | bal al | 0.0 | -11.0 |
| 8 | Urias, Julio 3652 | pi sp | free agent | 0.0 | -11.0 |
| 9 | Kelly, Merrill 4143 | pi sp | ari nl | 2.0 | -11.0 |
| 10 | Acuna, Ronald Jr. 3947 | rf | atl nl | 0.0 | -10.7 |
| 11 | Garrett, Braxton 4341 | pi sp | fla nl | 2.0 | -10.7 |
| 12 | Verlander, Justin 2112 | pi sp | hou al | 2.0 | -10.4 |
| 13 | McClanahan, Shane 4399 | pi sp | tb al | 0.0 | -9.7 |
| 14 | Clevinger, Mike 3707 | pi sp | chi al | 1.0 | -9.4 |
| 15 | Montgomery, Jordan 3814 | pi sp | ari nl | 1.0 | -9.4 |
| 16 | Kershaw, Clayton 2494 | pi sp | lad nl | 2.0 | -9.1 |
| 17 | Cobb, Alex 2916 | pi sp | cle al | 1.0 | -9.0 |
| 18 | Bradish, Kyle 4597 | pi sp | bal al | 5.0 | -9.0 |
| 19 | Oviedo, Johan 4442 | pi sp | pit nl | 0.0 | -8.7 |
| 20 | Gausman, Kevin 3191 | pi sp | tor al | 10.0 | -8.7 |
| 21 | Ohtani, Shohei 3933 | dh | lad nl | 11.0 | -8.4 |
| 22 | Outman, James 4699 | cf ph | lad nl | 1.0 | -7.7 |
| 23 | Cole, Gerrit 3232 | pi sp | nyy al | 9.7 | -7.3 |
| 24 | Goldschmidt, Paul 2935 | 1b | stl nl | 1.0 | -7.2 |
| 25 | Woodruff, Brandon 3868 | pi sp | mil nl | 0.0 | -7.0 |
BTP: Box-Toppers points
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Strider led all players in 2023 with 21.1 Box-Toppers points but earned just 1.0 point in 2024, a 20.1-point decline, which is also the fifth-largest decline (in regular-length seasons) since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995.
Strider, 26, made two starts in 2024 before going on the injured list with a torn elbow ligament that kept him out for the remainder of the season. He underwent an internal brace surgery in April and has said he hopes to be ready to return by Opening Day 2025.
Top 10 biggest declines
Here are the biggest declines in Box-Toppers points from one season to the next since tracking began in 1995. Randy Johnson had the biggest decline of 28.7 points from one season to the next in 2003, when he earned 5.0 points after earning 33.7 in 2002. In 2024, Spencer Strider of the Braves had the fifth-biggest decline in the Box-Toppers tracking era of 20.1 points. Players are ranked in the chart by size of their decline. Also shown are the year of the decline, their position and team, their previous year Box-Toppers points total (From) and the points total in their declining year (To).| Year | Player | Pos | Team | Decline | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2003 | Randy Johnson | pi sp | D‑backs | -28.7 | 33.7 | 5.0 |
| 2 | 2001 | Pedro Martinez | pi sp | Red Sox | -22.5 | 33.5 | 11.0 |
| 3 | 2017 | Jose Fernandez | pi sp | Died* | -22.4 | 22.4 | 0.0 |
| 4 | 2019 | Corey Kluber | pi sp | Indians | -21.7 | 21.7 | 0.0 |
| 5 | 2024 | Spencer Strider | pi sp | Braves | -20.1 | 21.1 | 1.0 |
| 6 | 2005 | Eric Gagne | pi cp | Dodgers | -19.7 | 19.7 | 0.0 |
| 7 | 2011 | Adam Wainwright | pi sp | Cardinals | -19.7 | 19.7 | 0.0 |
| 8 | 2005 | Curt Schilling | pi sp | Red Sox | -19.0 | 21.0 | 2.0 |
| 9 | 2023 | Carlos Rodon | pi sp | Yankees | -18.8 | 19.8 | 1.0 |
| 10 | 1999 | Kerry Wood | pi sp | Cubs | -18.2 | 18.2 | 0.0 |
* Jose Fernandez earned 22.4 Box-Toppers points in 2016 with the Marlins. He was killed in a boating accident near the end of the 2016 season. His 22.4-point decline led all players in 2017.
Strider earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors in his first start, March 29, earning 1.0 Box-Toppers point, his only point of the 2024 season. Strider’s 1.0 point ranked 576th among all players (out of the 780 who earned points in 2024) and 152nd among National League pitchers.
Strider’s 20.1-point dip is the fifth-biggest decline in a non-pandemic season since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995. Randy Johnson holds the record for biggest decline of 28.7 points from 2002 (33.7) to 2003 (5.0) with the Diamondbacks. Three players had larger point declines than Strider’s in 2020, but Box-Toppers excludes those from consideration since that season was shortened from 162 to 60 games due to the coronavirus pandemic. (See chart for more details.)
Here is a look at each of the top 10 biggest decliners in Box-Toppers points from 2023 to 2024:
2. Jesús Luzardo
Marlins pitcher Jesús Luzardo had the second-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-15.8) from 2023 to 2024, earning 2.0 after earning 17.8 in 2023, fifth among all players and second among NL pitchers.
Luzardo, 27, earned Player of the Game honors twice in 2024 before going on the injured list with a lumbar stress reaction on June 22 and missing the remainder of the season after 12 starts. (He had 32 starts in 2023.)
Luzardo was Box-Toppers most-improved player in 2023 with the largest increase in Box-Toppers points (+13.8) from 2022 (4.0) to 2023 (17.8).
3. Max Scherzer
Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer, 40, had the third-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-13.4) from 2023 to 2024, earning 2.0 after earning 15.4 in 2023, 10th among all players and sixth among American League pitchers. Scherzer’s decline was the largest among AL players.
Scherzer’s starts decreased from 27 in 2023 to nine in 2024 as he battled injury most of the season. He didn’t make his first start until June 23 after recovering from surgery on a herniated disc and also dealing with thumb soreness and nerve issues. Later, he struggled with arm fatigue and a hamstring strain, making just one start after July 30.
In 2022, Scherzer had the biggest decline in Box-Toppers points from 2021 to 2022 (-15.1). In 2021, he led all players with 25.1 points with the Nationals and Dodgers and earned 10.0 in 2022 with the Mets.
4. Chris Bassitt
Blue Jays pitcher Chris Bassitt, 35, had the fourth-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-12.4) from 2023 to 2024, earning 7.7 after earning 20.1 in 2023, second among all players and first among AL pitchers.
Bassitt pitched in 33 games in 2023 and 31 in 2024, but had a higher earned run average (4.16 vs. 3.60), pitched fewer innings (171 vs. 200) and struck out fewer (168 vs. 186) than in 2023 and earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors seven times in 2024 vs. 13 times in 2023. His 7.7 Box-Toppers points in 2024 was 38th among AL pitchers.
5. Eduardo Rodríguez
Diamondbacks pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez, 31, had the fifth-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-12.0) from 2023 to 2024, earning 1.0 after earning 13.0 in 2023 with the Tigers, 12th among AL pitchers.
Rodríguez was limited to 10 starts (after 26 in 2023), starting the season on the injured list with a left shoulder strain and did not make his season debut until Aug. 7, earning Player of the Game honors just once.
6. Kodai Senga
Mets pitcher Kodai Senga, 31, had the sixth-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-11.7) from 2023 to 2024, earning 1.0 after earning 12.7 in 2023, 10th among NL pitchers.
Senga started the season with a shoulder injury, did not make his first start until July 26, and then exited after 5 1/3 innings with a calf strain that kept him out the rest of the regular season. He did earn Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors in that one appearance. He made one start in 2024 after 29 in 2023.
7. Félix Bautista
Orioles closing pitcher Félix Bautista had the largest drop in Box-Toppers points among players who did not play in 2024.
Bautista, 29, had the seventh-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-11.0) from 2023 to 2024, earning no points after earning 11.0 in 2023, 18th among AL pitchers and first among AL closing pitchers.
Bautista went on the injured list in late 2023 with an elbow injury and underwent surgery forcing him to miss the 2024 season.
8. Julio Urías
Julio Urías, 28, had the eighth-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-11.0) from 2023 to 2024, earning no points after earning 11.0 in 2023, 16th among NL pitchers.
Urías made his last start for the Dodgers on Sept. 1, 2023, before being placed on administrative leave on Sept. 6, 2023, under baseball’s domestic violence policy. He is currently a free agent and has not pitched in the Majors since 2023.
9. Merrill Kelly
Diamondbacks pitcher Merrill Kelly, 36, had the ninth-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-11.0) from 2023 to 2024, earning 2.0 after earning 13.0 in 2023, seventh among NL pitchers.
Kelly’s starts decreased from 30 in 2023 to 13 in 2024 as he missed four months (from mid-April to mid-August) with a muscle strain in his right shoulder.
10. Ronald Acuña Jr.
Ronald Acuña Jr. of the Braves, 27, had the 10th-largest decline in Box-Toppers points (-10.7) from 2023 to 2024, earning 0.0 points after earning 10.7 in 2023, second among NL batters. Acuña’s decline was the largest among all batters.
Acuña was limited to 49 games in 2024 (after playing in 159 in 2023) after suffering an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear in his left knee on May 26, missing the remainder of the season.
Top 3 active players in career Box-Toppers points
The three active players with the most career Box-Toppers points were all on the top 25 big dippers list for 2024:
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, 36, who leads active players with 272.4 career Box-Toppers points, second-most since 1995 (behind Randy Johnson’s 282.5), had the 16th-biggest decline (-9.1) from 2023 to 2024, earning 2.0 after earning 11.1 in 2023, 14th among NL pitchers.
Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer, 40, who ranks second among active players with 253.7 career Box-Toppers points, third-most since 1995, as previously mentioned had the third-biggest decline (-13.4).
Astros pitcher Justin Verlander, 41, who ranks third among active players with 247.0 career Box-Toppers points, fourth-most since 1995, had the 12th-biggest decline (-10.4) from 2023 to 2024, earning 2.0 after earning 12.4 in 2023, 13th among AL pitchers.
Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani, 30, of the Dodgers ranks 21st on the big dippers list even though he led NL batters in Box-Toppers points in 2024 with 11.0.
But Ohtani had an 8.4-point decline from his 2023 total of 19.4 with the Angels, which was third overall, second among AL pitchers and first among AL batters. In 2023, Ohtani earned half of his 19.4 points (9.7) as a pitcher and the other half as a batter. But after elbow surgery at the end of 2023, he could not pitch in 2024, serving only as a batter, resulting in his lowest Box-Toppers point total since 2020, yet still large enough to lead NL batters.
Big dipper for second straight year
Three players are on Box-Toppers’ top 25 big dippers list for the second straight season:
Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff had the fifth-biggest decline in 2023 (-13.8) to 7.0 points and then had the 25th-biggest decline in 2024 (-7.0) to 0.0 points.
Julio Urías had the 21st-biggest decline in 2023 (-8.4) to 11.0 points with the Dodgers and then had the eighth-biggest decline in 2024 (-11.0) to 0.0 points when he did not play and was on administrative leave.
Astros pitcher Justin Verlander had the seventh-biggest decline in 2023 (-13.6) to 12.4 points and then had the 12th-biggest decline in 2024 (-10.4) to 2.0 points.
Biggest dip among AL batters
Brandon Drury of the Angels had the biggest decline among AL batters (-6.5) earning 7.5 in 2023, fifth among AL batters and falling to 1.0 point in 2024. His decline was 32nd-biggest among all players.
Top 10 players from 2023 on big dippers list
The 10 players with the most Box-Toppers points in 2023 all had declines in points in 2024. Seven of those top 10 players in 2023 are among the 25 on Box-Toppers’ big dippers list for 2024. That means only these three top 10 players from 2023 escaped the fate of being a 2024 top 25 big dipper:
Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta, who had 17.7 Box-Toppers points in 2023, sixth overall, and had 13.4 in 2024, 15th overall and seventh among NL pitchers. His 4.3-point decline from 2023 to 2024 ranked 90th among largest point declines.
Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen, who had 16.7 Box-Toppers points in 2023, eighth overall, and had 12.4 in 2024, 27th overall and 13th among NL pitchers. His 4.3-point decline from 2023 to 2024 ranked 89th among largest point declines.
Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo, who had 16.1 Box-Toppers points in 2023, ninth overall, and had 10.7 in 2024, 46th overall and 21st among AL pitchers. His 5.4-point decline from 2023 to 2024 ranked 56th among largest point declines.
Here is a look at the seven top 10 players from 2023 who were among the top 25 big dippers in 2024 (listed accoring to their 2023 ranking):
1. Strider, 21.1 points in 2023, had 1.0 point in 2024, a 20.1-point decline, biggest dip.
2. Bassitt, 20.1 points in 2023, had 7.7 points in 2024, a 12.4-point decline, fourth-biggest dip.
3. Ohtani, 19.4 points in 2023, had 11.0 points in 2024, an 8.4-point decline, 21st-biggest dip.
4. Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman, 18.7 points in 2023, had 10.0 points in 2024, an 8.7-point decline, 20th-biggest dip.
5. Luzardo, 17.8 points in 2023, had 2.0 points in 2024, a 15.8-point decline, second-biggest dip.
7. Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole, 17.0 points in 2023, had 9.7 points in 2024, a 7.3-point decline, 23rd-biggest dip.
10. Scherzer, 15.4 points in 2023, had 2.0 points in 2024, a 13.4-point decline, third-biggest dip.
2023’s top improvers among 2024’s big dippers
There were eight players who made big Box-Toppers points gains in 2023 and then followed it up with a big Box-Toppers points decline in 2024. These players, shown with their ranking among Box-Toppers’ 26 most improved players in 2023, are on 2024’s top 25 big dippers list:
1. Luzardo, 13.8-point gain to 17.8 points in 2023, had 2.0 points in 2024, a 15.8-point decline, second-biggest dip.
3. Eduardo Rodríguez, 13.0-point gain to 13.0 points in 2023, had 1.0 point in 2024, a 12.0-point decline, fifth-biggest dip.
4. Senga, a 12.7-point gain to 12.7 in 2023, had 1.0 point in 2024, an 11.7-point decline, sixth-biggest dip.
10. Bassitt, 9.1-point gain to 20.1 points in 2023, had 7.7 points in 2024, a 12.4-point decline, fourth-biggest dip.
17. Orioles pitcher Kyle Bradish, 8.0-point gain to 14.0 in 2023, had 5.0 points in 2024, a 9.0-point decline, 18th-biggest dip.
20. Strider, 7.7-point gain to 21.1 points in 2023, had 1.0 point in 2024, a 20.1-point decline, biggest dip.
25. Acuña, 7.2-point gain to 10.7 points in 2023, had 0.0 points in 2024, a 10.7-point decline, 10th-biggest dip.
26. James Outman of the Dodgers, a 7.2-point gain to 8.7 points in 2023, had 1.0 point in 2024, a 7.7-point decline, 22nd-biggest dip.
Quick high rise, big hard fall
Three players are on Box-Toppers top 10 players list for 2023, Box-Toppers top 25 most improved players for 2023 and Box-Toppers top 25 biggest point decliners for 2024—Strider, Bassitt and Luzardo.
Biggest dippers among batters
Pitchers generally have more dramatic rises and falls because–at least in recent times—they earn far more Box-Toppers points than batters.
In 2023, there were no batters on Box-Toppers’ top 25 big dippers list while in 2024, there were no batters on Box-Toppers’ top 25 most-improved players. This year, there are four batters among the top 25 big dippers. Here is a look at the six biggest dippers among batters, shown by their overall rank among all players who declined in points:
10. Acuña, who earned 0.0 points in 2024 after earning 10.7 in 2024, a 10.7-point decline, most among batters.
21. Ohtani, who earned 11.0 points in 2024, most among NL batters, after earning 19.4 in 2023, an 8.4-point decline, second among batters. (Ohtani declined in 2024, as previously mentioned, mainly because he did not pitch in 2024).
22. Outman, who earned 1.0 point in 2024 after earning 8.7 in 2023, seventh among NL batters. His decline in 2024 was third among batters.
24. Paul Goldschmidt of the Cardinals, who earned 1.0 point in 2024 after earning 8.2 in 2023, ninth among NL batters. His decline in 2024 was fourth among batters.
28. Pete Alonso of the Mets, who earned 5.0 points in 2024 after earning 12.0 in 2023, first among NL batters. His decline in 2024 was fifth among batters.
32. Drury, who earned 1.0 point in 2024 after earning 7.5 in 2023, fifth among AL batters. His decline in 2024 was sixth among all batters and first among AL batters.
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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Related
Past Box-Toppers top 25 big dippers lists: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
To see lists of Box-Toppers top 10 big dippers season-by-season from 1995 onward, see the Details leaders page. Scroll down near the bottom of the charts to find the top 10 “dippers” per season, just above the top 10 “risers” per season.
Box-Toppers top 25 most improved players lists: 2024 (Shota Imanaga), 2023 (Jesús Luzardo), 2022 (Justin Verlander), 2021 (Max Scherzer), 2020 (Corbin Burnes), 2019 (Chris Paddack), 2018 (Blake Snell), 2017 (Luis Severino), 2016 (Jose Fernandez), 2015 (Matt Harvey).