Box-Toppers Toppers Box
Today’s key Box-Toppers numbers. Click links to jump to charts elsewhere on this page.▪️ Players of the Game
▪️ B-T points of day’s top players
▪️ Top 10 players in 2024
▪️ Thursday’s sidelights sidebar
▪️ Upcoming pitching matchups
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▪️ Support Box-Toppers
Padres pitcher Dylan Cease is Thursday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, pitching a no-hitter and increasing his lead in Box-Toppers season player rankings.
Top 10 players
Here are the top 10 players in 2024 Box-Toppers points (BTP) through Thursday, July 25:| Player | Pos | Team | BTP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Cease | pi sp | Padres | 16.4 |
| 2 | Luis Gil | pi sp | Yankees | 14.4 |
| 3 | Zack Wheeler | pi sp | Phillies | 13.7 |
| 4 | Shota Imanaga | pi sp | Cubs | 13.7 |
| 5 | Tarik Skubal | pi sp | Tigers | 13.4 |
| 6 | Chris Sale | pi sp | Braves | 12.4 |
| 7 | Tanner Bibee | pi sp | Guardians | 12.0 |
| 8 | Tanner Houck | pi sp | Red Sox | 11.4 |
| 9 | George Kirby | pi sp | Mariners | 10.7 |
| 10 | Tyler Glasnow | pi sp | Dodgers | 10.7 |
Cease allowed no hits in a complete game shutout, striking out nine and allowing three walks in the 3-0 win over the Nationals. He threw 114 pitches.
Cease earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 16.4 for the season, increasing his lead in season player rankings ahead of second-place player, Yankees pitcher Luis Gil (14.4 points). Cease also leads National League pitchers, increasing his lead ahead of second-place Zack Wheeler of the Phillies (13.7).
Cease recorded a +15.0 Box-Toppers game score Thursday, the 10th-highest for a Player of the Game winner this season. He had a higher game score (+16.0, fifth-highest of the season) on May 8 in the 3-0 win over the Cubs (7IP H 0R 2BB 12K W). Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco, who threw the only other no-hitter in 2024 on April 1, recorded a +14.0 Box-Toppers game score in that game (CG 0H 0R 2BB 7K W in the 10-0 win over the Blue Jays), the 18th-highest of the season.
Twins pitcher Pablo Lopez recorded the highest Box-Toppers game score for a Player of the Game winner this season (+19.0) on June 23 (8IP 2H 0R BB 14K W in the 3-0 win over the Athletics).
American League Player of the Day
Rays pitcher Taj Bradley struck out seven over six scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk, in the 13-0 win over the Blue Jays.
Bradley earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 10.4 for the season, 11th among all players and sixth among AL pitchers.
Bradley is the 14th player this season to reach 10 Box-Toppers points. It is his first season with 10 or more points. His previous high was 5.0 in his 2023 rookie season with the Rays, 59th among AL pitchers.
American League Batter of the Day
Colton Cowser of the Orioles hit a three-run homer and went 1-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 7-6, 10-inning win over the Marlins.
National League Batter of the Day
Enrique Hernandez of the Dodgers doubled and went 3-for-4, scoring once and driving in two runs, in the 6-4 win over the Giants.
Notable
Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer now has 253.7 career Box-Toppers points—third-most since 1995—after earning Player of the Game honors Thursday.
Scherzer (6IP 3H R BB 9K W in the 2-1 win over the White Sox) trails overall leader Randy Johnson (282.5) and Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw (270.4) in career points since Box-Toppers tracking began in 1995. (It should be noted that Johnson began his career in 1988, prior to the advent of Box-Toppers tracking. If his entire career were tracked, rough projections put his Box-Toppers point total at 380.)
Scherzer ranks second among active players in career points behind Kershaw, who also made his first start of the season Thursday after recovering from off-season shoulder surgery. Kershaw recorded a -2.0 Box-Toppers game score in the Dodgers win over the Giants (4IP 6H 2R 2BB 6K ND), in which Enrique Hernandez of the Dodgers was Player of the Game (with a +2.0 game score).
Scherzer ranks first among active AL pitchers in career points, ahead of Justin Verlander of the Astros (247.0).
Scherzer now has 2.0 Box-Toppers points in 2024, 85th among AL pitchers.
Thursday’s sidelights sidebar
Top pitching matchup
▪️Taj Bradley, Rays13.7 Box-Toppers points over 2023-24, 31st among AL pitchers
▪️Chris Bassitt, Blue Jays
25.1 Box-Toppers points over 2023-24, 1st among AL pitchers
Result—TB 13, TOR 0
Bradley was Player of the Game with +10.0 B-T game score (6IP 2H 0R BB 7K W).
Bassitt had -1.0 B-T game score in loss (5IP 5H 3R BB 6K L).
Bradley earns 1.7 B-T points as AL Player of the Day, giving him 15.4 over 2023-24, rising to 25th among AL pitchers over that span.
High scores, no points
Highest Box-Toppers game scores for the day among players who did not earn Player of the Game honors:▪️+9.1—Chris Sale, Braves (7.1IP 2H 2R BB 9K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. NYM.
Player of the Game—José Buttó, Mets (3IP 0H 0R 0BB 4K ND) with +7.0 game score.
▪️+5.0—Brandon Lowe, Rays (HR 2-2B 4-4 2R 3BI)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. TB.
Player of the Game—Taj Bradley, Blue Jays (6IP 2H 0R BB 7K W) with +10.0 game score.
▪️+4.0—David Robertson, Rangers (2IP H 0R 0BB 2K Sv)
Was not Player of the Game in win vs. CHW.
Player of the Game—Teammate Max Scherzer (6IP 3H R BB 9K W) with +9.0 game score.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores
Out of 236 total players Thursday, 67 pitchers-14.9—Kenny Rosenberg, Angels (3.1IP 6H 6R BB K L vs. OAK)
-13.9—Trevor Richards, Blue Jays
-12.0—Roddery Muñoz, Marlins
-11.0—Logan Webb, Giants
-10.0—Ryan Burr, Blue Jays
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters
Out of 169 total batters Thursday-5.0—Jesús Sánchez, Marlins 0-5 2K
-5.0—Jarred Kelenic, Braves 0-5 K
-5.0—Otto Lopez, Marlins 0-5 K
-4.0—Riley Greene, Tigers 0-4 3K
-4.0—J.D. Martinez, Mets 0-4 3K
-4.0—Luis Robert Jr., White Sox 0-4 3K
-4.0—Mark Vientos, Mets 0-4 3K
Box-Toppers uses Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com and other sources to compile this information.
Debut
Two players made their Box-Toppers debut Thursday, each with their first career Player of the Game honor:
Tigers pitcher Easton Lucas (2IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K W in the 3-0 win over the Guardians) made his Major League debut Sept. 8, 2023, and was playing in his 11th career game.
Athletics pitcher Tyler Ferguson (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K Sv in the 6-5 win over the Angels) made his Major League debut May 7 and was playing in his 19th career game.
Scoring
Cease earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day.
Bradley earns 1.7 points for being AL Player of the Day.
Cowser and Hernandez each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day.
All of Thursday’s other Player of the Game winners (listed in the chart) earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point.
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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Career Box-Toppers points since 1995*
— Box-Toppers (@BoxToppers) July 26, 2024
1—Randy Johnson 282.5
2–Clayton Kershaw @Dodgers 270.4
3—Max Scherzer @Rangers 253.7†
4—Justin Verlander @Astros 247.0
5—Pedro Martinez 244.8
6—Zack Greinke 224.5
*B-T tracking began in 1995
†Earns 1.0 B-T pt as Player of the Game Thursday
Box‑Toppers Player of the Game winners
Here is the top player from each of the day’s games listed from highest to lowest Box‑Toppers game score (BTG).| 7/25 | BTG | Game | Player | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | +15.0 | SD 3, WSH 0 | Dylan Cease (W, 10‑8) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 9.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | |
| AL | +10.0 | TB 13, TOR 0 | Taj Bradley (W, 6‑4) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | |
| +9.0 | TEX 2, CHW 1 | Max Scherzer (W, 2‑3) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | ||
| +7.0 | `NYM 3, ATL 2 (F/10) | José Buttó | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | ||
| +4.0 | DET 3, CLE 0 | Easton Lucas (W, 1‑0) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| BAT | +3.0 | BAL 7, MIA 6 (F/10) | Colton Cowser CF‑RF | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | |
| +3.0 | OAK 6, LAA 5 | Tyler Ferguson (S, 1) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | ||
| BAT | +2.0 | LAD 6, SF 4 | Enrique Hernández 3B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 2 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
AL—Overall American League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box‑Toppers points.
NL—Overall National League Player of the Day, worth 1.7 total Box‑Toppers points.
BAT—Top AL or NL Batter of the Day, worth 1.5 total Box‑Toppers points.
All other players listed here earn Player of the Game honors, worth 1.0 Box‑Toppers point.
` Pitcher had a no‑decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
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Box-Toppers point totals of the day’s Player of the Game winners
Here are Box-Toppers point totals of each of the Player of the Game winners. Players are ranked by their Box-Toppers point total in 2024 (’24). Also shown is their point total for this season and last (’23-24), the period 2019-2024 (’19-24) and each players’ career point total. Also shown is how their 2024 Box-Toppers point total compares with their 2023 total (+/-).Back to top
| Player of the Game | Pos | Team | ’24 | ’23‑24 | ’19‑24 | Career | +/‑ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cease, Dylan 4231 | pi sp | sd nl | 16.4 | 26.4 | 63.2 | 63.2 | +6.4 |
| Bradley, Taj 4780 | pi sp | tb al | 10.4 | 15.4 | 15.4 | 15.4 | +5.4 |
| Butto, Jose 4933 | pi mr sp cp | nym nl | 5.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 7.0 | +3.0 |
| Hernandez, Enrique 3541 | lf 3b ss ph | lad nl | 2.5 | 4.0 | 14.0 | 20.0 | +1.0 |
| Cowser, Colton 4972 | lf cf rf | bal al | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | +2.5 |
| Scherzer, Max 2588 | pi sp | tex al | 2.0 | 17.4 | 71.9 | 253.7 | -13.4 |
| Ferguson, Tyler 5069 | pi cp | oak al | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
| Lucas, Easton 5068 | pi mr | det al | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | +1.0 |
About Box-Toppers’ team abbreviations
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A Box-Toppers look at Friday’s pitching matchups
A Box-Toppers look at the upcoming day’s probable pitching matchups. Teams are paired below with visiting teams on top and home teams on the bottom. Each team’s starting pitcher is shown with their Box-Toppers point total from 2024 (’24), this year and last year (’23-24), over a six-year period (’19-24) and their career point total.Back to top
| Game | Starter | ’24 | ’23-24 | ’19‑24 | Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | Lively, Ben 3903 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 6.0 |
| PHI | Sanchez, Cristopher 4850 | 7.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 | 11.4 |
| MIN | Lopez, Pablo 4028 | 8.7 | 22.1 | 54.2 | 55.9 |
| DET | Montero, Keider 5057 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| CIN | Lodolo, Nick 4586 | 8.0 | 8.0 | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| TB | Baz, Shane 4560 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| SD | Mazur, Adam* | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| BAL | Rodriguez, Grayson 4790 | 4.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| TEX | Heaney, Andrew 3515 | 5.0 | 16.4 | 37.8 | 52.5 |
| TOR | Kikuchi, Yusei 4136 | 3.7 | 13.7 | 31.1 | 31.1 |
| ATL | Morton, Charlie 2503 | 5.7 | 15.7 | 59.6 | 109.8 |
| NYM | Senga, Kodai 4762 | 0.0 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 12.7 |
| NYY | Cortes, Nestor 4160 | 6.7 | 8.7 | 31.1 | 31.1 |
| BOS | Bello, Brayan 4727 | 3.7 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 6.7 |
| CHC | Hendricks, Kyle 3386 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 36.1 | 76.6 |
| KC | Singer, Brady 4337 | 8.0 | 13.0 | 31.7 | 31.7 |
| LAD | Stone, Gavin 4942 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| HOU | Valdez, Framber 4048 | 5.7 | 15.7 | 45.1 | 47.1 |
| MIA | Rogers, Trevor 4311 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| MIL | Peralta, Freddy 3965 | 9.7 | 27.4 | 57.5 | 66.2 |
| SEA | Kirby, George 4595 | 10.7 | 24.4 | 35.8 | 35.8 |
| CHW | Thorpe, Drew 5041 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| WSH | Gore, MacKenzie 4582 | 4.0 | 11.0 | 15.7 | 15.7 |
| STL | Gray, Sonny 3259 | 8.4 | 18.8 | 56.4 | 106.3 |
| OAK | Blackburn, Paul 3869 | 3.0 | 7.7 | 11.7 | 14.7 |
| LAA | Fulmer, Carson 3910 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.7 |
| PIT | Ortiz, Luis 4738 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| ARI | Gallen, Zac 4171 | 5.0 | 21.7 | 56.1 | 56.1 |
| COL | Freeland, Kyle 3763 | 0.0 | 5.7 | 20.7 | 39.1 |
| SF | Harrison, Kyle 4914 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
* Player has yet to earn any career Box-Toppers points.
What are those numbers after players' names?
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