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
▪️ Sunday’s sidelights sidebar
▪️ Upcoming pitching matchups
▪️ Subscribe to newsletter
▪️ Support Box-Toppers
Orioles pitcher Zach Eflin is Sunday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day.
Also Sunday, two players rise into Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after both earn Player of the Game honors: Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola rises to seventh place and Twins pitcher Bailey Ober rises to ninth place.
Player of the Day
Eflin struck out nine over seven innings, allowing one run, four hits and one walk, in the 6-1 win over the Rockies.
Eflin earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 7.7 for the season, 67th among all players and 31st among American League pitchers.
National League Player of the Day
Mets pitcher Sean Manaea struck out five over seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, in the 2-0 win over the White Sox.
Manaea earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 12.4 for the season, 13th among all players and seventh among NL pitchers.
National League Batter of the Day
Jordan Walker of the Cardinals homered and went 5-for-5, scoring four times and driving in three runs, in the 14-7 win over the Yankees.
American League Batter of the Day
Yordan Alvarez of the Astros hit two home runs and went 2-for-4, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 7-2 win over the Royals.
Alvarez earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day, giving him 7.5 for the season, sixth among AL batters.
Top 10 players
Here are the top 10 players in 2024 Box-Toppers points (BTP) through Sunday, Sept. 1:| Player | Pos | Team | BTP | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zack Wheeler | pi sp | Phillies | 18.4 |
| 2 | Tarik Skubal | pi sp | Tigers | 18.1 |
| 3 | Dylan Cease | pi sp | Padres | 17.4 |
| 4 | Shota Imanaga | pi sp | Cubs | 16.7 |
| 5 | Chris Sale | pi sp | Braves | 15.4 |
| 6 | Luis Gil | pi sp | Yankees | 15.4 |
| 7 | Aaron Nola | pi sp | Phillies | 13.4 |
| 8 | Framber Valdez | pi sp | Astros | 13.4 |
| 9 | Bailey Ober | pi sp | Twins | 13.4 |
| 10 | Tanner Bibee | pi sp | Guardians | 13.0 |
Rankings
Two players rise into Box-Toppers season player rankings top 10 list after both earn Player of the Game honors Sunday:
Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (6IP 4H 2R BB 9K ND in the 3-2, 11-inning win over the Braves) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 13.4 for the season, rising to seventh place overall and fifth among NL pitchers.
Nola also now has 115.1 career Box-Toppers points, rising to 58th place among all players since 1995 when Box-Toppers tracking began. With his 1.0 point Sunday, he passes three players on the “all-time” career points list—Ervin Santana (114.4), Josh Beckett (114.9) and Tim Lincecum (115.0). Nola now trails 57th-ranked player Torii Hunter (115.9).
Nola ranks ninth among active, signed players in career points and fifth among active NL pitchers.
Twins pitcher Bailey Ober (6IP H R 3BB 8K ND in the 4-3 win over the Blue Jays) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 13.4 for the season, rising to ninth place overall and fourth among AL pitchers.
Three players all have 13.4 Box-Toppers points in 2024—Aaron Nola, Astros pitcher Framber Valdez and Bailey Ober. Nola ranks highest among them in seventh place overall because he has the most 2023 Box-Toppers points (12.0), Valdez ranks next, eighth overall (10.0 points in 2023) and Ober ranks ninth overall (8.7 points in 2023).
Debut
Tigers pitcher Brant Hurter made his Box-Toppers debut Sunday with his first career Player of the Game honor.
Hurter (5IP 6H R 0BB 5K W in the 4-1 win over the Red Sox) made his Major League debut Aug. 4 and was playing in his sixth career game.
Scoring
Eflin earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day.
Manaea earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day.
Walker and Alvarez each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day.
All of Sunday’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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Sunday’s sidelights sidebar
Top pitching matchup
▪️Dylan Cease, Padres17.4 Box-Toppers points in 2024, 2nd
▪️Ryan Pepiot, Rays
9.7 Box-Toppers points in 2024, 43rd
Result—SD 4, TB 3
Neither starter was Player of the Game.
Cease had -2.0 B-T game score (5IP 2H 3R 3BB 4K ND).
Pepiot had -7.0 B-T game score in loss (3IP 4H 3R 4BB 4K ND).
Player of the Game—Tyler Wade, Padres (pinch runner, 0-0 R 0BI) with +1.0 B-T game score.
High scores, no points
Highest Box-Toppers game scores for the day among players who did not earn Player of the Game honors:▪️+9.0—Cooper Criswell, Red Sox (4IP 0H 0R 0BB 5K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. DET.
Player of the Game—Brant Hurter, Tigers (5IP 6H R 0BB 5K W) with +2.0 game score.
▪️+6.1—Garrett Crochet, White Sox (3.1IP 3H R 0BB 8K L)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. NYM.
Player of the Game—Sean Manaea, Mets (7IP 2H 0R 2BB 5K W) with +8.0 game score.
▪️+5.0—Lars Nootbar, Cardinals (HR 2B 3-5 2R 5BI)
Was not Player of the Game in win vs. NYY.
Player of the Game—Teammate Jordan Walker (HR 5-5 4R 3BI) with +7.0 game score.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores
Out of 471 total players Sunday, 140 pitchers-24.9—Justin Wrobleski, Dodgers (5.1IP 10H 10R 2BB 2K L vs. ARI)
-14.0—Nestor Cortes, Yankees
-13.8—Zach Brzykcy, Nationals
-12.0—Ty Blach, Rockies
-10.0—Logan Webb, Giants
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters
Out of 331 total batters Sunday-5.0—Austin Wells, Yankees 0-5 3K
-5.0—William Contreras, Brewers 0-5 K
-4.0—Pete Alonso, Mets 0-4 3K
-4.0—Orlando Arcia, Braves 0-4 3K
-4.0—Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers 0-4 3K
-4.0—Jorge Soler, Braves 0-4 3K
Box-Toppers uses Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com and other sources to compile this information.
Career Box-Toppers points—Active NL pitchers
— Box-Toppers (@BoxToppers) September 2, 2024
1—Clayton Kershaw #Dodgers 272.4
2—Chris Sale #Braves 168.7
3—Yu Darvish #Padres 137.7
4—Lance Lynn #Cardinals 122.5
5—Aaron Nola #Phillies 115.1*
6—Charlie Morton #Braves 113.5
*Earns 1.0 B-T point as Player of the Game Sunday
2024 Box-Toppers points—AL pitchers
— Box-Toppers (@BoxToppers) September 2, 2024
1—Tarik Skubal #Tigers 18.1
2—Luis Gil #Yankees 15.4
3—Framber Valdez #Astros 13.4
4—Bailey Ober #Twins 13.4*
5—Tanner Bibee #Guardians 13.0
6—Bryce Miller #Mariners 12.7
7—Tanner Houck #Redsox 12.4
*Earns 1.0 B-T pt as Player of Game Sunday
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).| 9/1 | BTG | Game | Player | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MLB | +9.0 | BAL 6, COL 1 | Zach Eflin (W, 10‑7) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |
| +9.0 | CLE 6, PIT 1 | Alex Cobb (W, 2‑1) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | ||
| NL | +8.0 | NYM 2, CHW 0 | Sean Manaea (W, 11‑5) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 7.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | |
| +8.0 | `MIN 4, TOR 3 | Bailey Ober | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | ||
| BAT | +7.0 | STL 14, NYY 7 | Jordan Walker RF | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | |
| +6.0 | `PHI 3, ATL 2 (F/11) | Aaron Nola | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 6.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | ||
| +5.0 | ARI 14, LAD 3 | Randal Grichuk DH | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ||
| +4.0 | MIA 7, SF 5 | Calvin Faucher (S, 6) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||
| +3.0 | `CIN 4, MIL 3 (F/11) | Brent Suter | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| +2.0 | CHC 14, WSH 1 | Isaac Paredes 3B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ||
| BAT | +2.0 | HOU 7, KC 2 | Yordan Alvarez LF | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | |
| +2.0 | DET 4, BOS 1 | Brant Hurter (W, 3‑1) | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | 5.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | ||
| +1.0 | TEX 6, OAK 4 (F/10) | Josh Jung 3B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 3 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ||
| +1.0 | LAA 3, SEA 2 | Taylor Ward DH | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ||
| +1.0 | SD 4, TB 3 | Tyler Wade PR‑2B | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
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 | +/‑ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nola, Aaron 3569 | pi sp | phi nl | 13.4 | 25.4 | 69.5 | 115.1 | +1.4 |
| Ober, Bailey 4441 | pi sp | min al | 13.4 | 22.1 | 31.8 | 31.8 | +4.7 |
| Manaea, Sean 3637 | pi sp | nym nl | 12.4 | 16.1 | 43.5 | 66.3 | +8.7 |
| Eflin, Zach 3679 | pi sp | bal al | 7.7 | 19.7 | 38.5 | 51.2 | -4.3 |
| Alvarez, Yordan 4209 | dh | hou al | 7.5 | 14.0 | 33.2 | 33.2 | +1.0 |
| Faucher, Calvin 4980 | pi cp | fla nl | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | +4.0 |
| Jung, Josh 4751 | 3b | tex al | 2.5 | 6.0 | 7.5 | 7.5 | -1.0 |
| Paredes, Isaac 4666 | 3b 1b 2b | chi nl | 2.0 | 9.2 | 13.7 | 13.7 | -5.2 |
| Grichuk, Randal 3474 | rf dh | ari nl | 2.0 | 6.5 | 25.7 | 46.9 | -2.5 |
| Ward, Taylor 4345 | lf dh | ana al | 2.0 | 5.0 | 15.9 | 15.9 | -1.0 |
| Walker, Jordan 4918 | rf dh | stl nl | 1.5 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | -1.0 |
| Cobb, Alex 2916 | pi sp | cle al | 1.0 | 11.0 | 26.1 | 68.9 | -9.0 |
| Wade, Tyler 4487 | 2b ss pr | sd nl | 1.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 0.0 |
| Suter, Brent 3843 | pi mr cp | cin nl | 1.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 | 11.7 | +1.0 |
| Hurter, Brant 5099 | pi sp | 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 Monday’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STL | Pallante, Andre 4656 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 7.7 | 7.7 |
| MIL | Peralta, Freddy 3965 | 12.4 | 30.1 | 60.2 | 68.9 |
| CHW | Flexen, Chris 4368 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 15.4 | 15.4 |
| BAL | Burnes, Corbin 4029 | 8.7 | 20.4 | 61.6 | 64.6 |
| CLE | Williams, Gavin 4865 | 2.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| KC | Wacha, Michael 3276 | 7.7 | 18.7 | 38.2 | 68.9 |
| HOU | Verlander, Justin 2112 | 2.0 | 14.4 | 68.9 | 247.0 |
| CIN | Aguiar, Julian* | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| LAD | Flaherty, Jack 3971 | 11.0 | 15.0 | 43.2 | 56.3 |
| ARI | Rodriguez, Eduardo 3480 | 0.0 | 13.0 | 34.4 | 67.2 |
| DET | Undecided | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| SD | Musgrove, Joe 3705 | 5.0 | 12.0 | 55.5 | 65.2 |
| MIN | Woods Richardson, Simeon 4974 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| TB | Littell, Zack 4533 | 4.7 | 6.7 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
| SEA | Gilbert, Logan 4439 | 11.0 | 24.4 | 45.5 | 45.5 |
| OAK | Bido, Osvaldo 4882 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| BOS | Bello, Brayan 4727 | 7.7 | 9.7 | 10.7 | 10.7 |
| NYM | Severino, Luis 3567 | 6.7 | 11.4 | 21.1 | 64.9 |
| PIT | Jones, Jared 4956 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| CHC | Taillon, Jameson 3658 | 5.0 | 10.4 | 30.1 | 56.5 |
| NYY | Cole, Gerrit 3232 | 5.0 | 22.0 | 99.4 | 160.3 |
| TEX | Undecided | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
* Player has yet to earn any career Box-Toppers points.
What are those numbers after players' names?
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