Royals’ Lugo tops players Tuesday, Sept. 10, rising to 8th in player rankings

Royals pitcher Seth Lugo is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to eighth place in season player rankings.

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▪️ Players of the Game
▪️ B-T points of day’s top players
▪️ Top 10 players in 2024
▪️ Tuesday’s sidelights sidebar
▪️ Upcoming pitching matchups
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Royals pitcher Seth Lugo is Tuesday’s Box-Toppers Player of the Day, rising to eighth place in season player rankings.

Lugo struck out 10 over seven scoreless innings, allowing three hits and no walks, in the 5-0 win over the Yankees.

Lugo earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 14.1 for the season, eighth among all players and fourth among American League pitchers.

National League Player of the Day

Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen struck out seven over five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, in the 6-0 win over the Rangers.

Gallen earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day, giving him 10.4 for the season, 36th among all players and 17th among NL pitchers.

Gallen becomes the 43rd player to reach 10 Box-Toppers points in 2024. It is his third straight season with 10 or more points. His best season was 2022 with the Diamondbacks when he had 18.7 points, eighth among all players and fifth among NL pitchers. In 2023, he had 16.7 points with the Diamondbacks, eighth among all players and fourth among NL pitchers.

National League Player of the Day is Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen.

National League Batter of the Day

Trea Turner of the Phillies hit two home runs and went 3-for-5, scoring twice and driving in four runs, in the 9-4 win over the Rays.

National League Batter of the Day is Trea Turner of the Phillies.

American League Batter of the Day

Kyle Farmer of the Twins hit a three-run homer and went 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 10-5 win over the Angels.

American League Batter of the Day is Kyle Farmer of the Twins.

Streak

Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates has now earned Box-Toppers points in 16 straight seasons after earning his first Player of the Game honor of the season Tuesday.

Active season streaks

Here are the 13 players who have active streaks of earning Box-Toppers points for 13 or more consecutive seasons. Players are listed by the length of their streak and with their current team status. Also shown is the duration of their streak and their career Box-Toppers point (BTP) total.

Streak Player Pos Team Duration BTP*
17 Zack Greinke pi sp Free agent 2007‑2023 224.5
17 Clayton Kershaw pi sp Dodgers 2008‑2024 272.4
16 Evan Longoria 3b Free agent 2008‑2023 62.7
16 Max Scherzer pi sp Rangers 2009‑2024 253.7
16 Andrew McCutchen dh lf Pirates 2009‑2024 81.9
15 Craig Kimbrel pi cp Orioles 2010‑2024 94.1
15 Giancarlo Stanton dh rf Yankees 2010‑2024 78.9
15 Aroldis Chapman pi mr cp Pirates 2010‑2024 68.1
14 Freddie Freeman 1b Dodgers 2011‑2024 91.4
14 Kenley Jansen pi cp Red Sox 2011‑2024 69.4
13 Mike Trout cf Angels 2011‑2023 84.2
13 Brandon Belt 1b dh Free agent 2011‑2023 46.2
13 Starling Marte rf Mets 2012‑2024 30.0
BTP*: Career Box-Toppers points

McCutchen (HR 1-2 R 3BI in the 6-4 win over the Marlins) earned his first Box-Toppers points in 2009 with the Pirates and has 81.9 career points, third among active NL batters. His best season was 2015 with the Pirates when he had 10.5 Box-Toppers points, third among NL batters. In 2023, he had 2.0 points with the Pirates.

McCutchen is now one of five players who have active streaks of 16 or more consecutive seasons earning Box-Toppers points. Among the other four, only two are currently signed: Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has a 17-season streak and Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer has a 16-season streak. Two other players with lengthy streaks are listed as free agents but have not played in 2024: Zack Greinke, with a 17-season streak and Evan Longoria with a 16-season streak.

This is the latest in a season that McCutchen earned his first Player of the Game honor. In the 2020 pandemic-shortened season, which did not begin until late July, McCutchen earned his first Player of the Game honor Aug. 16. In his 2009, rookie season, in which he made his debut June 4, he earned his first Player of the Game honor Aug. 1.

Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates earns his first Player of the Game honor of the season Tuesday.

Debut

Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder made his Box-Toppers debut Tuesday with his first career Player of the Game honor.

Lowder (5IP 5H 0R 0BB 3K W in the 3-0 win over the Cardinals) made his Major League debut Aug. 30 and was playing in his third career game.

Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder made his Box-Toppers debut Tuesday with his first career Player of the Game honor.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in 2024 Box-Toppers points (BTP) through Tuesday, Sept. 10:
  Player Pos Team BTP
1 Zack Wheeler pi sp Phillies 19.4
2 Shota Imanaga pi sp Cubs 18.7
3 Tarik Skubal pi sp Tigers 18.1
4 Chris Sale pi sp Braves 18.1
5 Dylan Cease pi sp Padres 17.4
6 Luis Gil pi sp Yankees 17.4
7 Framber Valdez pi sp Astros 14.4
8 Seth Lugo pi sp Royals 14.1
9 Bryce Miller pi sp Mariners 13.7
10 Aaron Nola pi sp Phillies 13.4
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Scoring

  • Lugo earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day.

  • Gallen earns 1.7 points for being NL Player of the Day.

  • Turner and Farmer each earn 1.5 points for being their league’s Batter of the Day.

  • All of Tuesday’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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Tuesday’s sidelights sidebar

Top pitching matchup

▪️Taj Bradley, Rays
10.4 Box-Toppers points in 2024, 38th
▪️Ranger Suárez, Phillies
10.4 Box-Toppers points in 2024, 40th
Result—PHI 9, TB 4
Neither starter was Player of the Game.
Bradley had -3.0 B-T game score in loss (6IP 6H 4R 3ER 2BB 2K ND).
Suárez had -14.9 B-T game score (5.1IP 12H 4R 2BB 2K ND).
Player of the Game—Trea Turner, Phillies (2HR 3-5 2R 4BI) with +4.0 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:
▪️+6.0—Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (4IP 4H R 0BB 8K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. CHC.
Player of the Game—Seiya Suzuki, Cubs (2B 3-5 R BI) with 0.0 game score.
▪️+5.0—George Soriano, Marlins (3IP H 0R BB 4K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. PIT.
Player of the Game—Andrew McCutchen, Pirates (HR 1-2 R 3BI) with +3.0 game score.
▪️+4.0—Riley Greene, Tigers (3B 2-3 2R 3BI)
Was not Player of the Game in win vs. COL.
Player of the Game—Teammate Keider Montero (CG 3H 0R 0BB 5K W) with +11.0 game score.

Lowest Box-Toppers game scores

Out of 444 total players Tuesday, 131 pitchers
-21.8—Griffin Canning, Angels (5.2IP 9H 10R 9ER 3BB 4K L vs. MIN)
-15.0—Adam Oller, Marlins
-14.9—Ranger Suárez, Phillies
-14.8—Anthony Molina, Rockies
-12.9—David Peterson, Mets

Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters

Out of 313 total batters Tuesday
-6.0—Kyle Tucker, Red Sox 0-6 2K
-5.0—Bryson Stott, Phillies 0-5 2K
-5.0—Julio Rodríguez, Mariners 0-5 2K
-5.0—Seth Brown, Athletics 0-5 K
-5.0—Jeremy Peña, Astros 0-5 K
Box-Toppers uses Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com and other sources to compile this information.

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).
9/10 BTG Game Player AB R H BI   IP H R ER BB K
MLB +14.0 KC 5, NYY 0 Seth Lugo (W, 16‑8) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   7.0 3 0 0 0 10
  +11.0 DET 11, COL 0 Keider Montero (W, 5‑6) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   9.0 3 0 0 0 5
NL +8.0 ARI 6, TEX 0 Zac Gallen (W, 12‑6) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   5.0 2 0 0 2 7
  +6.0 BAL 5, BOS 3 Albert Suárez (W, 8‑5) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   6.0 4 1 1 2 8
  +6.0 TOR 6, NYM 2 Chris Bassitt (W, 10‑13) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   6.0 5 1 1 1 8
  +5.0 ATL 12, WSH 0 Jesse Chavez (W, 2‑2) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   3.0 1 0 0 0 3
BAT +4.0 PHI 9, TB 4 Trea Turner SS 5 2 3 4   ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑
BAT +4.0 MIN 10, LAA 5 Kyle Farmer 3B 3 2 2 3   ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑
  +3.0 CLE 5, CHW 0 Lane Thomas CF 4 2 2 3   ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑
  +3.0 PIT 6, MIA 4 Andrew McCutchen DH 2 1 1 3   ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑
  +3.0 CIN 3, STL 0 Rhett Lowder (W, 1‑1) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   5.0 5 0 0 0 3
  +3.0 OAK 4, HOU 3 (F/12) Hogan Harris (W, 4‑3) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   2.0 1 1 0 0 3
  +2.1 SD 7, SEA 3 Robert Suarez (S, 32) ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑   1.1 1 0 0 0 2
  +1.0 MIL 3, SF 2 William Contreras C 4 1 3 1   ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑
  0.0 CHC 6, LAD 3 Seiya Suzuki DH 5 1 3 1   ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑ ‑
MLB—Overall Box‑Toppers Player of the Day, worth 2.0 total Box‑Toppers points.
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 (+/-).
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Player of the Game Pos Team ’24 ’23‑24 ’19‑24 Career +/‑
Lugo, Seth 3729 pi sp kc al 14.1 20.5 29.5 38.5 +7.7
Gallen, Zac 4171 pi sp ari nl 10.4 27.1 61.5 61.5 -6.3
Bassitt, Chris 3413 pi sp tor al 7.7 27.8 65.6 71.6 -12.4
Suarez, Albert 3870 pi sp bal al 7.0 7.0 7.0 8.0 +7.0
Suarez, Robert 4750 pi cp sd nl 6.0 7.0 8.0 8.0 +5.0
Suzuki, Seiya 4924 rf chi nl 6.0 7.0 7.0 7.0 +5.0
Montero, Keider 5057 pi sp det al 4.7 4.7 4.7 4.7 +4.7
Turner, Trea 3730 ss phi nl 4.2 9.2 17.7 25.9 -0.8
Contreras, William 4717 ca dh mil nl 4.2 5.7 8.2 8.2 +2.7
Thomas, Lane 4623 rf cle al 4.0 7.7 8.7 8.7 +0.3
Harris, Hogan 4846 pi sp cp oak al 4.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 +3.0
Farmer, Kyle 4003 3b 2b ph min al 1.5 5.0 10.0 11.0 -2.0
McCutchen, Andrew 2637 dh pit nl 1.0 3.0 15.5 81.9 -1.0
Chavez, Jesse 2780 pi mr atl nl 1.0 1.0 7.7 33.8 +1.0
Lowder, Rhett 5107 pi sp cin nl 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 +1.0
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A Box-Toppers look at Wednesday’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.
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Game Starter ’24 ’23‑24 ’19‑24 Career
MIA Bermudez, Jonathan* 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
PIT Falter, Bailey 4473 2.0 6.7 11.7 11.7
CLE Boyd, Matthew 3550 3.0 3.0 12.0 31.8
CHW Martin, Davis 4657 0.0 0.0 5.0 5.0
NYM Manaea, Sean 3637 12.4 16.1 43.5 66.3
TOR Francis, Bowden 5034 6.7 6.7 6.7 6.7
TEX Bradford, Cody 4938 6.7 7.7 7.7 7.7
ARI Kelly, Merrill 4143 1.0 14.0 40.0 40.0
COL Gordon, Tanner* 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
DET Mize, Casey 4377 0.0 0.0 7.7 7.7
TB Baz, Shane 4560 1.0 1.0 2.7 2.7
PHI Wheeler, Zack 3204 19.4 34.1 79.6 103.0
ATL Fried, Max 4011 10.4 19.4 62.9 63.9
WSH Irvin, Jake 4805 9.0 12.0 12.0 12.0
KC Ragans, Cole 4889 11.0 15.4 15.4 15.4
NYY Gil, Luis 4498 17.4 17.4 18.4 18.4
LAA Kochanowicz, Jack 5094 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
MIN Matthews, Zebby* 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
BAL Kremer, Dean 4330 8.7 18.4 29.8 29.8
BOS Pivetta, Nick 3825 7.7 16.7 32.4 52.1
CIN Williamson, Brandon 4813 0.0 4.7 4.7 4.7
STL Lynn, Lance 2992 4.0 8.7 54.9 122.5
OAK Estes, Joey 5000 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.7
HOU Brown, Hunter 4729 12.0 22.1 23.1 23.1
SD King, Michael 4549 12.7 21.7 27.4 27.4
SEA Woo, Bryan 4842 9.7 18.4 18.4 18.4
MIL Rea, Colin 3582 10.4 15.4 15.4 19.1
SF Snell, Blake 3688 10.7 25.4 63.6 99.8
CHC Wicks, Jordan 4912 0.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
LAD Miller, Bobby 4820 2.0 10.7 10.7 10.7
Starters subject to change.
* Player has yet to earn any career Box-Toppers points.
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