Blue Jays' Hutchison tops players for Monday, May 25; Rangers' Fielder now leads AL batters in Box-Toppers points

Blue Jays pitcher Drew Hutchison is Monday’s Player of the Day.

Top 10 players

Here are the top 10 players in Box-Toppers points (BTP) for the 2015 season as of May 25.  

	Player	Pos	Team	BTP
1	Hernandez, Felix 2064	pi sp	sea al	9.7
2	Cole, Gerrit 3232	pi sp	pit nl	8.0
3	Scherzer, Max 2588	pi sp	dc nl	7.0
4	Archer, Chris 3194	pi sp	tb al	7.0
5	Miller, Shelby 3134	pi sp	atl nl	7.0
6	Harvey, Matt 3075	pi sp	nym nl	6.7
7	Harper, Bryce 3011	lf rf	dc nl	6.5
8	Hamels, Cole 2135	pi sp	phi nl	6.0
9	deGrom, Jacob 3343	pi sp	nym nl	5.7
10	Keuchel, Dallas 3050	pi sp	hou al	5.7

What are those numbers after players' names?

Also Monday, Prince Fielder of the Rangers earned Player of the Game honors for the third time in four days and takes the Box-Toppers points lead among American League batters. In addition, Nolan Arenado of the Rockies earned Player of the Game honors for the second straight day and Angels pitcher Jered Weaver rose to 34th place in Box-Toppers points among all players since 1995.

Player of the Day—Hutchison pitched a complete game shutout, striking out eight and allowing four hits, in the 6-0 win over the White Sox.

National League Player of the Day—Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez pitched seven scoreless innings and struck out eight in the 3-2, 10-inning win over the Diamondbacks. Martinez did not earn the win, picking up a no decision. After he exited, the Diamondbacks tied the game 2-2 before the Cardinals won 3-2 in the bottom of the 10th.

American League Batter of the Day—Rangers pitcher Prince Fielder homered, doubled and went 3-for-5, scoring three times and driving in three runs, in the 10-8 win over the Indians. It is the third time in four days Fielder has earned Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors. He was also Player of the Game Friday, May 22 and AL Batter of the Day Saturday, May 23. 

Fielder earns 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being AL Batter of the Day Monday and has earned 4.0 Box-Toppers points over the four-day period. He has 5.5 Box-Toppers points for the season and now leads all AL batters, passing Colby Rasmus of the Astros (5.0 Box-Toppers points). He ranks 14th in Box-Toppers points among all players this season.

National League Batter of the Day—Norichika Aoki of the Giants homered and went 4-for-4, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 8-4 win over the Brewers.

Notable—Nolan Arenado of the Rockies earned Player of the Game honors for the second straight day Monday. Arenado (HR 3-4 R 3BI in the 5-4 win over the Reds) was also NL Batter of the Day Monday, May 25. Arenado now has 4.0 Box-Toppers points for the season, ranking sixth among NL batters.

Rankings—Angels pitcher Jered Weaver rises to 34th place among all players in Box-Toppers points since 1995, when record keeping began. Weaver was Player of the Game in the 4-3 win over the Padres (6.2IP 6H R 7K ND) and earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 119.4 for his career. He passes Cliff Lee (119.1 Box-Toppers points) on the list of players since 1995 and now trails the 33rd-place player, Gary Sheffield (124.1). Weaver’s 119.4 career Box-Toppers points ranks fourth among active pitchers currently in the AL. Weaver has 4.0 Box-Toppers points for the season and ranks 14th among AL pitchers for 2015.

Scoring—Hutchison earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day and Martinez earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points for being NL Player of the Day. Fielder and Aoki each earn 1.5 Box-Toppers points for being their league’s Batter of the Day. All of Monday’s other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) 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.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

5/25	Score	Team	Player	AB	R	H	BI	BB	K		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
MLB	13.0	Blue Jays	Drew Hutchison (W, 4-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		9.0	4	0	0	0	8
	9.0	Athletics	Jesse Hahn (W, 2-4)	-	-	-	-	-	-		9.0	4	0	0	1	5
NL	8.0	`Cardinals	Carlos Martinez	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.0	5	0	0	2	8
	5.0	Orioles	Brad Brach (W, 2-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		2.0	0	0	0	0	3
	4.2	`Angels	Jered Weaver	-	-	-	-	-	-		6.2	6	1	1	1	7
BAT	4.0	Rangers	Prince Fielder DH	5	3	3	3	0	1		-	-	-	-	-	-
BAT	4.0	Giants	Norichika Aoki LF	4	2	4	2	1	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	4.0	Yankees	Brett Gardner LF	4	3	2	3	1	2		-	-	-	-	-	-
	4.0	Pirates	Francisco Cervelli C	2	1	2	3	1	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	3.0	Rockies	Nolan Arenado 3B	4	1	3	3	0	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	3.0	Dodgers	Alex Guerrero PH	1	1	1	2	0	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
	3.0	Mets	Jeurys Familia (S, 14)	-	-	-	-	-	-		1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	2.0	Nationals	Tanner Roark (W, 1-2)	-	-	-	-	-	-		5.0	3	1	1	1	3
	1.2	Twins	Ricky Nolasco (W, 5-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		7.2	7	2	2	0	5
	1.0	Mariners	Roenis Elias (W, 2-1)	-	-	-	-	-	-		6.0	6	1	1	3	6
		`Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.

Royals sweep Giants in series—in regular season, interleague series back in August, that is

On Friday, Aug. 8, two teams that seemed destined to meet in the World Series began a regular season interleague series.

Yes, the Baltimore Orioles faced the St. Louis Cardinals. The Orioles, up five games in the American League East and the Cardinals, a game out in the National League Central.

 Incidentally, two other teams faced each other in another interleague series beginning that night. But these were two ragtag teams struggling to hold on to their Wild Card spots, both in second place in their division. Few people were likely touting this as a possible World Series preview, few even could find intrigue in matching up two teams from different leagues with no trace of geographical or historical rivalry of any kind.

But it was on the schedule, so the San Francisco Giants traveled to Kansas City to face the Royals in a three-game series. A little more than two months later, these two unlikely teams have made their way to the World Series to face each other again.

The Royals swept the three-game series in August. Here is a series recap with Box-Toppers Players of the Game for each game:

Friday, Aug. 8: Royals 4, Giants 2

Player of the Game: Billy Butler of the Royals hit a home run and went 2-for-3, driving in three runs. Butler earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game and finished the season with 2.5 Box-Toppers points. 

Madison Bumgarner was starting pitcher for the Giants and picked up the loss. He pitched a complete game (eight innings) and allowed seven hits and four runs, striking out five. Bumgarner finished the season with 22.6 Box-Toppers points, ranked third among all players, second among NL pitchers.

Complete Box-Toppers results for Aug. 8.

Saturday, Aug. 9: Royals 5, Giants 0

Player of the Game: Royals pitcher James Shields pitched a complete game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out five. Shields earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game and finished the season with 13.7 Box-Toppers points.

Giants pitcher Tim Hudson (6IP 6H 3R K) picked up the loss.

Complete Box-Toppers results for Aug. 9.

Sunday, Aug. 10: Royals 7, Giants 4

Player of the Game: Norichika Aoki of the Royals went 2-for-2, scoring twice and driving in a run. Aoki earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being Player of the Game and finished the season with 2.0 Box-Toppers points. Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum (3.1IP 7H 6R 2K) picked up the loss.

Complete Box-Toppers results for Aug. 10.

That same weekend, as mentioned previously, the Orioles and the Cardinals met—two teams that seemed more likely to go to the World Series, but two teams that would both go on to lose their league championship series. For what it’s worth, the Orioles took two out of three in that series.

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.

Top player from each game

Here are the Players of the Game from each of the three games played between the Giants and Royals in August. The Royals swept the series, 3-0.

Date	Score	Team	Player of the Game	AB	R	H	BI	BB	K		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
8/8	3.0	Royals	Billy Butler 1B	3	1	2	3	0	0		-	-	-	-	-	-
8/9	9.0	Royals	James Shields (W, 11-6)	-	-	-	-	-	-		9.0	4	0	0	1	5
8/10	3.0	Royals	Norichika Aoki RF	2	2	2	1	2	0		-	-	-	-	-	-

Previously: Box-Toppers World Series preview: Giants have clear Box-Toppers advantage over Royals in World Series, but since 2014 is underdog year, watch out for David slaying 'Giant'

Giants' Petit, Royals' Vargas top players for Wednesday, Oct. 15; Royals advance to World Series

Yusmeiro Petit shut down the Cardinals in innings four, five and six, winning Game 4 of the National League Championship Series for the Giants and earning Box-Toppers Player of the Day honors for Wednesday.

Petit pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, one walk and striking out four in the Giants’ 6-4 win over the Cardinals. The Giants take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series.

Petit, who entered the game with the Giants trailing 4-3, picked up the win after the Giants took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. He had the highest Box-Toppers game score of any Giants player of 5.0.

During the regular season, Petit, normally a starter, had 4.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 247th among all players, 78th among NL pitchers.

ALCS Game 4, Royals win series over Orioles, 4-0 

The Kansas City Royals are returning to the World Series for the first time in 29 years. Jason Vargas, who started and won the game Wednesday to secure the AL pennant for the Royals, is Box-Toppers.com Player of the Game.

Vargas gave up one run over 5 1/3 innings, allowing two hits and striking out six in the 2-1 win over the Orioles. He was top player in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series which the Royals won four games to zero.

Vargas had the highest Box-Toppers game score of any Royals player of 4.1.

During the regular season, Vargas had 7.0 Box-Toppers points, ranked 107th among all players, 38th among AL pitchers.

The Royals are 10th in Box-Toppers team rankings with 101.1 Box-Toppers points. They sweep the Orioles, ranked sixth with 113.4 Box-Toppers points.

The Royals have also won eight straight consecutive postseason games and a different player has earned Player of the Game honors in each of the wins:

• Sept. 30, AL Wild Card Game: Eric Hosmer

• Oct. 2, AL Division Series Game 1: Greg Holland

• Oct. 3, ALDS Game 2: Yordano Ventura

• Oct. 5, ALDS Game 3: Norichika Aoki

• Oct. 10, AL Championship Series Game 1: Wade Davis

• Oct. 11, ALCS Game 2: Lorenzo Cain

• Oct. 14, ALCS Game 3: Kelvin Herrera

• Oct. 15, ALCS Game 4: Jason Vargas

The Royals await the winner of the NL pennant in the World Series. Game 1 is Tuesday, Oct. 21, in Kansas City.

Coming Thursday:

NLCS Game 5: Giants lead Cardinals, 3-1

In Box-Toppers player rankings top 10 list, only two players remain active in the postseason—Adam Wainwright and Madison Bumgarner. They face each other again Thursday. In their previous match-up in Game 1 of the NLCS on Oct. 11, the Giants won the game and Bumgarner was Box-Toppers Player of the Day:

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright, 18.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked eighth among all players, fourth among NL pitchers.

Giants: Madison Bumgarner, 22.6 Box-Toppers points, ranked 3rd overall, 2nd among NL pitchers.

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.

Top player from each game

Players of the Game (POG) listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1014	Score	Team	Player of the Game	AB	R	H	BI	BB	K		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
POG	5.0	Giants	Yusmeiro Petit (W, 2-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		3.0	1	0	0	1	4
POG	4.1	Royals	Jason Vargas (W, 1-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		5.1	2	1	1	3	6

Orioles' Norris, Royals' Aoki top players as both teams sweep their ALDS, Sunday, Oct. 5

Orioles pitcher Bud Norris, who pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to eliminate the Tigers in Game 3 of the American League Division Series, is Sunday’s Player of the Day.

Norris also allowed two hits and struck out six in the 2-1 win. The Orioles win the series 3-0 and will face the Royals in the AL Championship Series beginning Friday.

Norris had the highest Box-Toppers game score of any Orioles player of +8.1. 

During the regular season, Norris had 10.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 51st among all players and 23rd among AL pitchers.

The Orioles are ranked just ahead of the Tigers in Box-Toppers team rankings, in sixth place with 113.4 Box-Toppers points. The Tigers are in seventh with 112.9 Box-Toppers points. (See final team rankings.)

ALDS Game 3: Royals 8, Angels 3

Norichika Aoki, who went 3-for-3, scoring twice and driving in a run, as his Royals swept the Angels, is Player of the Game in Game 3 of the American League Division Series.

The Royals, with their 3-0 series victory, upset the Angels, the team in first place in Box-Toppers team rankings with 124.2 Box-Toppers points. The Royals have the lowest Box-Toppers team ranking of remaining teams in the playoffs—10th place with 101.1 Box-Toppers points. (See final team rankings.)

The Royals will now face the Orioles in the AL Championship Series beginning Friday.

Aoki had the highest Box-Toppers game score of any Royals player of +3.

During the regular season, Aoki had 2.0 Box-Toppers points, ranking 443rd among all players, 111th among AL batters.

Coming Monday:

NLDS Game 3, Dodgers at Cardinals, series tied 1-1

The pitching matchup Monday:

Dodgers: Hyun-Jin Ryu, 11.4 Box-Toppers points, ranked 41st among all players, 15th among NL pitchers.

Cardinals: John Lackey, 10.7 Box-Toppers points, ranked 50th among all players, 24th among NL pitchers.

NLDS Game 3, Giants lead Nationals, 2-0

The pitching matchup Monday:

Nationals: Doug Fister, 14.4 Box-Toppers points, ranked 19th among all players, 10th among NL pitchers.

Giants: Madison Bumgarner, 22.6 Box-Toppers points, ranked third among all players, second among NL pitchers.

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.

Top player from each game

Players of the Game (POG) listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

1005	Score	Team	Player of the Game	AB	R	H	BI	BB	K		IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
POG	8.1	Orioles	Bud Norris (W, 1-0)	-	-	-	-	-	-		6.1	2	0	0	2	6
POG	3.0	Royals	Norichika Aoki RF	3	2	3	1	1	0		-	-	-	-	-	-

Braves' Teheran tops players for Sunday, Sept. 22, Dodgers' Greinke rises to 2nd in Box-Toppers player rankings

Braves pitcher Julio Teheran is Sunday's Player of the Day, while Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke rises to second place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Teheran struck out seven over six innings in the 5-2 win over the Cubs on the day the Braves clinched the National League East title. Teheran earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day, giving him 13.7 for the season, putting him in 22nd place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Greinke rises from fourth to second place in Box-Toppers player rankings (see the updated list on the home page)  after he earned Player of the Game honors Sunday. Greinke (5IP 0R ND in 4-0 win over Rangers) earns 1.0 Box-Toppers point, giving him 19.4 for the season. He trails overall leader, teammate Clayton Kershaw (20.7), by 1.3 Box-Toppers points with one week—and perhaps only one more start—left in the season.

Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez is American League Player of the Day. Hernandez struck out 10 over four innings (picking up a no-decision) in the 3-2 win over the Angels. Hernandez earns 1.7 Box-Toppers points, giving him 14.8 for the season, putting him in 18th place in Box-Toppers player rankings.

Daric Barton of the Athletics is AL Batter of the Day. Barton homered and went 3-for-3 in the 11-7 win over the Twins on the day the Athletics clinched the AL West title. 

Norichika Aoki of the Brewers is National League Batter of the Day. Aoki reached base four times (two walks and two hits) and scored three runs in the 6-4 win over the Cardinals. 

Coming Monday: Cardinals pitcher Adam Wainwright, starting against the Nationals Monday, has a chance to retake the lead in Box-Toppers points. He led from Wednesday until Saturday when Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw passed him in the rankings. Wainwright has 19.2 Box-Toppers points and is in third place in player rankings. He trails Kershaw (20.7) by 1.5 Box-Toppers points. If he earns Player of the Day or NL Player of the Day honors, he would retake the lead with a week remaining in the season. 

Teheran receives 2.0 Box-Toppers points for being Player of the Day. Hernandez receives 1.7 for AL Player of the Day. Barton and Aoki each receive 1.5 for being top Batter of the Day in their league.

All of Sunday's other Players of the Game (listed in the chart below) receive 1.0 Box-Toppers point.

Top player from each game

Listed from highest to lowest Box-Toppers game score

922	Score	Team	BATTERS	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	-	-	PITCHERS	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
MLB	7.0	Braves	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Julio Teheran (W, 13-8)	6.0	4	1	1	0	7
AL	7.0	`Mariners	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Felix Hernandez	4.0	1	1	1	4	10
	5.0	`Dodgers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Zack Greinke	5.0	2	0	0	1	3
BAT	4.0	Athletics	Daric Barton 1B	3	3	3	1	1	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
BAT	4.0	Brewers	Norichika Aoki RF	2	3	2	1	2	0	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.1	`Giants	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Yusmeiro Petit	6.1	6	1	1	2	7
	3.0	Reds	Chris Heisey LF	5	3	3	2	0	0			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Royals	Justin Maxwell RF	4	1	2	4	0	2			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	Diamondbacks	Matt Davidson 3B	4	1	2	4	1	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	3.0	`Mets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Scott Atchison (H, 9)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	3.0	Marlins	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Steve Cishek (S, 32)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2
	2.2	Rays	0	0	0	0	0	0	0			Brandon Gomes (W, 3-1)	0.2	0	0	0	0	2
	2.0	Indians	Michael Brantley LF	4	1	3	2	0	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	White Sox	Conor Gillaspie 1B	4	3	1	2	1	1			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Red Sox	Jackie Bradley Jr. CF	3	1	1	3	0	2			0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0
	2.0	Nationals	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	Rafael Soriano (W, 3-3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1

` Denotes that the pitcher had a no-decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.