Marwin Gonzalez of the Astros is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Sunday’s World Series Game 5.
The Houston Astros win 9-5, holding off the Atlanta Braves, who still lead the best-of-seven game series, 3-2.
Read MoreJorge Soler tops players in World Series Game 4 as Braves take 3-1 series lead over Astros
Jorge Soler of the Braves is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Saturday’s World Series Game 4.
The Atlanta Braves win 3-2 to take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series over the Houston Astros.
Read MoreIan Anderson tops players in World Series Game 3, as Braves lead series over Astros, 2-1
Braves starting pitcher Ian Anderson is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s World Series Game 3.
The Atlanta Braves win 2-0 to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series over the Houston Astros.
Read MoreBox-Toppers 2021 year-end All-Star teams
The Box-Toppers All-Star teams for the 2021 regular season are led by overall Box-Toppers points leader, Dodgers pitcher Max Scherzer.
The American League and National League All-Star teams are composed of the players with the highest Box-Toppers point totals by position in each league. In addition to the batters—eight in the NL and nine (including the designated hitter) in the AL—are the top four starting pitchers in each league and the top closing pitcher.
Read MoreJose Urquidy tops players in World Series Game 2 as Astros even series, 1-1
Astros starting pitcher Jose Urquidy is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Wednesday’s World Series Game 2.
The Houston Astros win 7-2 to tie the best-of-seven game series with the Atlanta Braves at 1-1.
Read MoreReliever A.J. Minter tops players in World Series Game 1, as Braves defeat Astros
Braves relief pitcher A.J. Minter is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Tuesday’s World Series Game 1.
The Atlanta Braves win 6-2 to take a 1-0 lead over the Houston Astros in the best-of-seven games series.
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Braves hold Box-Toppers points edge over Astros in 2021 World Series
The Atlanta Braves hold the Box-Toppers points advantages over the Houston Astros in the 2021 World Series.
The Braves accumulated more total Box-Toppers points during the season than the Astros, their likely starting lineup for the Fall Classic has more Box-Toppers points than the Astros and their starting batting lineup and probable top four starting pitchers also outdistance the Astros in points.
Read MoreBox-Toppers’ picks for postseason awards include Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, Jose Ramirez
Box-Toppers has cast votes for postseason honors for Gerrit Cole, Jose Ramirez and for Max Scherzer—twice.
I have cast my vote in the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America (IBWAA) for Dodgers pitcher Scherzer to be both National League Cy Young Award winner and NL Most Valuable Player.
Read MoreTyler Matzek tops players as Braves eliminate top-ranked Dodgers in NL Championship Series Game 6
Braves relief pitcher Tyler Matzek is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Saturday’s clinching National League Championship Series Game 6.
Matzek struck out four over two scoreless innings (the seventh and eighth), allowing no hits and no walks, in the 4-2 win over the Dodgers. The Braves win the best-of-seven game series, 4-2, and advance to the World Series.
Read MoreLuis Garcia tops players as Astros eliminate Red Sox in AL Championship Series Game 6
Astros pitcher Luis Garcia is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s clinching American League Championship Series Game 6.
Garcia struck out seven over 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk, in the 5-0 win over the Red Sox. The Astros win the best-of-seven game series, 4-2, and advance to the World Series.
Read MoreDodgers’ Chris Taylor tops players in Thursday’s NL Championship Series Game 5
Chris Taylor of the Dodgers is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Thursday’s National League Championship Series Game 5.
Taylor hit three home runs and went 4-for-5, scoring three times and driving in six runs, in the 11-2 win over the Braves. The Dodgers trail the Braves in the best-of-seven game series, 3-2.
Taylor had a Box-Toppers game score Thursday of +8.0, best among Dodgers players. In the 2021 regular season, there were only eight instances of batters earning Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors with a higher game score, led by the +11.0 achieved by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. of the Blue Jays on Sept. 12 (2HR 2-3 5R 7BI).
Dodgers starting pitcher Joe Kelly had a Box-Toppers game score of -5.8 (0.2IP 2H 2R 0BB 0K ND). AJ Pollock of the Dodgers had a Box-Toppers game score of +5.0 (2HR 3-5 3R 4BI).
Braves starting pitcher Max Fried had a game score of -12.8 (4.2IP 8H 5R 2BB 3K L). Freddie Freeman of the Braves had a game score of 0.0 (HR 1-4 R 2BI).
Taylor earned 4.7 Box-Toppers points in the 2021 regular season, 203rd among all players and 34th among NL batters.
The series resumes with Game 6 in Atlanta on Saturday.
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).| BTG | Game | Player | AB | R | H | BI | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| +8.0 | LAD 11, ATL 2 | Chris Taylor, 3B | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ | ‑ |
` Pitcher had a no‑decision in the game and did not pick up a win or a save.
Coming Friday:
AL Championship Series Game 6: Astros lead series over Red Sox, 3-2
The pitching matchup:
Red Sox—Nathan Eovaldi, 14.1 Box-Toppers points, 16th among all players, sixth among AL pitchers.
This is Eovaldi’s fifth appearance of the 2021 postseason. He was Player of the Game Oct. 5 in the AL Wild Card Game win over the Yankees. He also started Oct. 10 in the AL Division Series Game 3 win over the Rays, started Oct. 16 in the AL Championship Series win over the Astros and served as closer Oct. 19 in the ALCS loss to the Astros.
Astros—Luis Garcia, 10.0 Box-Toppers points, 49th among all players, 18th among AL pitchers.
This is Garcia’s third appearance of the 2021 postseason. He started Oct. 10 in the AL Division Series Game 3 loss to the White Sox and Oct. 16 in the AL Championship Series loss to the Red Sox.
Box-Toppers preview of the ALCS from Oct. 14
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.
Box-Toppers strives for accuracy. See a mistake in a post? A wrong name, wrong team, grammar error, spelling goof, etc.? Thanks for pointing it out! Contact Box-Toppers here. Let's fix it and make it right.
Astros’ Valdez, Braves’ Rosario top players in Wednesday’s league championship series games
Astros pitcher Framber Valdez and Eddie Rosario of the Braves are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Wednesday’s two league championship series games.
Read MoreDodgers’ Jansen, Astros’ Graveman top players in Tuesday’s league championship series games
Dodgers closing pitcher Kenley Jansen and Astros middle reliever Kendall Graveman are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Tuesday’s two league championship series games.
Read MoreRed Sox’ Martinez tops players in Monday’s AL Championship Series Game 3
J.D. Martinez of the Red Sox is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Monday’s American League Championship Series Game 3.
Martinez homered, doubled and went 2-for-3, scoring twice and driving in two runs, in the 12-3 win over the Astros. The Red Sox take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven game series.
Read MoreBraves’ Will Smith tops players in Sunday’s NL Championship Series Game 2
Braves closing pitcher Will Smith is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Sunday’s National League Championship Series Game 2.
Smith struck out two over one scoreless inning, allowing no hits, no walks and picking up the win, in the 5-4 win over the Dodgers. The Braves take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven game series.
Read MoreRed Sox’ Devers, Braves’ Riley top players in Saturday’s league championship series games
Rafael Devers of the Red Sox and Austin Riley of the Braves are Box-Toppers Player of the Game winners in Saturday’s two league championship series games.
Read MoreAstros’ Jose Altuve tops players in Friday’s AL Championship Series Game 1
Jose Altuve of the Astros is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Friday’s American League Championship Series Game 1.
Altuve homered and went 1-for-3, scoring twice and driving in three runs, in the 5-4 win over the Red Sox. The Astros take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven game series.
Read MoreNLCS preview: Braves match up well despite Dodgers’ Box-Toppers dominance in 2021
Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers are Box-Toppers’ most dominant team in 2021, the Atlanta Braves should be a competitive match for them in the upcoming National League Championship Series.
The Dodgers are far and away Box-Toppers’ top-ranked team in 2021, with its players accumulating 146.7 Box-Toppers points during the regular season. The Braves ranked fifth overall with 122.4 points.
Read MoreJulio Urias tops players in NLDS Game 5 as Dodgers win series over Giants
Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias is Box-Toppers Player of the Game in Thursday’s National League Division Series Game 5 win over the Giants.
The Dodgers beat the Giants 2-1, winning the best-of-five game series, 3-2, and advance to the NL Championship Series against the Atlanta Braves, beginning Saturday.
Read MoreRed Sox hold Box-Toppers’ edge in AL Championship Series, but Astros have already beaten top AL team
The Boston Red Sox hold a slight Box-Toppers points advantage over the Houston Astros in the upcoming American League Championship Series.
But the Astros have already eliminated Box-Toppers’ top-ranked AL team, the Chicago White Sox, in the league division series.
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