D-backs’ Pfaadt posts best game score among Saturday’s non-Player of the Game winners
Saturday, Aug. 8 Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar
Brandon Pfaadt throws seven scoreless innings, but the Diamondbacks fall to Dodgers in extra innings
Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Pfaadt recorded Saturday’s highest Box-Toppers game score among non-Player of the Game winners.
Pfaadt struck out two over seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks, recording a +5.0 Box-Toppers game score, but did not win Player of the Game honors because the Dodgers beat the Diamondbacks, 2-1 in 10 innings. Pfaadt picked up the no-decision.
Player of the Game honors instead went to the top Dodgers player in the game, Yoshinobu Yamamoto (5.2IP 3H 0R 3BB 5K ND), who recorded a +5.2 game score.
Pfaadt has just 1.7 Box-Toppers points in 21 appearances this season, including 11 starts. He had 12.4 points in 2024 (15th among NL pitchers) and 7.7 in 2025 (32nd among NL pitchers).
Below is a further look at Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar, reviewing the day’s top pitchers, overlooked top performers, lowest Box-Toppers game scores and a preview of the coming day’s top pitchers.
Saturday’s top pitching matchup—ATL at NYY
⚾️ Chris Sale, Braves, 195.2 career B-T points, 3rd*
⚾️ Gerrit Cole, Yankees, 168.0 career B-T points, 4th*
*Rank among active players in career points
▪️Sale ranks 9th overall in career points since 1995 (when Box-Toppers tracking began); Cole ranks 16th.
Result—NYY 5, ATL 4
✅ Cole wins Player of the Game (7IP 6H 2R 0BB 9K W) with +6.0 B-T game score.
🔻 Sale (6IP 5H 3R 2BB 8K L) had +1.0 B-T game score in the loss.
☑️ Cole earns 1.0 B-T point, giving him 169.0 career points, maintaining 4th among active players and 16th overall since 1995.
High scores, no points
Highest Box-Toppers game scores for the day among players who did not earn Player of the Game honors:
▪️+5.0—Brandon Pfaadt, Diamondbacks (7IP 2H 0R 2BB 2K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. LAD
Player of the Game—Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dodgers (5.2IP 3H 0R 3BB 5K ND) with +5.2 game score.
▪️+3.2—Gavin Williams, Guardians (5.2IP 3H 2R 2BB 7K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. CHW.
Player of the Game—Tristan Peters, White Sox (2B 1-2 R 2BI) with +2.0 game score.
▪️+3.0—Josh Naylor, Mariners (2HR 2B 3-4 2R 2BI)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. TB.
Player of the Game—Steven Matz, Rays (2IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K W) with +4.0 game score.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores
Out of 453 total players Saturday, 125 pitchers
-23.0—Robert Stock, Mets (3IP 9H 8R 5BB 4K L vs. PIT)
-13.0—Matthew Liberatore, Cardinals
-11.0—Clay Holmes, Cubs
-10.9—Walbert Ureña, Angels
-9.8—Reiver Sanmartin, Giants
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters
Out of 328 total batters Saturday
-5.0—Bryan De La Cruz, Phillies 0-5 2K
-5.0—Yandy Díaz, Rays 0-5 K
-5.0—Brett Bateman, Blue Jays 0-6 2K R
-4.0—Jarren Duran, Red Sox 0-4 3K
-4.0—Cooper Pratt, Brewers 0-4 3K
⚾️ PREVIEW
Top Sunday pitchers
▪️Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers
17.7 Box-Toppers points in 2026, 1st* vs. MIN
▪️Jesús Luzardo, Phillies
16.0 Box-Toppers points in 2026, 3rd* vs. TOR
▪️Cam Schlittler, Yankees
15.7 Box-Toppers points in 2026, 5th* vs. ATL
* Overall rank, 2026
All of Sunday’s pitching matchups
About Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar
A review of the day’s top pitchers, overlooked performers, lowest game scores and a preview of the coming day’s top pitchers. For the full list of Player of the Game winners, check today’s Daily Scorecard or visit Box-Toppers.com.
