Despite 14 Ks, Mariners’ Hancock does not win B‑T Player of the Game honors in loss to Royals
Saturday, May 2 Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar
Hancock records Saturday’s highest Box-Toppers game score (+13.0), but top player honors go to Royals’ Erceg
Emerson Hancock recorded Saturday’s highest Box-Toppers game score (+13.0) but did not win Player of the Game honors as the Mariners lost to the Royals, 3-2, in 10 innings.
Hancock struck out 14 over seven innings, allowing one run, six hits and no walks, the best performance among Saturday’s 435 total players as measured by Box-Toppers. Player of the Game honors instead went to the Royals’ top player, reliever Lucas Erceg (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K Sv), who recorded a +3.0 game score.
Hancock has 2.0 Box-Toppers points in 2026, 30th among American League pitchers.
Below is a further look at Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar, reviewing the day’s top pitchers, overlooked top performers and lowest Box-Toppers game scores.
Top Saturday pitchers
One of the three pitchers with the most 2025-26 Box-Toppers points among Friday’s starters earned Player of the Game honors:
▪️Chris Sale, Braves
16.1 Box-Toppers points over 2025-26, 16th overall
✅ Won Player of the Game in win vs. COL.
(7IP 3H R 3BB 11K W), +10.0 B-T game score.
▶️ He earns 1.0 B-T point, giving him 17.1 over 2025-26, rising to 15th over that span.
▪️Dylan Cease, Blue Jays
12.4 Box-Toppers points over 2025-26, 36th overall
🔻 Was not Player of the Game in win vs. MIN.
(7IP 7H 4R 3ER BB 7K W), -1.0 B-T game score.
Player of the Game—Teammate Myles Straw (HR 1-2 2R 2BI) with +3.0 game score.
▪️Jacob Lopez, Athletics
11.4 Box-Toppers points over 2025-26, 46th overall
🔻 Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. CLE.
(5.1IP 8H 6R BB 5K L), -10.9 B-T game score.
Player of the Game—Kyle Manzardo, Guardians (HR 1-1 R 3BI) with +4.0 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:
▪️+13.0—Emerson Hancock, Mariners (7IP 6H R 0BB 14K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. KC.
Player of the Game—Lucas Erceg, Royals (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K Sv) with +3.0 game score.
▪️+4.0—Drake Baldwin, Braves (HR 2B 3-4 R 4BI)
Was not Player of the Game in win vs. COL.
Player of the Game—Teammate Chris Sale (7IP 3H R 3BB 11K W) with +10.0 game score.
▪️+4.0—Ryan O’Hearn, Pirates (2B 2-4 3R 3BI)
Was not Player of the Game in win vs. CIN.
Player of the Game—Teammate Marcell Ozuna (2-2B 3-5 3R 3BI) with +4.0 game score.
Ozuna won Player of the Game over O’Hearn on a tiebreaker with more at-bats—5 vs. 4.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores
Out of 435 total players Saturday, 121 pitchers
-22.9—Rhett Lowder, Reds (1.1IP 5H 8R 4BB K L vs. PIT)
-14.9—Chase Dollander, Rockies
-14.0—Brock Burke, Reds
-14.0—Luis Morales, Athletics
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters
Out of 314 total batters Saturday
-5.0—Sal Stewart, Reds 0-5 2K
-5.0—Yanier Diaz, Astros 0-5 K
-5.0—Josh Lowe, Angels 0-5 K
-5.0—Tyler Soderstrom, Athletics 0-5 K
-5.0—Henry Davis, Pirates 0-6 K BI
About Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar
A review of the day’s top pitchers, overlooked performers, and lowest game scores. For the full list of Player of the Game winners, check today’s Daily Scorecard or visit Box-Toppers.com.
