Nationals’ Cavalli posts Thursday’s best game score among non-Player of the Game winners
Thursday, May 21 Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar
Despite 9Ks over 7 innings, Cavalli does not win Player of the Game honors because Nationals lose to Mets
Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli recorded Thursday’s highest Box-Toppers game score (+7.0) among those who did not win Player of the Game honors.
Cavalli struck out nine over seven innings, allowing two runs, four hits and one walk. But the Nationals lost to the Mets, 2-1, and Cavalli took the loss. He had the fourth-highest game score among Thursday’s 147 players.
Player of the Game honors instead went to New York’s top player, reliever Brooks Raley (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K ND), who recorded a +3.0 game score.
Cavalli earned 2.0 Box-Toppers points in his 2025 rookie season, but has no points so far in 2026.
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 Thursday pitchers
One of the three pitchers with the most 2026 Box-Toppers points among Thursday’s starters earned Player of the Game honors:
▪️José Soriano, Angels
8.0 Box-Toppers points in 2026, 3rd overall
🔻 Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. ATH.
(6.2IP 6H 2R BB 7K ND), +2.2 B-T game score.
Player of the Game—Luis Severino, Athletics (7IP 3H 2R 0BB 10K ND) with +10.0 game score.
▪️Braxton Ashcraft, Pirates
7.7 Box-Toppers points in 2026, 6th overall
✅ Won Player of the Game in win vs. STL.
(7IP 4H R 2BB 9K W), +8.0 B-T game score.
▶️ Ashcraft earns 1.7 B-T points as NL Player of the Day, giving him 9.4 in 2026, rising to 1st overall.
▪️Sandy Alcantara, Marlins
4.0 Box-Toppers points in 2026, 40th overall
🔻 Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. ATL.
(6IP 9H 6R 0BB 3K L), -12.0 B-T game score, lowest among all players Thursday.
Player of the Game—Mike Yastrzemski, Braves (HR 2B 3-3 2R 2BI) 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:
▪️+7.0—Cade Cavalli, Nationals (7IP 4H 2R BB 9K L)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. NYM.
Player of the Game—Brooks Raley, Mets (1IP 0H 0R 0BB 2K ND) with +3.0 game score.
▪️+7.0—Zach Agnos, Rockies (5IP H 0R BB 4K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. ARI.
Player of the Game—Eduardo Rodriguez, Diamondbacks (7IP 4H 0R BB 4K ND) with +6.0 game score.
▪️+4.0—Carlos Rodón, Yankees (5IP H R 3BB 7K L)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. TOR.
Player of the Game—Spencer Miles, Blue Jays (4.1IP 2H 0R BB 6K ND) with +7.1 game score.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores
Out of 206 total players Thursday, 59 pitchers*
-12.0—Sandy Alcantara, Marlins (6IP 9H 6R 0BB 3K L vs. ATL)
-6.8—Justin Bruihl, Cardinals
-5.0—Matt Olson, Braves
-4.0—Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees
* Only two pitchers had game scores below -4.0.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters
Out of 147 total batters Thursday
-5.0—Matt Olson, Braves 0-5 K
-4.0—Jazz Chisholm Jr., Yankees 0-4 4K
-4.0—Matt Vierling, Tigers 0-4 3K
-4.0—Bryan Reynolds, Pirates 0-4 3K
-4.0—Nolan Gorman, Carinals 0-4 3K
-4.0—Austin Riley, Braves 0-4 3K
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.
