Skubal fails to add to 1st-place 2025 Box-Toppers point total in loss to Guardians
Tuesday, Sept. 23 Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar
(The Box-Toppers Sidelights Sidebar reviews the day’s top pitchers, overlooked top performers and players recording the day’s lowest Box-Toppers game scores. Separately, the Daily Scorecard post features each day’s list of Player of the Game winners. See a link to that post elsewhere on this page or go to Box-Toppers.com.)
In Tuesday’s top pitching matchup, Guardians’ Williams outduels Tigers’ Skubal, B‑T’s 2025 Player of the Year
Tarik Skubal, Box-Toppers’ apparent 2025 Player of the Year, did not add to his first-place season Box-Toppers point total in his start Tuesday, as the Tigers lost to the Guardians.
Instead, Box-Toppers Player of the Game honors went to Guardians pitcher Gavin Williams (6IP 4H 2R 2BB 12K W), who recorded a +8.0 Box-Toppers game score in the 5-2 win over the Tigers.
Skubal recorded a +3.0 game score in the loss (6IP 4H 3R ER 3BB 8K L).
However, Skubal has already all but wrapped up first place in Box-Toppers points for the 2025 season. While he did not add to his 22.1-point total, there are no players with a realistic chance of catching him with five days left in the season.
Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes has 20.1 Box-Toppers points and one start remaining in the season on Wednesday. But even if he earns 2.0 Box-Toppers points by winning Player of the Day honors and ties Skubal’s 22.1 point total, Skubal holds the tiebreaking advantage because he has more 2024 points—21.1 vs. 13.0.
The Skubal-Williams matchup was the Box-Toppers’ top pitching duel on Tuesday. Williams earned 1.0 Box-Toppers point as Player of the Game and now has 11.7 for the season, rising to 15th among American League pitchers.
Also Tuesday
Three starting pitchers recorded +9.0 Box-Toppers game scores—tied for second-best for Tuesday behind the +9.1 game score recorded by Player of the Day winner, Orioles pitcher Dean Kremer—but none won Player of the Game honors as their teams lost. They are:
Phillies pitcher Cristopher Sánchez (13.7 Box-Toppers points in 2025, ninth among National League pitchers).
Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (5.5 Box-Toppers points in 2025, 51st among NL pitchers).
Rockies pitcher McCade Brown (0.0 Box-Toppers points in 2025).
Details on their games below in the High scores, no points section.
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.
Box-Toppers Daily Scorecard post listing all B-T Player of the Game winners:
Tuesday’s top pitching matchup—DET at CLE
Tarik Skubal, Tigers, 22.1 B-T points in 2025, 1st*
Gavin Williams, Guardians, 10.7 B-T points in 2025, 20th*
*Rank among AL pitchers, 2025
Result—CLE 5, DET 2
▪️Gavin Williams, Guardians, was Player of the Game (6IP 4H 2R 2BB 12K W) with +8.0 B-T game score.
▪️Tarik Skubal, Tigers, had +3.0 B-T game score in loss (6IP 4H 3R ER 3BB 8K L).
▶︎ Williams earns 1.0 B-T point, giving him 11.7 for 2025, rising to 15th among AL pitchers.
High scores, no points
Highest Box-Toppers game scores for the day among players who did not earn Player of the Game honors:
▪️+9.0—Cristopher Sánchez, Phillies (7IP 3H 0R BB 6K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. MIA.
Player of the Game—Josh Simpson, Marlins (1.1IP H 0R BB K W) with +1.1 game score.
▪️+9.0—Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers (6IP 5H 0R 0BB 8K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. ARI.
Player of the Game—Adrian Del Castillo, Diamondbacks (HR 1-1 R 2BI) with +3.0 game score.
▪️+9.0—McCade Brown, Rockies (5IP 2H R 2BB 10K ND)
Was not Player of the Game in loss vs. SEA.
Player of the Game—Gabe Speier, Mariners (1IP H 0R 0BB 3K W) with +3.0 game score.
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores
Out of 471 total players Tuesday, 146 pitchers
-14.9—David Peterson, Mets (1.1IP 5H 5R 2BB K ND vs. CHC)
-13.0—Bruce Zimmermann, Brewers
-9.0—Jose Ureña, Angels
-7.8—Brandon Eisert, White Sox
-7.8—Joey Lucchesi, Giants
-7.8—Sam Aldegheri, Angels
Lowest Box-Toppers game scores by batters
Out of 325 total batters Tuesday
-5.0—Jarren Duran, Red Sox 0-5 3K
-5.0—Royce Lewis, Twins 0-5 3K
-5.0—Dansby Swanson, Cubs 0-5 K
-4.0—Eugenio Suárez, Mariners 0-4 4K
Box-Toppers uses Baseball-Reference.com, MLB.com and other sources to compile this information.