Beat the Streak is back for the 2022 season -- and the $5.6 million prize is still up for grabs.
The idea is simple -- pick one player (or two) every day who you think will get a hit. The objective -- surpass Joe DiMaggio's record-long 56-game hitting streak -- is a bit more challenging.
But we are here to help with that. We'll provide BTS leaderboard updates and daily insights on favorable matchups in this space, as well as every weekday on the new “Beat the Streak Daily: Inside the Hits” podcast.
Let's take a closer look at the action from yesterday and today:
LEADERBOARD DATA
Longest active streak: 33 (scottmeyersla)
Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (10.7%)*
2. Trea Turner, Dodgers (10.0%)*
3. Corey Seager, Rangers (9.3%)*
4. Nathaniel Lowe, Rangers (8.6%)*
5. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.3%)*
* - Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.9%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.4%)
3. Manny Machado, Padres (4.7%)
4. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.6%)
5. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (4.1%)
HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY
Kyle Schwarber, Phillies (vs. Reds)
Entering this month, it looked as if Schwarber was well on his way to a 50-homer season for the Phillies -- but his power stroke has disappeared a bit over the past few weeks. He hasn't homered in a season-long 14 straight games and he has just one home run in 18 games this month after hitting 10 in 22 July games. Still, we're banking on him not only getting a hit in this game, but we're predicting he ends his homer drought. Schwarber will be facing Reds righty Justin Dunn, who has a 6.08 ERA in three starts since making his season debut on Aug. 8. He began the season on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation, then put up a 6.92 ERA in seven starts with Triple-A Louisville before joining the Reds. He's allowed 10 extra-base hits in 13 1/3 innings in his three big league starts this season, including five home runs.
Francisco Lindor, Mets (vs. Rockies)
Though it'd be even better if this game was being played at Coors Field, Lindor is still in a good spot as the Mets welcome the Rockies to Queens. Lindor has been locked in for more than a month, hitting .342 over his past 39 games -- and he has more than twice as many games with multiple hits (14) as he does with zero hits (six) during that span. Now, he gets a matchup with Colorado starter Ryan Feltner, who enters with a 5.88 ERA in 12 outings (11 starts). Feltner is allowing more than a hit per inning, serving up 61 in 56 2/3 innings -- and 25 of those 61 have gone for extra bases.
OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID
Rockies (at Mets -- Jacob deGrom)
deGrom has held opponents to a .138 average in his four starts this season, allowing just 11 hits over 23 1/3 innings. He's also struck out 37 of the 81 batters he's faced, good for a ridiculous 45.7% strikeout rate.
Mariners (vs. Guardians -- Triston McKenzie)
McKenzie is coming off a career-best 14-strikeout performance against the White Sox, continuing a remarkable run for the Cleveland right-hander. He has a 1.91 ERA over nine starts since the beginning of July, all while holding opponents to a .180 average. McKenzie has 65 strikeouts and has allowed just 38 hits during that span.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Favorable
Josh Harrison (White Sox): 10-for-19 (.526) vs. Jordan Lyles
Elvis Andrus (White Sox): 11-for-32 (.344) vs. Lyles
Tommy Pham (Red Sox): 7-for-14 (.500), 1 HR vs. Kevin Gausman
Xander Bogaerts (Red Sox): 16-for-51 (.314), 3 XBH vs. Gausman
Unfavorable
Charlie Blackmon (Rockies): 3-for-24 (.125), 5 K vs. Jacob deGrom
Rafael Devers (Red Sox): 3-for-17 (.177) vs. Gausman