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 at the action from yesterday and today:

LEADERBOARD DATA

Longest active streak: 39 (Shawn36)

Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)

Longest streak all-time: 51

Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Starling Marte, Mets (34.0%)*
2. Trea Turner, Dodgers (12.5%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (5.5%)
4. Manny Machado, Padres (5.2%)*
5. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (4.8%)
* - Recorded a hit

Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.6%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.6%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.9%)
4. Manny Machado, Padres (4.6%)
5. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (3.2%)

HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY

Manny Machado, Padres (vs. Rockies)
If you rely on a batter's history against a specific pitcher to make your picks, then today is your day. As you'll see in the "favorable matchups" section below, today's schedule features a plethora of hitters who have dominated the specific starter they'll be facing tonight -- and Machado falls squarely into that category. Machado is 11-for-34 (.324) with six extra-base hits against Colorado starter Kyle Freeland, but those numbers alone aren't usually enough for us to make a pick. Though Machado has cooled off a bit following a scorching start, he has a little more protection in the lineup now with the presence of Juan Soto. It's also worth noting that Freeland is coming off a July in which he posted a 5.59 ERA in five starts.

Jose Altuve, Astros (vs. Guardians)
Altuve is heating up for the Astros, hitting .314 over his past 28 games. During that stretch, he has more multihit games (seven) than he does games started without a hit (six). Altuve is also coming off a perfect 4-for-4 day on Wednesday and now gets a matchup against Cleveland starter Zach Plesac, who had a 5.84 ERA over five July starts. Plesac gave up 29 hits over 24 2/3 innings in those five outings -- and he's allowed 106 hits in 104 innings overall this season.

OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID

Guardians (vs. Astros -- Justin Verlander)
Not much explanation is needed here -- Verlander has a ridiculous 1.81 ERA this season and he hasn't allowed more than one earned run in any of his past six starts. Opponents are hitting just .192 against the two-time Cy Young Award winner. That said, if you want to roll the dice with José Ramírez -- we can't stop you.

Pirates (vs. Brewers -- Brandon Woodruff)
Though Woodruff got off to a bit of a slow start, he's rediscovered his elite form of late. The Milwaukee right-hander has posted a 2.06 ERA in his six starts since returning from the IL, all while racking up 48 strikeouts in 35 innings -- and he's held opponents to a .195 average during that span.

Rockies (vs. Padres -- Joe Musgrove)
There's a reason the Padres just signed Musgrove to a five-year, $100 million extension. The righty has been dominant this season, posting a 2.65 ERA and holding opponents to just a .207 average. Musgrove has 114 strikeouts in 115 1/3 innings -- and he's allowed only 87 hits this season.

Twins (vs. Blue Jays -- Alek Manoah)
Though he departed his last start early with a right elbow contusion, Manoah was cleared to make his next start -- and that's bad news for the Twins. Manoah has a 2.43 ERA this season and he's holding opponents to a .214 average -- resulting in just 99 hits allowed in 126 innings.

NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS

Favorable

José Ramírez (Guardians): 11-for-30 (.367), 5 XBH vs. Justin Verlander

Corey Dickerson (Cardinals): 17-for-39 (.436), 8 XBH, 3 HR vs. Marcus Stroman

Corey Seager (Rangers): 15-for-41 (.366), 4 HR vs. Johnny Cueto

Maikel Franco (Nationals): 8-for-25 (.320), 2 HR vs. Noah Syndergaard

Manny Machado (Padres): 11-for-34 (.324), 6 XBH vs. Kyle Freeland

Charlie Blackmon (Rockies): 7-for-17 (.412), 2 XBH vs. Joe Musgrove

Michael A. Taylor (Royals): 7-for-14 (.500), 1 HR vs. Nick Pivetta

Unfavorable

Brandon Belt (Giants): 4-for-62 (.065), 30 K vs. Clayton Kershaw

C.J. Cron (Rockies): 3-for-16 (.188), 4 K vs. Musgrove