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: 35 (Matthew3116)
Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Manny Machado, Padres (34.9%)
2. José Ramírez, Guardians (8.9%)*
3. Trea Turner, Dodgers (7.4%)*
4. Luis Arraez, Twins (6.5%)*
5. Jorge Alfaro, Padres (3.9%)*
* - Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.1%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.4%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (5.4%)
4. Manny Machado, Padres (4.6%)
5. Michael Brantley, Astros (3.2%)
HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY
Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (vs. Reds)
Stanton's high power upside is worth the strikeout risk in this matchup against Reds lefty Mike Minor (6.63 ERA), whom he's a .304 hitter against with four home runs in 23 at-bats in his career. Stanton also has a .290 expected batting average and .606 slugging percentage this season based on his quality of contact. If Aaron Judge is in the lineup, consider him, too.
Tim Anderson, White Sox (vs. Guardians)
Anderson is batting .311 this season, his xBA is even higher (.323), and he crushes Guardians starter Aaron Civale. Not only does Civale have a 6.28 ERA and 10.5 hits allowed per nine innings this season, Anderson is a .412 hitter against him with three homers and two doubles in 17 at-bats.
Manny Machado, Padres (at Rockies)
It's hard not to ride the Padres' star hitter at Coors Field. Chad Kuhl has actually been pretty good at home, but he still only has 63 strikeouts in 87 1/3 innings this season, so Machado is going to put the bat on the ball, and it's probably going to be good contact.
OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID
Red Sox (at Rays -- Shane McClanahan)
McClanahan is leading the American League with a 1.73 ERA, 0.815 WHIP, 5.7 hits per nine innings and a 7.42 strikeout-to-walk ratio and is second in the AL in strikeouts with 141.
Cardinals (vs. Dodgers -- Tony Gonsolin)
The reason McClanahan isn't leading the Majors in a bunch of those categories is Gonsolin, who has an MLB-best 1.62 ERA, 0.801 WHIP and 4.9 hits per nine.
Astros (at Angels -- Shohei Ohtani)
Ohtani is on a run of three straight double-digit strikeout games with zero earned runs allowed, and he's given up just nine hits in 20 2/3 innings over that stretch with 34 K's.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Favorable
Eloy Jiménez (White Sox): 5-for-10 (.500), 2 HR vs. Aaron Civale
Mike Yastrzemski (Giants): 6-for-14 (.429), 2 2B vs. Zac Gallen
Pete Alonso (Mets): 4-for-10 (.400), 2B, 0 K vs. Charlie Morton
Unfavorable
Francisco Lindor (Mets): 2-for-26 (.077), 8 K vs. Charlie Morton
Joc Pederson (Giants): 1-for-11 (.091), 6 K vs. Zac Gallen
DJ LeMahieu (Yankees): 2-for-17 (.118), 2 K vs. Mike Minor