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: 37 (kiyoshilotus26)
Longest season streak: 40 (WestD3)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (19.2)*
2. Amed Rosario, Guardians (7.3%)*
3. José Ramírez, Guardians (7.1%)*
4. Trea Turner, Dodgers (5.7%)*
5. Manny Machado, Padres (5.2%)
* - Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (7.6%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (7%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (5.7%)
4. Michael Brantley, Astros (3.9%)
5. José Iglesias, Rockies (3.7%)
HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY
José Ramírez, Guardians (at Rockies)
The switch-hitter did it as a lefty on Tuesday at Coors Field (single off Antonio Senzatela, double off Robert Stephenson). He can do it as a righty today against Austin Gomber, who has a 6.17 ERA, 64 hits allowed and just 45 strikeouts in 58 1/3 innings this season.
C.J. Cron, Rockies (vs. Guardians)
Cron is mashing at home this season -- he's batting .352 with a 1.068 OPS in Colorado and tripled off Shane Bieber on Tuesday -- and he'll have the platoon advantage against Cleveland lefty Konnor Pilkington, who hasn't been bad since moving into the rotation but also hasn't had to pitch at Coors.
George Springer, Blue Jays (vs. Orioles)
Springer mashes lefties (.314 batting average, 1.003 OPS against them this season), and he gets O's southpaw Bruce Zimmermann, who has a 5.52 ERA, 76 hits allowed and just 44 K's in 62 innings this season. He's allowed 10 hits in each of his past two starts … and Springer has homered in his only career at-bat against him.
OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID
Rays / Yankees (TB at NYY -- Shane McClanahan vs. Nestor Cortes)
This game features two of the best pitchers in the league this season. McClanahan has a 1.87 ERA and an MLB-leading 98 strikeouts in 72 1/3 innings. Cortes has a 1.96 ERA and 71 K's in 64 1/3 innings.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Favorable
Byron Buxton (Twins): 4-for-7 (.571), 3 HR, 2B, 0 K vs. Marco Gonzales
Austin Riley (Braves): 6-for-15 (.400), 2 2B vs. Erick Fedde
Gleyber Torres (Yankees): 6-for-10 (.600), HR, 2 2B vs. Shane McClanahan
Unfavorable
Carlos Correa (Twins): 2-for-16 (.125), 5 K vs. Marco Gonzales
Aaron Judge (Yankees): 2-for-10 (.200), 3 K vs. Shane McClanahan
Rafael Devers (Red Sox): 0-for-9 (.000), 2 K vs. James Kaprielian