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: 40 (WestD3)
Longest season streak: 40 (WestD3)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (17.1%) *
2. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (15.8%)
3. Ketel Marte, D-backs (9.5%) *
4. Ty France, Mariners (7.5%) *
5. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (4.7%)
* - Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (8.1%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (7.2%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (5.3%)
4. Michael Brantley, Astros (4.1%)
5. José Iglesias, Rockies (4.0%)
HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY
Joey Votto, Reds (vs. D-backs)
Though Votto enters the day with his season average sitting at exactly .200, he's started to turn a corner over the past few weeks. He's hitting .313 with 11 extra-base hits over his past 14 games, and he's put together a seven-game hitting streak. He also gets a decent matchup against D-backs starter Zach Davies, who despite throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings his last time out, enters with a 4.18 ERA. Votto is also 12-for-32 (.375) with a 1.081 OPS in his career against Davies.
Wilmer Flores, Giants (vs. Rockies)
Though Flores has a couple of three-hit games in his past five starts, he's still hitting just .261 with a .760 OPS this season -- but this one is all about the matchup. The Giants will be squaring off with Rockies starter Austin Gomber, who comes in with a 6.54 ERA while allowing a .292 opponents' batting average. Over his past two starts, Gomber has served up 17 runs on 17 hits in just 6 1/3 innings. That includes a seven-hit, eight-run outing in a 1 1/3-inning start against the last-place Nationals -- and that game wasn't even at Coors Field. The reason for picking Flores is he's one of the few everyday right-handed hitters in San Francisco's lefty-heavy lineup. He also has an .816 career OPS vs. left-handed pitchers, compared to a .730 mark vs. righties.
Evan Longoria, Giants (vs. Rockies)
Everything that we just said about Flores also applies to Longoria. With Gomber allowing at least seven hits in each of his last three outings -- a span in which opponents are hitting .387 against him -- it's not a terrible idea to double up on Giants hitters. Longoria is a career .281 hitter with an .872 OPS against left-handers (.260 average and .783 OPS vs. righties).
OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID
There are a lot of big-name pitchers on the mound tonight, so make sure you're double-checking the matchups before finalizing your selections. We typically highlight one or two pitchers in this spot, but we've listed five tonight -- and there are still a few others that we'd probably try to avoid, if possible.
Cardinals (vs. Rays -- Shane McClanahan)
McClanahan enters with a 2.10 ERA and a .201 opponents' batting average in 11 starts this season -- and he's been even more dominant of late. Over his past five starts, the Rays lefty has a 1.13 ERA while racking up 42 strikeouts in just 32 innings.
Twins (vs. Yankees -- Gerrit Cole)
Cole seems to have rediscovered his form of late, allowing just two hits apiece in each of his past two outings. He's racked up 19 strikeouts over 13 innings in those two starts, all while allowing just one run on four hits (all singles).
Phillies (vs. Brewers -- Corbin Burnes)
The Phillies have been rolling since making a managerial change on Friday and Burnes is coming off his worst start of the season -- but it's still best to look elsewhere, if you can. Sure, Burnes allowed five runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings against the Padres his last time out, but that came after putting up a 1.95 ERA and a ridiculous .183 opponents' batting average in his first 10 starts this season.
Pirates (vs. Braves -- Max Fried)
Fried is coming off one of the better performances by any pitcher this season, having allowed just two hits over eight scoreless innings at hitter-friendly Coors Field his last time out. Fried has a 2.27 ERA and a .212 opponents' batting average in 10 starts since his rocky outing on Opening Day.
Angels (vs. Red Sox -- Nick Pivetta)
That's right, we're telling you to avoid facing Pivetta instead of ... Shohei Ohtani? Truth be told, it's probably a good idea to stay away from both of these lineups, but Pivetta has been absolutely cruising of late. Over his past six starts, Pivetta has a 1.32 ERA while holding opponents to a .153 batting average. Ohtani, meanwhile, comes in with a 3.99 ERA -- though he did rack up 11 K's over a season-high seven shutout innings against these Red Sox on May 5. Again, probably best to avoid both of these lineups.