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: 34 (rod666)
Longest season streak: 34 (rod666)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Manny Machado, Padres (24.5%)*
2. Andrew Benintendi, Royals (11.8%)
3. Tim Anderson, White Sox (7.2%)*
4. Bryce Harper, Phillies (6.6%)*
5. Trea Turner, Dodgers (5.2%)*
* Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.8%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.1%)
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (3.8%)
4. Michael Brantley, Astros (3.5%)
5. José Iglesias, Rockies (3.3%)
HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY
Pete Alonso and J.D. Davis, Mets (at Nationals)
Alonso and Davis crush Patrick Corbin on a good day ... and Patrick Corbin has not been having many good days lately. The Nationals lefty allowed five runs on nine hits in his last start in Colorado, and he's now allowed 37 hits in 27 2/3 innings this season with a 7.16 ERA. The Mets' big righty bats are already a bad matchup for him even before you consider the history. Alonso is a .344 hitter with four homers and two doubles against Corbin in 36 plate appearances, and Davis is a .333 hitter with four homers and three doubles in 34 plate appearances. Take your pick.
Manny Machado, Padres (vs. Cubs)
Everything about this matchup favors Machado. He might be the best hitter in baseball right now (224 OPS+), and he's facing a lefty, Wade Miley, who's making his season debut returning from elbow inflammation. Even a healthy Miley doesn't strike many hitters out (6.9 K/9 in 2021), and Machado is a .333 hitter against Miley with a pair of home runs in 20 plate appearances.
Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (at Pirates)
Bryse Wilson has been fine for Pittsburgh (3.79 ERA, 16 K's in 19 innings), but he's the type of pitcher who doesn't really have the stuff to get Freeman out. Freeman's quality of contact is at the top of the league -- his .315 expected batting average and .403 expected wOBA are both in the top 10% of MLB hitters. Wilson's quality of contact allowed ranks toward the bottom of the league -- the right-hander's .291 xBA allowed and .375 xwOBA allowed are both in the bottom 20% of MLB pitchers.
OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID
Red Sox / Braves (BOS at ATL, Garrett Whitlock vs. Kyle Wright)
Both of these teams have strong offenses, but the pitching matchup here is two young starters who are pitching like aces and look like they're for real. Botson's Whitlock ranks in the 93rd percentile of MLB pitchers in both strikeout rate (35.8%) and xBA allowed (.182). Atlanta's Wright ranks in the 82nd percentile in strikeout rate (30.6%) and 79th percentile in xBA (.214). It's going to be hard to pick the right hitters in this game.
Astros / Twins (HOU at MIN, Justin Verlander vs. Joe Ryan)
Ditto for this matchup, which pits an old ace vs. a young ace. Verlander continues to turn in vintage performances, with a 1.93 ERA and MLB-best 0.704 WHIP through five starts -- he's allowed just 19 hits in 32 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old rookie Ryan has been confusing hitters all season, with a 1.63 ERA, 0.831 WHIP and 28 strikeouts in 27 2/3 innings.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Favorable
Gleyber Torres (Yankees): 6-for-13 (.462), 2B vs. Yusei Kikuchi
Carlos Correa (Twins): 5-for-10 (.500), HR, 2B vs. Justin Verlander
Charlie Blackmon (Rockies): 13-for-27 (.482), 2B, 2 K vs. Alex Wood
Brandon Belt (Giants): 9-for-20 (.450), 5 2B vs. Antonio Senzatela
Unfavorable
Brandon Nimmo (Mets): 4-for-21 (.191), 0 XBH, 9 K vs. Patrick Corbin
George Springer (Blue Jays): 1-for-16 (.063), 2B, 7 K vs. Luis Severino
Max Kepler (Twins): 1-for-18 (.056), 0 XBH, 7 K vs. Justin Verlander
Franmil Reyes (Guardians): 0-for-10 (.000), 6 K vs. Lucas Giolito