Play Beat the Streak now -- and lefty starters should watch out

September 7th, 2022

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 look at the action from yesterday and today:

LEADERBOARD DATA

Longest active streak: 35 (AlbuqDodgers)

Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)

Longest streak all-time: 51

Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (21.3%)*
2. Hunter Renfroe, Brewers (8.8%)*
3. Trea Turner, Dodgers (8.1%)*
4. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (7.1%)*
5. Amed Rosario, Guardians (6.4%)*
* - Recorded a hit

Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.7%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.3%)
3. Manny Machado, Padres (4.57%)
4. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (4.52%)
5. PJ.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.4%)

HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY

Rhys Hoskins, Phillies (vs. Marlins)
Hoskins mashes lefties, with a .304 batting average and .997 OPS against them this season, and he mashes Marline lefty Trevor Rogers in particular, with a .438 batting average against him (7-for-16) and three home runs in 19 plate appearances. Rogers has had a rocky season, too, with a 5.57 ERA and 10 hits allowed per nine innings.

Ian Happ, Cubs (vs. Reds)
The switch-hitting Happ is batting .327 vs. lefties this season, and he's batting .311 at Wrigley Field. He faces southpaw Mike Minor at home, who has a 5.98 ERA and is allowing 10.5 hits per nine innings on a .285 batting average in 16 starts.

Jose Altuve, Astros (vs. Rangers)
Altuve also loves hitting against lefties and loves hitting at home. Against left-handers, he has a .325 batting average and 1.088 OPS; at Minute Maid Park, he has a .326 batting average and .965 OPS this season. He faces Rangers rookie left-hander Cole Ragans in Houston, who has a 4.42 ERA and only nine strikeouts in 18 1/3 innings through four career starts.

OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID

A's (vs. Braves -- Spencer Strider)
Strider is coming off an eight-inning, two-hit, 16-strikeout gem against the Rockies and is allowing a .179 batting average with 13.7 K's per nine this season.

Pirates (vs. Mets, doubleheader Game 2 -- Jacob deGrom)
deGrom is holding hitters to a .136 batting average through six starts with a 43% strikeout rate after shutting down the MLB-best Dodgers in his last outing (seven innings, three hits, nine K's).

NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS

Favorable

Rhys Hoskins (Phillies): 7-for-16 (.438), 3 HR, 2B vs. Trevor Rogers

Kole Calhoun (Rangers): 8-for-14 (.571), 3 HR, 2B vs. Cristian Javier

Charlie Blackmon (Rockies): 12-for-22 (.546), 2 HR, 3 2B vs. Eric Lauer

Ketel Marte (D-backs): 9-for-22 (.409), 2 HR, 2B vs. Yu Darvish

Unfavorable

Freddie Freeman (Dodgers): 1-for-11 (.091), 2 K vs. Alex Cobb

Brandon Crawford (Giants): 6-for-48 (.125), 14 K vs. Clayton Kershaw

Austin Hays (Orioles): 0-for-10 (.000), 5 K vs. Alek Manoah