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: 36 (normsjb)

Longest season streak: 36 (normsjb)

Longest streak all-time: 51

Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Nick Castellanos, Phillies (18.6%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (13.4%)*
3. Tim Anderson, White Sox (5.7%)
4. Juan Soto, Nationals (5.5%)*
5. Michael Brantley, Astros (5.3%)
* - Recorded a hit

Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.5%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.3%)
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (3.6%)
4. Michael Brantley, Astros (3.5%)
5. Starling Marte, Mets (3.2%)

HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY

Shohei Ohtani, Angels (vs. Athletics)
Pick your favorite Angel and roll with him today. Nobody will question you if you take Mike Trout or Taylor Ward, but we're rolling with Ohtani. Daulton Jefferies has been torched in his last two outings, serving up 18 hits in just 10 innings with opponents hitting a blistering .383 (18-for-47) against him. Ohtani, meanwhile, has put together a five-game hitting streak during which he's 8-for-21 (.381) with four extra-base hits, including two home runs.

C.J. Cron, Rockies (vs. Royals)
It's never a bad idea to roll with a player at Coors Field -- and Cron is as good a choice as any tonight. The Rockies are facing a starter in Zack Greinke who simply has not missed many bats this season. The 38-year-old righty has just 10 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings, placing him in the first percentile in both strikeout percentage and whiff percentage. Greinke also allowed 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings his last time out against the Orioles. A high-contact pitcher taking the mound at Coors Field seemingly bodes well for Colorado hitters in this one.

Francisco Lindor, Mets (vs. Mariners)
We're going back to the well on Lindor despite his 0-for-3 showing on Thursday. Still, he gets a favorable matchup against Mariners left-hander Marco Gonzales in the series opener at Citi Field. Opposing batters are hitting .290 this season against Gonzales, who has allowed 31 hits in just 25 1/3 innings. He also ranks in the bottom-10 percentile in xBA, xSLG, whiff rate and strikeout percentage -- all signs that the Mets should be making plenty of hard contact in this one.

OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID

Brewers (vs. Marlins -- Pablo López)
There are a lot of ace-caliber starting pitchers on the mound Friday night, so certainly be mindful of that when picking your hitters. This matchup alone features the reigning NL Cy Young winner in Corbin Burnes, but it's the other side of this matchup that we're trying to avoid. López has a ridiculous 1.00 ERA through six starts, while holding opponents to a .186 (24-for-129) average. That said, it's probably best to ignore this matchup entirely if you're looking for hits.

Mariners (vs. Mets -- Max Scherzer)
Sure, Scherzer gave up 10 hits in his last outing against the Phillies, but let's look at that one a little closer. Nine of the 10 hits were singles -- and each of the four weakest-hit balls off Scherzer found their way into the outfield for base hits. Don't expect him to get knocked around in this one.

NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS

Favorable

Mookie Betts (Dodgers): 8-for-20 (.400), 3 HR vs. Kyle Gibson

Unfavorable

Javier Báez (Tigers): 1-for-13 (.077), 5 K vs. Jordan Lyles

José Ramírez (Guardians): 5-for-24 (.208), 0 Hr, 2 K vs. Sonny Gray