Play Beat the Streak now -- here's who to pick
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 (two players)
Longest season streak: 39 (clendz82)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. José Iglesias, Rockies (17.3%) *
2. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (13.7%) *
3. Trea Turner, Dodgers (11.8%) *
4. Joey Wendle, Marlins (7.2%)
5. Jazz Chisholm Jr., Marlins (4.2%) *
* - Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (7.8%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (7.6%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.9%)
4. Michael Brantley, Astros (4.1%)
5. José Iglesias, Rockies (4.1%)
HITTERS TO TARGET TODAY
Austin Riley, Braves (vs. Rockies)
There's a lot to like about Riley in this spot. For starters, he's playing at the hitters' paradise that is Coors Field -- a ballpark that saw the Rockies and Marlins combine for 40 runs on 53 hits in yesterday's doubleheader. Next, Riley has been heating up at the plate over the past couple weeks, putting together a 10-game hitting streak during which he's hitting .390 with five home runs. As if those two things weren't enough on their own, the Rockies will be starting Austin Gomber, who enters with a 5.51 ERA and a .311 xBA.
Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (vs. Rockies)
That same favorable ballpark and pitching matchup mentioned above also applies to Acuña -- but he has one other thing working for him. Though the Braves superstar is yet to fully hit his stride as he battles through some injuries this season, Acuña is hitting .299 with a 1.063 OPS against left-handers since the start of last season. There's no reason you shouldn't double down with a couple of Braves given the circumstances.
OFFENSE(S) TO AVOID
White Sox (vs. Blue Jays -- Alek Manoah)
The White Sox obviously have some solid options on any given night, but Manoah enters with a 1.77 ERA and .206 opponents' batting average. There are better matchups to exploit with this particular slate of games.
Giants (vs. Marlins -- Sandy Alcantara)
Alcantara has been lights-out all season, as evidenced by his 2.00 ERA, but he's been particularly dominant in his last four trips to the mound. The right-hander has a 0.84 ERA and .139 opponents' batting average while working 32 innings -- that's an average of eight innings per start. In other words, San Francisco's hitters may be stuck facing Alcantara's nasty arsenal for the entire game.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Favorable
Jonathan Schoop (Tigers): 15-for-42 (.357) 9 XBH (6 HR) vs. Chris Archer
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers): 9-for-22 (.409), 2 HR vs. Chris Archer
Unfavorable
Marcus Semien (Rangers): 6-for-28 (.214), 9 K vs. Corey Kluber
Cody Bellinger (Dodgers): 3-for-14 (.214), 3 K vs. Taijuan Walker