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.
Let’s take a closer at the action from yesterday and today:
Longest active streak: 32 (Jays25)
Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (31.5%)*
2. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (12.8%)
3. Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (5.7%)*
4. José Iglesias, Rockies (5.5%)*
5. Eloy Jiménez, White Sox (5.4%)*
* – Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.6%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.5%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.9%)
4. Manny Machado, Padres (4.5%)
5. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (3.6%)
Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (at Marlins)
This will be the first time Acuña has faced Pablo López since their eventful meeting on July 2 last season when López was ejected after plunking Acuña with the first pitch of the game. There is obviously a lengthy history between Acuña and Miami pitchers, but we’re not expecting López to do anything that would risk another early exit. As for Acuña, he’s been swinging the bat well over the last week or so, and he’s fared well against López when he indeed gets a pitch to hit from him, going 7-for-18 (.389) with a pair of homers.
Aaron Judge, Yankees (at Red Sox)
Judge has seemingly become a legitimate nightly threat for a home run, let alone a base hit. And while he has struggled historically at Fenway Park (.181 average and a .604 OPS in 155 career plate appearances), he’s just too locked in right now to ignore. Judge also gets a matchup with Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi, against whom Judge is 9-for-26 (.346) with three extra-base hits. Eovaldi has also been prone to some rocky outings this season, from allowing five homers in just 1 2/3 innings against the Astros on May 17 to giving up nine runs in 2 2/3 frames in Boston’s 28-5 loss to the Blue Jays on July 22.
Phillies (vs. Mets — Max Scherzer)
Scherzer hasn’t had the Phillies’ number quite as much this season (4.24 ERA and 20 hits allowed over 17 innings in three starts) as he has in years past, but there are still better matchups to target. Since last facing the Phils on May 8, Scherzer has a 1.38 ERA over nine starts. He’s racked up 71 strikeouts over 58 2/3 innings during that span, all while holding opponents to a .202 average.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves): 7-for-18 (.389), 2 HR vs. Pablo López
Rougned Odor (Orioles): 8-for-19 (.421), 5 XBH (3 HR) vs. Corey Kluber
Aaron Judge (Yankees): 9-for-26 (.346), 3 XBH vs. Nathan Eovaldi
DJ LeMahieu (Yankees): 15-for-42 (.357) vs. Eovaldi
Rhys Hoskins (Phillies): 1-for-26 (.039), 14 K vs. Max Scherzer
J.T. Realmuto (Phillies): 7-for-58 (.121), 18 K vs. Scherzer
J.D. Martinez (Red Sox): 1-for-15 (.067), 7 K vs. Domingo Germán