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: 33 (Spudson)
Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Juan Soto, Padres (13.8%)*
2. Trea Turner, Dodgers (11.9%)
3. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (8.9%)*
4. Manny Machado, Padres (7.2%)*
5. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (5.9%)
* – Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.8%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.5%)
3. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.8%)
4. Manny Machado, Padres (4.5%)
5. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (3.6%)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays (vs. Orioles)
Though Guerrero had his 22-game hitting streak snapped in Sunday’s loss to the Guardians, we’re confident he’ll get right back into the hit column in this one. Over his past 30 games, Guerrero is hitting .333 with 15 extra-base hits (including four home runs) and an .892 OPS. He also has an ideal matchup against O’s rookie starter Kyle Bradish, who comes in with a 6.42 ERA in 13 starts. Bradish has allowed 77 hits in just 61 2/3 innings this season, with opponents hitting a blistering .314 against the Baltimore righty. Given those numbers, we have no problem rolling with any of Toronto’s top hitters — or even potentially doubling down with Guerrero and Teoscar Hernández.
Nick Castellanos, Phillies (vs. Reds)
Castellanos’ debut season in Philadelphia hasn’t gone quite as planned. He’s hitting .259 with a .685 OPS — well below the .939 OPS he had in his final season with the Reds last year. That said, Castellanos figures to be fired up when he faces his former club for the first time in Monday’s series opener at Great American Ball Park. Castellanos is also coming off a strong weekend series in which he went 5-for-12 despite the Phillies scoring just two runs in their three games against the Mets. The slugger also has a decent history against Cincinnati starter Mike Minor, going 4-for-11 with a pair of homers in their previous meetings.
Padres (at Marlins — Sandy Alcantara)
Though Alcantara ultimately allowed four runs on eight hits his last time out, three of those runs — and six of the eight hits — came in the eighth inning as the Marlins opted to let the righty go for his second straight complete game. Still, even with that uncharacteristic meltdown, Alcantara enters this one with a 2.01 ERA while holding opponents to a .198 average.
Brewers (vs. Dodgers — Julio Urías)
Urías has been locked in over the past month, going 5-0 with a 1.09 ERA over his past five starts. Opponents are hitting just .189 against the Dodgers left-hander in his 12 outings since the start of June.
Mariners (at Angels — Shohei Ohtani)
Ohtani has a 2.68 ERA while holding opponents to a .214 average this season, but he’s been particularly dominant of late, posting a 1.70 ERA and .195 opponents’ batting average over his past 10 starts.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
José Ramírez (Guardians): 6-for-14 (.429), 3 XBH vs. Drew Hutchison
Nick Castellanos (Phillies): 4-for-11 (.364), 2 HR vs. Mike Minor
Jesús Aguilar (Marlins): 6-for-15 (.400), 5 XBH (2 HR) vs. Joe Musgrove
Eddie Rosario (Braves): 12-for-37 (.324), 4 XBH vs. Carlos Carrasco
Matt Olson (Braves): 5-for-11 (.455), 2 HR vs. Carrasco
Miguel Cabrera (Tigers): 2-for-16 (.125), 2 K vs. Aaron Civale