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 look at the action from yesterday and today:
Longest active streak: 33 (Floyd1)
Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Donovan Solano, Reds (22.8%)
2. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (8.2%)*
3. Bryce Harper, Phillies (5.9%)*
4. Yordan Alvarez, Astros (5.3%)
5. Manny Machado, Padres (3.7%)*
* – Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.8%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.3%)
3. Manny Machado, Padres (4.6%)
4. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.5%)
5. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (4.2%)
J.T. Realmuto, Phillies (at D-backs)
Realmuto has really turned things around offensively after a slow start — and now he gets a prime matchup against D-backs starter Madison Bumgarner. Realmuto is hitting .352 with a 1.065 OPS over his past 34 games — and 21 of his 44 hits during that stretch have gone for extra bases. As for Bumgarner, the veteran left-hander is making his first start since Aug. 20 after the D-backs opted to skip his last turn through the rotation in an attempt to get him on track. In four August starts, Bumgarner has a 7.94 ERA, and he’s allowing opponents to hit a blistering .337 with four home runs and a .938 OPS. For the season as a whole, right-handed hitters are slashing .285/.339/.498 against Bumgarner while also accounting for 17 of the 19 homers he’s allowed.
Christian Yelich, Brewers (vs. Red Sox)
It’s been hard to find a consistent option in the Brewers’ lineup this season, but this is a matchup we want to target — so Yelich is our pick. Milwaukee will be facing Boston rookie right-hander Brayan Bello, who has an 8.47 ERA in his four big league starts this season. Bello is allowing opponents to hit a ridiculous .373 in those starts, resulting in 28 hits in just 17 innings — including nine for extra bases. As for Yelich, he’s hit safely in 10 of his past 12 games, during which he’s hitting .383 with three homers.
Pirates (at Brewers — Corbin Burnes)
Burnes had a rough start his last time out against the Dodgers, but who hasn’t had some trouble against that lineup? In fact, each of Burnes’ last two starts have come against L.A., so he’ll certainly be happy to see another opponent — and this one just so happens to rank 29th in MLB in team batting average (.220). Burnes has a 2.39 ERA and has held opponents to a .182 average in his 23 starts against teams other than the Dodgers this season.
Marlins (vs. Dodgers — Tony Gonsolin)
Gonsolin has been brilliant all season, posting a 2.10 ERA and allowing just 76 hits in 128 1/3 innings — but he’s been especially dominant this month. The Dodgers right-hander has a 0.76 ERA, and he’s holding opponents to a .127 (10-for-79) average in four August starts.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Freddie Freeman (Dodgers): 9-for-28 (.321), 4 XBH vs. Pablo López
Franmil Reyes (Cubs): 7-for-14 (.500) vs. José Berríos
Trea Turner (Dodgers): 5-for-26 (.192), 5 K’s vs. López
Kyle Schwarber (Phillies): 2-for-15 (.133), 6 K’s vs. Madison Bumgarner