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: 39 (Bunger)
Longest season streak: 45 (kiyoshilotus26)
Longest streak all-time: 51
Most popular picks (yesterday)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (29.7%)*
2. Mookie Betts, Dodgers (19.2%)*
3. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (4.8%)*
4. Aaron Judge, Yankees (3.9%)*
5. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (3.4%)
* – Recorded a hit
Most popular picks (this season)
1. Trea Turner, Dodgers (9.8%)
2. Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (6.5%)
3. Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (4.7%)
4. Manny Machado, Padres (4.4%)
5. J.D. Martinez, Red Sox (4.3%)
Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (vs. Angels)
Goldschmidt is the runaway NL MVP favorite for a reason — and his matchup here is too good to pass up. Though head-to-head numbers aren’t usually an indication of future success, it’s hard to ignore Goldschmidt’s career stats against Padres starter Joe Musgrove. He’s a ridiculous 10-for-18 (.556) against the right-hander while also walking nine times — good for a .704 on-base percentage. Couple that with Musgrove’s second-half struggles (4.43 ERA since the All-Star break), and we like Goldschmidt’s chances to have a big day in San Diego.
J.T. Realmuto, Phillies (vs. Braves)
Typically we wouldn’t recommend a hitter facing a Cy Young candidate — as is the case here with Max Fried set to start for the Braves — but Realmuto is completely locked in right now, plus he’s hit well enough against Fried to overlook it. The Phillies catcher is hitting .347 with 16 extra-base hits (including eight home runs) and an 1.071 OPS over his past 28 games. Realmuto has also dominated Fried in their previous meetings, hitting .324 (11-for-34) with six extra-base hits, including three homers.
Orioles (vs. Astros — Justin Verlander)
Verlander quickly erased any lingering concerns about his health when he came off the IL on Friday and promptly struck out nine batters over five hitless innings against the A’s. In picking up right where he left off, Verlander lowered his season ERA to 1.78, all while holding opposing hitters to a .185 average.
D-backs (at Dodgers — Julio Urías)
Urías has been solid all season, racking up a 2.27 ERA and .197 opponents’ average — but he’s taken his game to another level since the All-Star break. In 10 second-half starts, he has a 1.31 ERA and he’s holding opposing hitters to just a .169 average.
Typically, the D-backs’ own starter, Zac Gallen, would be listed in this spot, as well — but it’s hard to tell anyone to avoid the best offense in baseball. Still, if you’re using any Dodgers hitters, keep in mind that Gallen has a 2.52 ERA this season, including a ridiculous 0.85 ERA over his past eight starts.
NOTABLE BATTER VS. PITCHER MATCHUPS
Anthony Rizzo (Yankees): 21-for-50 (.420), 3 HR vs. Michael Wacha
J.T. Realmuto (Phillies): 11-for-34 (.324), 6 XBH (3 HR) vs. Max Fried
Joc Pederson (Giants): 6-for-12 (.500), HR vs. José Ureña
Aaron Judge (Yankees): 0-for-14, 9 K vs. Wacha
Dansby Swanson (Braves): 2-for-15 (.133), 5 K vs. Ranger Suárez
Max Muncy (Dodgers): 1-for-14 (.071), 6 K vs. Zac Gallen