Today’s recommended picks

Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves
.440 AVG (11-for-25) since ’04 vs. Mets starter Oliver Perez

Chone Figgins, 3B, Angels
.500 AVG (5-for-10) lifetime vs. A’s starter Dallas Braden

Jimmy Rollins, SS, Phillies
.385 AVG (5-for-13) lifetime vs. Marlins starter Chris Volstad; .378 AVG in July

BTS all-time leader: Michael Karatzia, 49
MLB all-time leader: Joe DiMaggio, 56

First-half recap

The first three-plus months of BTS play featured its share of long streaks and nail-biting moments as fans took their best shot at toppling Joe DiMaggio’s magic No. 56.

Shortly after it was announced in early June that the top prize of $1 million would be increased by $10,000 every day, a few contestants made a spirited run at grabbing the jackpot. TannerNielsen ran his streak all the way up to 45 games, the longest of the season and tied for the fourth-longest in history, before it was snapped by a rare hitless day from Joe Mauer on June 23.

June 23 also turned out to be a bad day for paulcmoss84 and crtownse, who saw their respective streaks of 39 and 38 games come to an end that night. FROD, who tied for the second-longest mark of the season at 39 games, wound up back at square one a few days later. Altogether, seven contestants recorded a streak of at least 35 games, and 50 put together a streak of at least 30 games.

Entering the second half, ryancaraher leads the pack with a 32-game streak. rook3256, sportsboom and wfahey are tied for second at 31 games, and Mattie21H rounds out the Top 5 at 30 games.