Monday’s recommended picks

Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
.500 AVG (9-for-18) since ’05 vs. Nationals starter Jason Marquis

Miguel Tejada, 3B, Orioles
.462 AVG (6-for-13) lifetime vs. Rays starter Matt Garza

Kurt Suzuki, C, A’s
.400 AVG (8-for-20) lifetime vs. Mariners starter Ryan Rowland-Smith

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

Yesterday’s results

With several high-scoring games on the docket yesterday, there were plenty of hits to go around for BTS users.

Each of the Top 7 selected players came through with at least one hit, with Dustin Pedroia leading the way with four base knocks.

Several hundred fans are clustered at the top of the leaderboard with their eight-game streaks. Many will fall off over the coming days and weeks, but perhaps someone from that group is ready for a record-breaking run … 

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Albert Pujols (STL): 6.8%, 3-for-5
2. Derek Jeter (NYY): 5.2%, 1-for-5
3. Robinson Cano (NYY): 5.1%, 1-for-4
4. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 5.1%, 4-for-5
5. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 5.0%, 1-for-4

Friday’s recommended picks

Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers
.400 AVG (6-for-15) lifetime vs. Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse

Michael Cuddyer, OF, Twins
.533 AVG (16-for-30) lifetime vs. White Sox starter John Danks

Josh Willingham, OF, Nationals
.412 AVG (7-for-17) lifetime vs. Mets starter Mike Pelfrey

Saturday’s recommended picks

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners
.444 AVG (4-for-9) lifetime vs. Rangers starter Matt Harrison

Ryan Zimmerman, 3B, Nationals
.350 AVG (7-for-20) lifetime vs. Mets starter Oliver Perez

Jeff Francoeur, OF, Mets
.500 AVG (11-for-22) lifetime vs. Nationals starter John Lannan

Sunday’s recommended picks

Edgar Renteria, SS, Giants
.727 AVG (8-for-11) in ’10

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Rockies
.636 AVG (7-for-11) lifetime vs. Padres starter Jon Garland

Robinson Cano, 2B, Yankees
.478 AVG (11-for-23) lifetime vs. Rays starter James Shields

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

Yesterday’s results

It was the first rough day of the season for BTS users, who saw the usual safe picks come up short and the numbers turned upside down by surprisingly effective pitching.

The Top 2 picks of the day — Albert Pujols and Ichiro Suzuki — went a combined 0-for-7, knocking a huge contingent from the top of the leaderboard. And Johnny Damon, who entered the day with six hits in eight at-bats against Royals starter Brian Bannister, went 0-for-4 to thwart the fans who thought they were going with a sure thing.

It’s all part of Beat the Streak and baseball in general, as tricky hops and well-positioned defenders can make life tough for a hitter on any given day. Perhaps better luck will come from the weekend’s slate of action.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Albert Pujols (STL): 13.3%, 0-for-3
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 10.6%, 0-for-4
3. Joe Mauer (MIN): 9.1%, 2-for-4
4. Johnny Damon (DET): 9.0%, 0-for-4
5. Chase Utley (PHI): 4.8%, 2-for-5

Thursday’s recommended picks

Johnny Damon, OF, Tigers
.750 AVG (6-for-8) lifetime vs. Royals starter Brian Bannister

Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles
.444 AVG (8-for-18) lifetime vs. Rays starter Jeff Niemann

Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds
.417 AVG (5-for-12) lifetime vs. Cardinals starter Brad Penny

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

Yesterday’s results

There were a few more 0-for’s in yesterday’s group of most selected hitters, but BTS users still made winning picks for the most part.

Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera, the day’s most popular pick, didn’t do his usual damage against Royals starter Luke Hochevar, but he came to life with a game-tying homer off closer Joakim Soria in the ninth inning to keep many budding streaks alive.

Mark Teixeira was the biggest streak killer of the day, as his 0-for-3 effort thwarted several thousand fans who went with the slugging first baseman.

With four days of the season in the books, the drive for five is under way as the pack at the top of the leaderboard slowly but surely thins out.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Miguel Cabrera (DET): 15.5%, 2-for-5
2. Chase Utley (PHI): 8.4%, 2-for-4
3. Albert Pujols (STL): 6.7%, 1-for-4
4. Joe Mauer (MIN): 5.9%, 1-for-3
5. Mark Teixeira (NYY): 3.8%, 0-for-3

Wednesday’s recommended picks

Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Tigers
.889 AVG (8-for-9) lifetime vs. Royals starter Luke Hochevar

Mark Teixeira, 1B, Yankees
.364 AVG (12-for-33) since ’05 vs. Red Sox starter John Lackey

Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies
.455 AVG (5-for-11) since ’05 vs. Brewers starter Doug Davis

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

Yesterday’s results

Even with slightly less than half of MLB’s teams in action last night, BTS users showed a deft touch when it came to making their picks.

Fourteen of the 15 Top players selected whacked at least one hit, with only Stephen Drew (0-for-5) coming up short.

Clearly, BTS participants are already in midseason form. Now, it’s just a matter of sustaining that form through the coming weeks. For the huge pack tied atop the leaderboard, it’s three down and 54 to go!

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 13.0%, 1-for-5
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 11.2%, 1-for-3
3. Joe Mauer (MIN): 9.0%, 1-for-4
4. Chone Figgins (SEA): 6.8%, 1-for-4
5. Evan Longoria (TB): 5.9%, 1-for-4

Tuesday’s recommended picks

Joe Mauer, C, Twins
.365 AVG in 2009

Stephen Drew, SS, Diamondbacks
.400 AVG (4-for-10) lifetime vs. Padres starter Chris Young

Pablo Sandoval, 3B, Giants
.330 AVG in 2009

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

Yesterday’s results

Hitters reigned supreme on Opening Day, bringing an abundance of offense that made it a pleasant day for BTS participants.

Fourteen of the 15 Top players selected collected at least one hit, with only Cubs first baseman Derrek Lee (0-for-3) showing up empty-handed to the party. That output allowed a huge chunk of fans to extend their season-opening streaks to two games.

That may not seem like much, but remember, the Roman Empire was built one brick at a time, so keep those picks coming.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 14.5%, 1-for-4
2. Chase Utley (PHI): 9.9%, 1-for-3
3. Albert Pujols (STL): 8.4%, 4-for-5
4. Joe Mauer (MIN): 8.2%, 1-for-4
5. Matt Kemp (LAD): 6.8%, 2-for-5

Tuesday’s recommended picks

Raul Ibanez, OF, Phillies
.700 AVG (7-for-10) lifetime vs. Nationals starter John Lannan

Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers
.400 AVG (6-for-15) lifetime vs. Pirates starter Zach Duke

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners
.352 AVG in 2009

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

Yesterday’s results

There was plenty of offense to go around in the Opening Night matchup, a 9-7 Red Sox victory over the Yankees in which the two teams combined to pound out 24 hits.

As a result, many BTS fans got their season started on a strong note. Each of the Top 5 most selected players came through with at least one hit, as did 11 of the Top 15. Users who selected Jacoby Ellsbury (0-for-5), Mark Teixeira (0-for-4) or David Ortiz (0-for-3) missed out on the hit parade, but there’s plenty of time to get a big streak going.

With most other teams ready for their openers today, fans will have more of a full slate of players to choose from. Good luck in the march to 57 games!

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 43.0%, 2-for-5
2. Robinson Cano (NYY): 17.0%, 2-for-5
3. Kevin Youkilis (BOS): 13.6%, 3-for-4
4. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 5.2%, 2-for-4
5. Alex Rodriguez (NYY): 4.7%, 1-for-5