Beat the Streak Report: March 31

Hiyoooo, Streakers!

After a long, dark, cold offseason, the time of reckoning is upon us: MLB.com Beat the Streak has returned for an 11th season. And the stakes have never been higher.

Presented by Scotts this year, BTS takes just 15 seconds a day to play. All you have to do is pick one player who you think will get a hit during today’s games. Pick correctly, and you have a streak. Beat Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak by picking correctly 57 days in a row, and you could win an all-time BTS record $5,600,000 prize.

Yes, that’s $5.6 million in U.S. currency. That number has more zeroes than a Roy Halladay line score. You can make a pick right here!

Last season, two Streakers reached 43 games — a mere two weeks away from Internet immortality and some serious pocket change. Is there a 50-gamer lurking out there this year? The official BTS Report Magic 8 Ball says: “It is decidedly so.” There you have it, undeniable proof.

Anyway, the BTS Report will be along for the ride every weekday of the regular season. Check back for picks of the day, pro tips, riveting tales of hitting streaks past (Streak of the Week!) and oh so much more.

Now, in the words of both Marvin Gaye and Judge Mills Lane: “Let’s get it on!”

Thursday’s picks:

Oh, hello there …

• Martin Prado: .478 AVG (11-for-23) lifetime vs. Nationals starter Livan Hernandez

• Miguel Cabrera: .538 AVG (7-for-13) lifetime vs. Yankees starter CC Sabathia

• Scott Rolen: .636 AVG (7-for-11) lifetime vs. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo

• Brian McCann: .389 AVG (7-for-18) vs. Nationals starter Livan Hernandez

• Derek Jeter: .368 AVG (7-for-19) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

 

Feeling kinda spicy?

• Alex Gordon: .364 AVG (4-for-11) lifetime vs. Angels starter Jered Weaver

We’ve been waiting four years for the Gordon hype train to roll into Superstar Station. Maybe today is the day. Probably not, but maybe.

 

You’ll thank me later …

• Mark Teixeira: .059 AVG (1-for-17) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

• Matt Kemp: .100 AVG (2-for-20) lifetime vs. Giants starter Tim Lincecum

• Prince Fielder: .143 AVG (2-for-14) lifetime vs. Reds starter Edinson Volquez

• Buster Posey: .111 AVG (1-for-9) lifetime vs. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw

 

Leaderboard time!

For today and today only, you are all atop the leaderboard. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

Top MLB streakers

You know what’s lame? The multi-season hit streak. Opening Day is a fresh start, a tabula rasa (raised table?), if you will. But if you must know, these players technically carry over a little somethin’-somethin’ from October:

• Mark Ellis: 13 games

• Mike Stanton: 11 games

• Justin Smoak: 10 games

• Drew Stubbs: 8 games