Short and sweet on this summer Friday:

Current leader hankwoods is at 36 games. A full weekend of picks resides below. Go forth and let your Streaks prosper.

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Friday’s picks:

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• Joe Mauer: .529 AVG (9-for-17) since ’06 vs. Royals starter Luke Hochevar

• Brandon Phillips: .500 AVG (6-for-12) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook

• Hunter Pence: .438 AVG (7-for-16) since ’06 vs. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens

Feeling kinda spicy?

• Ryan Raburn: .414 AVG (12-for-29) since ’06 vs. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd

You’ll thank me later …

• Paul Konerko: .122 AVG (5-for-41) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

• Miguel Cabrera: .154 AVG (4-for-26) since ’06 vs. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd

Home Run BTS pick:

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• Billy Butler: .487 AVG (19-for-39) since ’06 vs. Twins starter Carl Pavano

Annnnd we’re back.

After the longest 72 hours of the Beat the Streak season,  real live Major League Baseball games resume today at 7:05 ET.

Roughly 44 percent of the campaign has yet to unfold, which means there’s still plenty of time to reach 57 games and claim the $5.6 million grand prize. Or plenty of time to put together like 20 three-game Streaks with an awesome season-high eight-gamer thrown in. More likely scenario!

Current leader hankwoods sits at 35, but nobody else entered the break at more that 28 games. Hope you caught up on sleep and got all those nagging chores done over the weekend — recess is officially over.

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Thursday’s picks:

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Rickie Weeks: .545 (6-for-11) since ’06 vs. Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez

Ryan Braun: .353 (6-for-13) since ’06 vs. Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez

Carlos Gonzalez: .455 (5-for-11) since ’06 vs. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo

Michael Young: .389 (7-for-18) since ’06 vs. Mariners starter Jason Vargas

Chase Headley: .444 (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. Giants starter Madison Bumgarner

Todd Helton: .385 (5-for-13) since ’06 vs. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo

Feeling kinda spicy?

Danny Valencia: .667 (6-for-9) since ’06 vs. Royals starter Bruce Chen

Ian Stewart: .500 (4-for-8) since ’06 vs. Brewers starter Yovani Gallardo

You’ll thank me later …

Elvis Andrus: .125 (2-for-16) since ’06 vs. Mariners starter Jason Vargas

Adam Jones: .091 (1-for-11) since ’06 vs. Indians starter Justin Masterson

Billy Butler: .190 (4-for-21) since ’06 vs. Twins starter Francisco Liriano

Asdrubal Cabrera: .111 (1-for-9) since ’06 vs. Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie

Top MLB streakers 

Ryan Braun: 22 games

Pablo Sandoval: 17 games

Emilio Bonifacio: 12 games

Dustin Pedroia: 12 games

Ronny Cedeno: 10 games

Home Run Beat the Streak pick:

Mark Teixeira: (25 home runs this season) vs. Blue Jays starter Jo-Jo Reyes

Streakers, there is an oasis on the horizon.

After three-plus months of nonstop picking, next week brings the three-day respite of the All-Star break. That’s right: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have no scheduled regular season Major League Baseball games.

Once you lock in your Sunday pick, feel free to power down your computer — or iPhone — for the next 72 hours. It may be scary, but you could even think about venturing outdoors. Come Thursday morning, your Streak will still be sitting right where you left it. Which is probably at zero games. Ohburrrrrn.

Anyway, there’s still plenty of work to be done before the break actually hits. Do it big this weekend, and those three long days next week will seem a whole lot less empty. Catch y’all on Thursday.

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Friday’s picks:

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• Jhonny Peralta: .435 AVG (10-for-22) since ’06 vs. Royals starter Kyle Davies

• Hunter Pence: .444 AVG (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. Marlins starter Javier Vazquez

• Joe Mauer: .389 AVG (14-for-36) since ’06 vs. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd

Feeling kinda spicy?

• Ryan Raburn: .500 AVG (7-for-14) since ’06 vs. Royals starter Kyle Davies

You’ll thank me later …

• Todd Helton: .063 AVG (1-for-16) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Kyle Kenrick

• Alex Gordon: .091 AVG (1-for-11) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Rick Porcello

Home Run BTS pick:

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Yesterday’s top four selections each hit paydirt, advancing a combined 28 percent of pickers in the process. Among those making the leap were current leaders jero07 (34 games) and Usfmatt (33), both of whom have established themselves among the season’s top five Streakers.

Is it too early to talk about one of them taking home the $5.6 million grand prize? Maybe. Is it too early for us to preemptively RSVP “attending” to Jero’s potential victory party on behalf of the entire BTS staff? Didn’t think so.

You just provide first class airfare and five-star hotel accommodations, and we’ll be there. Oh, and one of those fresh fruit baskets in the hotel room wouldn’t hurt, either. You just (hypothetically) won $5 million — spring for the one with more mango and less cantaloupe. Much appreciated.

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Thursday’s picks:

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Todd Helton: .778 (7-for-9) since ’06 vs. Braves starter Tim Hudson

Paul Konerko: .423 (11-for-26) since ’06 vs. Twins starter Carl Pavano

 Joey Votto: .556 (5-for-9) since ’06 vs. Brewers starter Chris Narveson

Derek Jeter: .556 (5-for-9) since ’06 vs. Rays starter Jeff Niemann

Rickie Weeks: .533 (8-for-15) since ’06 vs. Reds starter Homer Bailey

Aramis Ramirez: .429 (6-for-14) since ’06 vs. Nationals starter Livan Hernandez

Troy Tulowitzki: .444 (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. Braves starter Tim Hudson

Feeling kinda spicy?

Scott Hairston: .438 (7-for-16) since ’06 vs. Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw

You’ll thank me later …

Corey Hart: .176 (3-for-17) since ’06 vs. Reds starter Homer Bailey

Curtis Granderson: .100 (1-for-10) since ’06 vs. Rays starter Jeff Niemann

Bobby Abreu: .154 (2-for-13) since ’06 vs. Mariner starter Doug Fister

Top MLB streakers 

Ryan Braun: 22 games

Pablo Sandoval: 17 games

Howard Kendrick: 15 games

Carlos Beltran: 11 games

Hunter Pence: 11 games

Home Run Beat the Streak pick:

Miguel Cabrera: (17 home runs this season) vs. Royals starter Danny Duffy

A hefty 20.4 percent of all selectors put their trust in Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp last night, and the newly-crowned Home Run Derby participant came through in style with a 2-for-5 performance against the Mets.

Second choice Adrian Gonzalez slayed the dragon for an additional 8.9 percent of Streakers, while 4.7 percent of you skated by on a pass from the injured Ryan Braun. We’ll let that kind of sneakiness slide this time around, but you should be well aware of the karmic ramifications tied to taking an intentional bye.

Wednesday brings another heaping helping of intraleague action. The chef’s recommendations are below, and we’d strongly advise against sending anything back to the kitchen. Oh, and Braun could return to action today, so try a cute pick there at your own risk.

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Wednesday’s picks:

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Geovany Soto: .636 (7-for-11) since ’06 vs. Nationals starter Tom Gorzelanny

Chase Utley: .464 (13-for-28) since ’06 vs. Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez

Gaby Sanchez: .538 (7-for-13) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Kyle Kendrick

A.J. Pierzynski: .545 (6-for-11) since ’06 vs. Royals starter Bruce Chen

Jose Reyes: .467 (7-for-15) since ’06 vs. Dodgers starter Hiroki Kuroda

Placido Polanco: .457 (7-for-15) since ’06 vs. Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez

Robinson Cano: .500 (5-for-10) since ’06 vs. Indians starter Justin Masterson

Michael Bourn: .412 (7-for-17) since ’06 vs. Pirates starter Charlie Morton

Feeling kinda spicy?

J.D. Drew: .500 (11-for-22) since ’06 vs. Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil

You’ll thank me later …

Aramis Ramirez: .118 (2-for-17) since ’06 vs. Nationals starter Tom Gorzelanny

Alex Gordon: .143 (2-for-14) since ’06 vs. White Sox starter Edwin Jackson

Adam Lind: .154 (2-for-13) since ’06 vs. Red Sox starter Tim Wakefield

Top MLB streakers 

Ryan Braun: 22 games

Pablo Sandoval: 15 games

Howard Kendrick: 13 games

Jhonny Peralta: 11 games

Home Run Beat the Streak pick:

Lance Berkman: 5 career home runs vs. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo

The so-called “BTS Report curse” strikes again.

Just one day after sharing some of his deepest, darkest secrets with the rest of Streakland, season leader jonroy73 (a.k.a. Jonathan Roy) saw his 40-gamer go down flames Friday thanks to Paul Konerko‘s 0-for-3 against the Cubs.

While the six-week run won’t net Mr. Roy the $5.6 million grand prize, he still sits in the catbird seat for Streak of the Year honors, as well as the envy and admiration of all his fellow streakers. So worth it, right?

Since bclark2779 also saw their streak go sideways at 36 contests, jero07 reigns as our new current leader at 32 games. Just think, a few more correct picks and they’ll be eligible for a BTS Report personality questionnaire of their own. Bet you can’t wait!

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Monday’s picks:

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Ryan Howard: .500 (12-for-24) since ’06 vs. Marlins starter Chris Volstad

Maicer Izturis: .500 (9-for-18) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

Joe Mauer: .444 (8-for-18) since ’06 vs. Rays starter James Shields

Ichiro Suzuki: .467 (7-for-15) since ’06 vs. A’s starter Trevor Cahill

Erick Aybar: .389 (7-for-18) since ’06 vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

Matt Kemp: .500 (4-for-8) since ’06 vs. Mets starter Mike Pelfrey

Victor Martinez: .417 (5-for-12) since ’06 vs. Angels starter Dan Haren

Hunter Pence: .385 (5-for-13) since ’06 vs. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens

Feeling kinda spicy?

Marco Scutaro: .556 (5-for-9) since ’06 vs. Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil

You’ll thank me later …

Michael Bourn: .143 (2-for-14) since ’06 vs. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens

Matt Joyce: .143 (2-for-14) since ’06 vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Nick Markakis: .111 (1-for-9) since ’06 vs. Rangers starter Matt Harrison

Seth Smith: .154 (2-for-13) since ’06 vs. Braves starter Derek Lowe

David Ortiz: .167 (2-for-12) since ’06 vs. Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil

Top MLB streakers 

Ryan Braun: 22 games

Pablo Sandoval: 15 games

Howard Kendrick: 13 games

Jhonny Peralta: 11 games

Home Run Beat the Streak pick:

Ryan Howard: 7 career home runs vs. Marlins starter Chris Volstad

Season leader jonroy73 A.K.A. Jonathan Roy summited Mt. 40 Games yesterday, digging deep into the player pool to select White Sox outfielder Juan Pierre. Any time you can risk the Streak of a lifetime on a guy hitting .256 for the season and .236 for the month, you just HAVE to do it, right? Uh, apparently.

Anyway, Mr. Roy — who in my head pronounces his last name like Patrick Roy – is now tied for the 23rd-longest streak in BTS history. A successful three-day weekend could vault him into into the top eight all-time. After the Pierre pick, Willy Taveras and Scott Podsednik eagerly await their chances to help in that effort.

Current runner-up Bclark2779 also continued his momentous run, reaching 36 games thanks to a 1-for-3 from popularity king Victor Martinez. Jon Roy may be the Streak darling of the moment, but the Clarkster is very quietly closing in on his own 40-gamer.

Enjoy the weekend and the Fourth. The Report’s semi-annual four-days-for-the-price-of-one sale is below.

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Friday’s picks:

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• Andrew McCutchen: .444 AVG (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. Nationals starter Tom Gorzelanny

• Alfonso Soriano: .444 AVG (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. White Sox starter Edwin Jackson

• Grady Sizemore: .500 AVG (4-for-8) since ’06 vs. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo

Feeling kinda spicy?

• Jack Cust: .545 AVG (6-for-11) since ’06 vs. Padres starter Dustin Moseley

You’ll thank me later …

• Yunel Escobar: .063 AVG (1-for-16) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Kyle Kenrick

• Prince Fielder: .077 AVG (1-for-13) since ’06 vs. Twins starter Francisco Liriano

Home Run BTS pick:

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Oh, hello there …