Today’s recommended picks

Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles
.545 AVG (6-for-11) lifetime vs. Red Sox starter Clay Buchholz

Stephen Drew, SS, Diamondbacks
.394 AVG (13-for-33) lifetime vs. Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley

Miguel Tejada, SS, Astros
.474 AVG (9-for-19) since ’04 vs. Braves starter Javier Vazquez

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

Yesterday’s results

The long holiday weekend turned out to be an ideal time for many BTS leaders to pick Matt Holliday.

The hard-hitting outfielder didn’t have one of his best games Monday, but his 1-for-5 effort was good enough for five of the Top 6 contestants. Included in that group was top dog tshalterman, whose 41-game streak is tied for the fourth-longest mark of the season.

The lone member of the top group to pass on Holliday was michaelh30, who received an identical 1-for-5 performance from Shane Victorino to remain in a tie with ichter4 for second place, at 37 games.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Albert Pujols (STL): 6.7%, 3-for-4
2. Torii Hunter (LAA): 6.6%, 1-for-3
3. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 6.6%, 1-for-3
4. Derek Jeter (NYY): 5.9%, 0-for-8
5. Joe Mauer (MIN): 5.5%, 3-for-5

Today’s recommended picks

Kurt Suzuki, C, A’s
.500 AVG (8-for-16) lifetime vs. Mariners starter Ryan Rowland-Smith

Adam Lind, DH, Blue Jays
.500 AVG (5-for-10) lifetime vs. Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain

Carl Crawford, OF, Rays
.462 AVG (6-for-13) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Justin Verlander

Saturday’s recommended picks

Placido Polanco, 2B, Tigers
.500 AVG (7-for-14) lifetime vs. Rays starter James Shields

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox
.389 AVG (7-for-18) lifetime vs. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd

Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles
.381 AVG (8-for-21) since ’04 vs. Rangers starter Kevin Millwood

Sunday’s recommended picks

Albert Pujols, 1B, Cardinals
.591 AVG (13-for-22) lifetime vs. Pirates starter Paul Maholm

Joe Mauer, C, Twins
.667 AVG (6-for-9) lifetime vs. Indians starter David Huff

Scott Rolen, 3B, Reds
.375 AVG (6-for-16) since ’04 vs. Braves starter Tim Hudson

Monday’s recommended picks

Dustin Pedroia, 2B, Red Sox
.400 AVG (4-for-10) lifetime vs. White Sox starter Mark Buehrle

David DeJesus, OF, Royals
.412 AVG (7-for-17) lifetime vs. Angels starter Ervin Santana

Torii Hunter, OF, Angels
.357 AVG (5-for-14) lifetime vs. Royals starter Kyle Davies

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

Yesterday’s results

Normally, the selection of Albert Pujols, who owns a stellar .333 career batting average, is about as safe as it gets in BTS play.

Of course, not even Prince Albert can get a hit in every game, and phadrus74 had the misfortune of picking the Cardinals masher on an off day. When Pujols struck out to finish a 0-for-4 performance, it ended phadrus74’s 41-game run, leaving him tied for the fourth-longest streak of the season.

Fellow Top 5 contestants thebcjman and chuppie21 also tabbed Pujols, leading to a bit of upheaval at the front of the pack.

As such, tshalterman stands as the new leader after getting a 1-for-3 effort from Miguel Cabrera to improve to 37 games. DoctorPeteRose moved into second place, at 35 games, on the strength of a 1-for-4 night from Matt Diaz, while five finished the day at the 33-game mark.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Albert Pujols (STL): 13.3%, 0-for-4
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 7.6%, 1-for-4
3. Curtis Granderson (DET): 6.7%, 1-for-4
4. Derek Jeter (NYY): 5.8%, 0-for-4
5. Chipper Jones: (ATL): 4.9%, 1-for-4

Today’s recommended picks

Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves
.500 AVG (10-for-20) lifetime vs. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco

Jhonny Peralta, 3B, Indians
.429 AVG (12-for-28) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Nate Robertson

Curtis Granderson, OF, Tigers
.448 AVG (13-for-29) lifetime vs. Indians starter Fausto Carmona

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

Yesterday’s results

An infusion of pinstriped love somehow seeped into the computers of the BTS field yesterday, as 11 of the Top 13 contestants picked either Derek Jeter or Robinson Cano.

Cano was the choice of front-runner phadrus74, who extended his streak to 41 games following a 2-for-5 effort from the Yankees second baseman. DoctorPeteRose also went with Robbie to remain in a tie for third place, at 34 games.

On the other side of second base, Jeter delivered just enough (1-for-5) to help out those who were relying on him. tshalterman moved up to 36 games to hold onto second place, thebcjman remained in a tie for third and chuppie21 held onto his share of fifth, at 33 games.

The lone member of the Top 5 to look outside New York, roxandrays17, went with Rays speedster Carl Crawford (1-for-4) to finish the day with a 33-game mark.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 11.7%, 1-for-5
2. Brad Hawpe (COL): 7.6%, 1-for-4
3. Robinson Cano (NYY): 7.6%, 2-for-5
4. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 5.9%, 2-for-4
5. Joey Votto (CIN): 4.3%, 1-for-2

Today’s recommended picks

Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
.636 AVG (7-for-11) lifetime vs. Pirates starter Zach Duke

Brad Hawpe, OF, Rockies
.500 AVG (7-for-14) lifetime vs. Mets starter Tim Redding

Kendry Morales, 1B, Angels
.409 AVG (9-for-22) lifetime vs. Mariners starter Felix Hernandez

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

Yesterday’s results

Todd Helton was the hitter of choice for many of the BTS leaders yesterday, and the veteran first baseman came through with a 2-for-4 day to keep several lengthy streaks alive.

Among the recipients was leader phadrus74, who became the sixth contestant this season to reach the 40-game plateau. mlbuser864 and thebcjman used Helton to take over a share of third place, at 33 games, while chuppie21 and roxandrays17 went with the pride of the Rockies to claim a share of fifth place, at 32 games.

Second-place fan tshalterman was the lone member of the Top 5 to go with a different player, but the result was the same, as Jacoby Ellsbury produced two hits to boost tshalterman’s run to 35 games.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 11.0%, 0-for-4
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 6.7%, 2-for-4
3. Derek Jeter (NYY): 6.2%, 1-for-4
4. Derrek Lee (CHC): 5.2%, 1-for-4
5. Joe Mauer (MIN): 4.5%, 1-for-4

Today’s recommended picks

Jason Bay, OF, Red Sox
.444 AVG (12-for-27) since ’04 vs. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte

David DeJesus, OF, Royals
.500 AVG (6-for-12) lifetime vs. Twins starter Nick Blackburn; Blackburn: .296 AVG against in ’09

Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers
.500 AVG (6-for-12) lifetime vs. Cubs starter Randy Wells

Saturday’s recommended picks

Freddy Sanchez, 2B, Giants
.545 AVG (6-for-11) lifetime vs. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa

Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners
.429 AVG (6-for-14) lifetime vs. Indians starter Aaron Laffey

Joe Mauer, C, Twins
.421 AVG (8-for-19) lifetime vs. Royals starter Kyle Davies

Sunday’s recommended picks

Hanley Ramirez, SS, Marlins
.526 AVG (10-for-19) lifetime vs. Braves starter Derek Lowe

Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves
.526 AVG (10-for-19) lifetime vs. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco

Yunel Escobar, SS, Braves
.538 AVG (7-for-13) lifetime vs. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco

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

Yesterday’s results

With a couple of BTS heavy hitters having recently fallen from the top, the contestants in the next wave of leaders are looking to prove they have the staying power to reach 40 games and beyond.

Current top dog nicklarsen84 pushed his streak to 34 games with a 1-for-4 game from Ichiro Suzuki. Motorhead went with the hot-hitting Hanley Ramirez (1-for-4) to remain one game behind, while third-place fan diamondmike recived a 2-for-4 effort from Nick Markakis to move up to 32 games.

Yesterday’s Top 5 most selected players

1. Hanley Ramirez (FLA): 14.5%, 1-for-4
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 10.0%, 1-for-4
3. Albert Pujols (STL): 7.4%, 0-for-4
4. Carl Crawford (TB): 5.4%, 1-for-5
5. Joe Mauer (MIN): 4.5%, 1-for-4