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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Oh, hello there …

• 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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Oh, hello there …

• 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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Oh, hello there … 

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:

(Make a BTS pick)

Oh, hello there …

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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Oh, hello there … 

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:

(Make a BTS pick)

Oh, hello there …

• 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:

(Make a BTS pick)

Oh, hello there …

With a cameo from the Yankee Clipper himself ...

In 10-plus years of Beat the Streak play, only 31 Streakers have reached the 40-game plateau. I’ve never been there myself, but I hear you can just barely see the hulking pile of cash that is 57 games at the edge of the horizon.

With jonroy73 just one correct pick from expanding Club 40 to 32 members, we sent out the BTS Report P.I. Squad to dig up some dirt on our season leader. And by that, I mean that I emailed him some probing personal questions and he was kind enough to respond.

Our main man is Jonathan Roy. He lives near Boston and works for a food company that makes falafel and rangoons. Here’s a free falafel tip, Jon: the answer is more hummus. And then even more hummus.

Mr. Roy admitted that he’s something of a baseball polygamist, rooting for the Red Sox but naming Don Mattingly as his all-time favorite player. Some of you may consider this a sports sin of the highest order, but the relevant authorities have determined that fans of any team were allowed to root for Donnie Baseball under the “Dynamite Lip Sweater” corollary.

In other Red Sox-fan-admiring-Yankees news, Jonathan once spotted streak king Joe DiMaggio at a Florida airport while catching a flight home from Spring Break. “Just seeing him gave me the chills, legend,” he said. Considering the things that happen in Daytona Beach during Spring Break, I’m skeptical that it was the sight of the Yankee Clipper giving you chills. Ether way, this Streak is clearly star-crossed.

So how did our leader go from ogling Joe D on the tarmac to chasing his 56 games? Surely he’s relied on years of BTS experience and a complex mathematical formula.

Or not: “Until 25 games I just picked blindly — logged in and randomly selected a team and then selected one of their better players. Since 25 I have been looking at matchups and flipping coins when it comes down to two choices.”

To the commenters who spend hours each day agonizing over stadium wind speeds before making a pick: Stop selling your possessions. Cancel the plane tickets to South America. It’s going to be OK. As the old saying goes, there’s more than one way to build a streak while skinning a cat.

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Jonathan’s favorite food is his Nana’s lazy pierogis. Which have a Wikipedia page in Polish.

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Thursday’s picks:

Another Interleague short slate means we’re going no-frills — no spicy feelings, no future thankings. Below are today’s only Report-authorized selections. You can leave the beaten path if you so choose, but doing so definitely voids your extended warranty.

(Make a BTS pick)

Oh, hello there … 

Robinson Cano: 1.000 (1-for-1) since  vs. Brewers starter Randy Wolf

Ian Kinsler: .692 (9-for-13) since ’06 vs. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez

Alex Rodriguez: .333 (1-for-3) since  vs. Brewers starter Randy Wolf

Adrian Gonzalez: .364 (8-for-22) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Cole Hamels

Miguel Cabrera:  .333 (2-for-6) since  vs. Mets starter Mike Pelfrey

Victor Martinez: No history vs. Mets starter Mike Pelfrey

Paul Konerko:  No history  vs. Rockies starter Aaron Cook

Jose Bautista: No history vs. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens

Matt Holliday: No history vs. Orioles starter Brian Matusz

Hunter Pence:  .333 (1-for-3) since  vs. Rangers starter Matt Harrison

Andrew McCutchen: No history vs. Blue Jays starter Brett Cecil

Lance Berkman: No history vs. Orioles starter Brian Matusz

Dustin Pedroia: .500 (5-for-10) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Cole Hamels

Adam Lind: .000 (0-for-4) since ’06vs. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens

Jemile Weeks: No history vs. Marlins starter Chris Volstad

Leaderboard time:

Now that we’re all acquainted with Jon Roy, what about bclark2779? Our current No. 2 extended his streak to 35 games yesterday thanks to Miguel Cabrera, making him a definite Streaker of interest for the P.I. Squad. Stay tuned …

Top MLB streakers 

Ryan Braun: 19 games

Nick Markakis: 18 games

Prince Fielder: 11 games

Pablo Sandoval: 10 games

Home Run Beat the Streak pick:

Jose Bautista: (23 HR this season) vs. Pirates starter Jeff Karstens

A lot of BTS players would have crossed off the entire opposing lineup when they saw Zack Greinke‘s name on the probable pitchers list.

Our current leader is apparently not one of those players.

Jonroy73 showed no fear of the Brewers right-hander last night, rolling with Robinson Cano and hitting paydirt on the second baseman’s second-inning RBI single. Although Greinke entered the game with a 4.77 ERA, his history of dominance made Mr. Roy’s Tuesday pick a little riskier than most. Hey, live by the Yankees lineup, die by the Yankees lineup, we guess.

Anyway, only seven players in Major League history have reached jonroy’s total of 38 games. A hit tonight would tie him with Paul Molitor‘s 39 game run in 1987. Good luck and Bourn-speed.

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Wednesday’s picks:

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Oh, hello there … 

Casey Blake: .467 (7-for-15) since ’06 vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Pablo Sandoval: .444 (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. Cubs starter Ryan Dempster

Jason Giambi: .444 (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. White Sox starter Mark Buehrle

Robinson Cano: .357 (5-for-14) since ’06 vs. Brewers starter Shaun Marcum

Derrek Lee: .346 (9-for-26) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter

Feeling kinda spicy?

Edwin Encarnacion: .448 (13-for-29) since ’06 vs. Pirates starter Paul Maholm

Mark Reynolds: .500 (4-for-8) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter

You’ll thank me later …

Adam Kennedy: .182 (4-for-22) since ’06 vs. Braves starter Derek Lowe

Placido Polanco: .176 (3-for-17) since ’06 vs. Red Sox starter John Lackey

Michael Bourn: .100 (1-for-10) since ’06 vs. Rangers starter Colby Lewis

Top MLB streakers 

Ryan Braun: 18 games

Nick Markakis: 17 games

Michael Young: 13 games

Prince Fielder: 10 games

Home Run Beat the Streak pick:

Ryan Howard: (16 HR this season) vs. Red Sox starter John Lackey

Streakers, take a bow.

For the first time this season, you’ve slayed the mythical dragon that is 15-for-15. Jose Bautista led the way with a 2-for-4, Starlin Castro brought up the rear with a triple in four at-bats and everyone in between also notched at least one base knock.

Don’t believe us? Boom! Photo evidence:

When all was said and done, nearly 79 percent of all Monday selectors experienced peanut butter jelly time from one of these 15 sluggers alone. It’s a truly historic achievement, one which many of you have surely dreamed about since the dawn of your Streaking careers.

Take the morning off to celebrate. Just make sure you’re back by 2:15 to make one of …

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Tuesday’s picks:

(Make a BTS pick)

Oh, hello there … 

Adrian Gonzalez: .700 (7-for-10) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Cliff Lee

Jason Bourgeois: .714 (5-for-7) since ’06 vs. Rangers starter C.J. Wilson

Billy Butler: .556 (5-for-9) since ’06 vs. Padres starter Clayton Richard

Derrek Lee: .391 (9-for-23) since ’06 vs. Cardinals starter Kyle Lohse

Chase Utley: .444 (4-for-9) since ’06 vs. Red Sox starter Josh Beckett

Feeling kinda spicy?

Jose Lopez: .444 (8-for-18) since ’06 vs. A’s starter Gio Gonzalez

Jerry Hairston: .600 (6-for-10) since ’06 vs. Angels starter Joel Pineiro

You’ll thank me later …

David Ortiz: .188 (3-for-16) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Cliff Lee

Jacoby Ellsbury: .125 (1-for-8) since ’06 vs. Phillies starter Cliff Lee

Curtis Granderson: .156 (5-for-32) since ’06 vs. Brewers starter Zack Greinke

Leaderboard time

Miguel Cabrera was the silver medalist in yesterday’s popularity contest at 15.8 percent, and both current sheriff jonroy73 and his deputy bclark2779 featured among that total. Mr. Roy’s move to 37 games ties him for the season lead. So far 100 percent of people who reached that total have failed to advance (sample size: 1). In other words, the prognosis is not promising.

Top MLB streakers 

Ryan Braun: 17 games

Nick Markakis: 16 games

Alex Gordon: 14 games

Michael Young: 12 games

Starlin Castro: 11 games

Dustin Pedroia: 11 games

Home Run Beat the Streak pick:

Carlos Gonzalez: (12 HR this season) vs. White Sox starter Gavin Floyd