Today's recommended picks

Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers
.462 AVG (18-for-39) lifetime vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Carlos Guillen, OF, Tigers
.407 AVG (11-for-27) lifetime vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Jason Kubel, OF, Twins
.727 AVG (8-for-11) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Rick Porcello

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

Today's preview

On the eve of the playoffs, the Tigers and Twins are set to battle for the AL Central title, and BTS fans will look to close out the season on a winning note.

Given that only two teams are playing today, there clearly isn't a large slate of players to choose from. However, there are a few who've enjoyed success against the scheduled starting pitchers, along with the usual hard-hitting suspects such as Joe Mauer and Miguel Cabrera.

stongematt79 stands as the current leader at 21 games, with emld75 one game behind. mike6437 and shane.99 both have the chance to finish the season at 20 games -- and even take over the top spot should the other leaders fall -- if their final pick comes through with a hit.

Tuesday's recommended picks

Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers
.462 AVG (18-for-39) lifetime vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Carlos Guillen, OF, Tigers
.407 AVG (11-for-27) lifetime vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Jason Kubel, OF, Twins
.727 AVG (8-for-11) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Rick Porcello

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

Yesterday's results

Most of the front-runners fell from the top of the BTS pack over the weekend, leaving the leaderboard with some of its lowest numbers since the beginning of the season.

stongematt79 emerged as the new leader with a 21-game streak, with emld75 just behind him at 20 games.

Any attempts to set new all-time or season records are out the window at this point, but there's still one more chance for fans to tack on a final game to their streaks with Tuesday's AL tiebreaker between the Tigers and Twins.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Joe Mauer (MIN): 9.8%, 0-for-3
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 8.8%, 1-for-3
3. Derek Jeter (NYY): 4.6%, 2-for-4
4. Magglio Ordonez (DET): 4.4%, 4-for-4
5. Albert Pujols (STL): 3.6%, 1-for-5

Today's recommended picks

Carlos Beltran, OF, Mets
.455 AVG (5-for-11) lifetime vs. Astros starter Wandy Rodriguez

Aaron Rowand, OF, Giants
.462 AVG (6-for-13) lifetime vs. Padres starter Kevin Correia

Cristian Guzman, SS, Nationals
.429 AVG (9-for-21) since '04 vs. Braves starter Derek Lowe

Saturday's recommended picks

Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
.643 AVG (9-for-14) lifetime vs. Pirates starter Zach Duke

Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
.438 AVG (7-for-16) lifetime vs. Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez

Matt Kemp, OF, Dodgers
.529 AVG (9-for-17) lifetime vs. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa

Sunday's recommended picks

Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers
.550 AVG (11-for-20) lifetime vs. White Sox starter John Danks

Howard Kendrick, 2B, Angels
.625 AVG (5-for-8) lifetime vs. A's starter Edgar Gonzalez; Gonzalez: .292 AVG against in '09

James Loney, 1B, Dodgers
.583 AVG (7-for-12) lifetime vs. Rockies starter Jason Marquis

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

Yesterday's results

With the regular season heading into its final weekend, BTS participants are looking to finish up on a winning note by logging the longest streak possible.

Nearly every member of the Top 10 picked Ichiro Suzuki, a smart move considering his knack for making contact and legging out hits. Sure enough, Ichiro came through with a 2-for-4 day to keep his fans alive in the standings.

Co-leaders da_wid and flipperjoints hit the 30-game mark thanks to Ichiro, while golgota33 and janejohn rode the Seattle speedster up to 25 games and a share of fourth place. Third-place contestant rwildi took the bold step of selecting a different player, but Jimmy Rollins's 1-for-4 effort helped him stay in the running, at 27 games.

mark-henry also avoided Ichiro, but his selection of Dustin Pedroia didn't work out so well. The normally free-swinging Pedroia collected two walks but no hits in five plate appearances, ending mark-henry's run at 26 games.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 13.9%, 2-for-4
2. Joe Mauer (MIN): 6.2%, 2-for-4
3. Kevin Youkilis (BOS): 5.7%, 1-for-3
4. Albert Pujols (STL): 5.3%, 0-for-3
5. Vladimir Guerrero (LAA): 5.2%, 1-for-2

Today's recommended picks

Vladimir Guerrero, OF, Angels
.485 AVG (16-for-33) since '04 vs. Rangers starter Kevin Millwood

Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers
.444 AVG (16-for-36) lifetime vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

Carlos Guillen, OF, Tigers
.440 AVG (11-for-25) lifetime vs. Twins starter Scott Baker

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

Yesterday's results

The opportunity for contestants to topple Joe D. or even to surpass '09 season-record holder Tanner Nielsen may have passed, but that hasn't prevented many of the BTS faithful from attempting to finish the year with the longest active streak.

Going with perhaps the safest picks out there, first-place co-holders da_wid and flipperjoints selected Joe Mauer and Ichiro Suzuki, respectively. Showing why they've ranked at the top of the batting average leaderboard all season, Ichiro (2-for-5) and Mauer (1-for-4) came through once again to boost the leaders' streaks to 29 games.

mark-henry tabbed the surging Troy Tulowitzki (2-for-3) to bump his streak up to 26 games, while rwildi kept pace to hold onto his share of third place by going with hit master Ichiro.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 14.0%, 2-for-5
2. Ryan Howard (PHI): 6.7%, 1-for-2
3. Joe Mauer (MIN): 5.7%, 1-for-4
4. Derek Jeter (NYY): 5.2%, 2-for-2
5. Albert Pujols (STL): 4.8%, 2-for-4

Today's recommended picks

Jeff Francoeur, OF, Mets
.526 AVG (10-for-19) lifetime vs. Nationals starter John Lannan

Ryan Howard, 1B, Phillies
.500 AVG (10-for-20) lifetime vs. Astros starter Brian Moehler

Chipper Jones, 3B, Braves
.478 AVG (11-for-23) lifetime vs. Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco

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

Yesterday's results

bhard1989's chance to run the table and finish the year on top ended yesterday with his selection of Chase Utley. The Phillies second baseman went 0-for-4 vs. the Astros, ending the erstwhile leader's streak at 29 games.

As a result, da_wid and flipperjoints took over first place, at 28 games. Both fans went with old reliable Ichiro Suzuki, who delivered a 1-for-3 performance.

mark-henry and rwildi jumped into a tie for third place, at 25 games, thanks to their respective selections of Denard Span (4-for-9 in doubleheader) and Ichiro. And in keeping with the theme of joint custody, golgota33 and janejohn moved into a tie for fifth, their picks of Ichiro and Rafael Furcal (2-for-4) boosting their runs to 24 games.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 13.4%, 1-for-3
2. Albert Pujols (STL): 5.5%, 1-for-3
3. Derek Jeter (NYY): 4.9%, 1-for-3
4. Brian McCann (ATL): 4.4%, 1-for-4
5. Joe Mauer (MIN): 3.1%, 1-for-8

Today's recommended picks

Jacoby Ellsbury, OF, Red Sox
.545 AVG (6-for-11) lifetime vs. Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero

Mike Napoli, C, Angels
.474 AVG (9-for-19) lifetime vs. Rangers starter Scott Feldman

Jorge Cantu, 1B, Marlins
.455 AVG (5-for-11) lifetime vs. Braves starter Tim Hudson

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

Yesterday's results

With Derek Jeter held out of action yesterday, bhard1989 remained in the top spot at 29 games.

da_wid and flipperjoints moved into a tie for second place at 27 games thanks to their respective picks of Robinson Cano (2-for-4) and Evan Longoria (1-for-4).

mark-henry also tabbed Longoria to take over a share of fourth place at 24 games, while rwildi held steady at 24 due to his selection of the idle Jeter.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 7.7%, 0-for-0
2. Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS): 7.0%, 0-for-2
3. Jason Kubel (MIN): 6.3%, 0-for-0
4. Evan Longoria (TB): 5.5%, 1-for-4
5. Robinson Cano (NYY): 5.2%, 2-for-4

Today's recommended picks

Evan Longoria, 3B, Rays
.500 AVG (6-for-12) lifetime vs. Orioles starter Mark Hendrickson

Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles
.467 AVG (7-for-15) lifetime vs. Rays starter Jeff Niemann

Jason Kubel, OF, Twins
.875 AVG (7-for-8) lifetime vs. Tigers starter Rick Porcello

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

Yesterday's results

With a week left in the regular season, BTS participants are looking to finish strong by wringing out the longest streak possible.

bhard1989 currently sits at the top of the leaderboard with a 29-game streak following yesterday's selection of Derek Jeter (2-for-4). tprice also went with Jeter to claim second place at 27 games, while da_wid and flipperjoints are tied for third at 26 games.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 16.1%, 2-for-4
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 7.9%, 0-for-4
3. Jason Bay (BOS): 5.8%, 2-for-4
4. Hanley Ramirez (FLA): 5.5%, 1-for-4
5. Albert Pujols (STL): 3.5%, 1-for-4

Today's recommended picks

Chase Utley, 2B, Phillies
.533 AVG (8-for-15) since '04 vs. Brewers starter Jeff Suppan

Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Cubs
.429 AVG (6-for-14) since '04 vs. Giants starter Brad Penny

Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs
.462 AVG (6-for-13) lifetime vs. Giants starter Brad Penny

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

Yesterday's results

It was one of those days in which the BTS gods seemingly conspired against the game's leaders.

First, GBaby was knocked from the top spot following his selection of Kevin Youkilis. Youk certainly had his chances in a victory over the Royals, but he could only muster a walk in five plate appearances. The o-fer ended GBaby's streak at 40 games, tied for the eighth-longest mark of the season.

Next, second-place contestant larrythemailman1 and stikid610, who was tied for third, also fell from the pack. The culprit behind the demise of their respective 35- and 33-game streaks was Matt Kemp, who also managed a lone walk in five plate appearances vs. the Nationals.

That left struck00, who received a 1-for-4 performance from Matt Holliday to move up to 34 games, as the new top dog in the standings. It's too late in the season for struck00 to topple DiMaggio's record, but he still has a shot at tying TannerNielsen's season mark of 45 games.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 9.7%, 2-for-4
2. Brian McCann (ATL): 6.0%, 1-for-5
3. Albert Pujols (STL): 4.1%, 1-for-4
4. Dustin Pedroia (BOS): 3.9%, 2-for-3
5. Clint Barmes (COL): 3.7%, 2-for-3

Today's recommended picks

Brian McCann, C, Braves
.478 AVG (11-for-23) lifetime vs. Mets starter Mike Pelfrey

Denard Span, OF, Twins
.500 AVG (10-for-20) lifetime vs. White Sox starter Mark Buehrle

Clint Barmes, 2B, Rockies
.583 AVG (7-for-12) lifetime vs. Padres starter Tim Stauffer

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

Yesterday's results

The good times continued for GBaby, who pushed his BTS-leading streak to 40 games thanks to a 2-for-4 night from Albert Pujols. It marked the ninth time this season a contestant reached that plateau.

Behind GBaby in the standings, larrythemailman1 moved up to 35 games on the strength of Joey Votto's 3-for-4 performance, while stikid610 and struck00 both went with Pujols to wind up at 33 games.

Chone Figgins came through with a 3-for-5 night to bump andy0816's streak up to 29 games, and hacklfam kept pace with a 1-for-3 effort from Ryan Braun.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 15.5%, 1-for-4
2. Ichiro Suzuki (SEA): 8.8%, 1-for-4
3. Albert Pujols (STL): 6.4%, 2-for-4
4. Joey Votto (CIN): 4.1%, 3-for-4
5. Joe Mauer (MIN): 3.1%, 1-for-3

Today's recommended picks

Joey Votto, 1B, Reds
.615 AVG (8-for-13) lifetime vs. Reds starter Zach Duke

Ryan Braun, OF, Brewers
.500 AVG (5-for-10) lifetime vs. Cubs starter Randy Wells

Derek Jeter, SS, Yankees
.474 AVG (9-for-19) lifetime vs. Angels starter Ervin Santana

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

Yesterday's results

GBaby continued his late-season push for BTS glory, receiving a 1-for-4 effort from Joe Mauer to move up to 39 games.

Behind him, the standings remained unchanged. larrythemailman1 stepped up to 34 games thanks to a 2-for-4 showing from Ryan Braun, while Jason Kubel (1-for-5) and Matt Holliday (2-for-4) helped stikid610 and struck00 hold onto their shares of third place, at 32 games.

Yesterday's Top 5 most selected players

1. Derek Jeter (NYY): 11.1%, 2-for-4
2. Ryan Braun (MIL): 9.8%, 2-for-4
3. Joe Mauer (MIN): 6.5%, 1-for-4
4. Albert Pujols (STL): 6.3%, 2-for-5
5. Jacoby Ellsbury (BOS): 4.8%, 1-for-5