Matt Olson has spent the better part of his Braves tenure doing exactly what Atlanta needed from him. Since arriving before the 2022 season, he’s filled the Freddie Freeman-sized hole at first base with big power, steady defense and the kind of production that made him a fan favorite almost immediately.
That’s what makes the second-half dip so jarring. Olson was firmly in the National League MVP mix during the first half of 2026, when he put up a .267/.339/.534 line with 24 doubles, 25 home runs, 58 RBI and a 135 wRC+. He was a major reason the Braves built such a comfortable division lead.
But the bat has cooled hard since then. Olson has not been much of a factor outside of a few clutch homers, and his second-half line has fallen to .212/.293/.457 with a 102 wRC+, just a shade above league average. Over his last 15 games, it’s been even uglier: .150/.203/.233 with 9 hits, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 4 BB and 19 K.
The most glaring issue is that Olson simply isn’t getting on base like he was earlier in the year. His walk percentage has taken a major hit, dropping 34% from an 89% walk rate in 2025 to 55% in 2026. That kind of falloff is a big part of why the offensive impact has gone quiet.
There’s also been a noticeable slip against fastballs. Olson’s batting average on those pitches is down 44 points from last season, from .301 to .257, even though 20 of his homers have come against fastballs. And this slump isn’t being driven by more strikeouts; in fact, his K-rate has improved from 30% last year to 21% this year.
The weird part is that Olson is actually lifting the ball more than ever. His fly ball percentage is the highest of his career at 35.4%.
Yet the power hasn’t been showing up as often lately, and the reason appears to be his launch angle sweet spot percentage. That number has plummeted from 76% in 2025 to 30% in 2026.
In other words, he’s not getting enough lift on the ball. A swing adjustment may be all it takes to straighten that out, and if he can pair that with a better walk rate, the turnaround could come quickly.
Atlanta is going to need Olson to find that form again if it wants a real shot at a deep postseason run.
In Other News...
Braves Ugly At Bats Put Tim Hyers Back Under Fire
The Braves keep running into the same problem at the plate, and it showed up again against Jesus Luzardo. Atlantas hitters chased early, expanded the zone and piled up another string of poor at-bats, a familiar pattern for a club that has lived near the top of baseball in swing and chase rate. Under Tim Hyers, now in his second season as hitting coach, the offense still leans heavily on the long ball and too often looks stuck between hunting damage and simply trying to reach base.
Luzardo took full advantage of that approach by getting Braves hitters to offer at pitches they should have let go, then turning those swings into weak contact. For a lineup built to punish mistakes, the bigger issue is how often it is helping pitchers escape trouble instead. The lack of plate discipline has followed Atlanta through regular-season slumps and postseason frustrations alike, and it keeps putting Hyers back in the spotlight whenever the bats go quiet again. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Rotation Gets A Huge Test As Reynaldo Lopez Returns
Reynaldo Lopez is set to give the Braves a welcome boost on Wednesday against the Rays, with manager Walt Weiss saying the right-hander will come off the 15-day injured list to make the start. Lopez has missed six weeks because of left knee inflammation, and his return comes at an important time for an Atlanta staff that is trying to keep everyone lined up through a packed stretch of games.
The move also gives the Braves some flexibility with Bryce Elder, who will shift to the bullpen for the moment while he works through a minor knee issue. Elder is not expected to land on the injured list, but Atlanta is clearly juggling its rotation carefully as it tries to manage innings and stay healthy while Lopez gets back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Split In Philly Leaves One Offensive Question Hanging
The Braves left Philadelphia with a split and, as usual, the box score only told part of the story. What stood out over the series was the way Atlanta kept sending fly balls the other way, even though those contact points tend to produce weaker outcomes than balls pulled with authority. For a club built around impact bats, it was a curious pattern to watch unfold against the Phillies.
Ronald Acua Jr. was part of that conversation, too, especially in the way he handled pitches on the outer half of the plate. He also turned around a high-velocity pitch on the outer edge of the strike zone for a home run, a reminder of how dangerous he can be even when opponents try to live away from him. The bigger question hanging over the Braves is whether this preference for opposite-field fly balls is a real part of the identity now or just an inconsistent stretch that keeps showing up at the wrong time. [Read more 🡒]