Matt Olson gave Braves fans a familiar jolt on Wednesday night, and the swing came with a number that stands out even more than the score.
Atlanta was facing the Mets in the second game of a three-game set, and Olson stepped in during the top of the sixth inning with the Braves needing a spark. He delivered one, crushing a two-run homer to pull the game even at 2-2. In the process, he added another entry to a stat line that has become downright lopsided against New York.
According to Jorge Castillo of ESPN, that blast was Olson’s 21st career home run against the Mets, the most by any active player against the club. The next closest names are Phillies stars Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who are tied at 13.
“Matt Olson has hit 21 home runs against the Mets since joining the Braves in 2022, per ESPN Insights,” Castillo reported. “That's eight more than anyone else (Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper have each hit 13).”
The number is even more eye-catching when you zoom out. Olson has 316 career home runs, which means 21 of them have come against the Mets. That works out to about 6.65% of his total long balls coming in games against New York.
The 32-year-old first baseman has been doing more than punishing one opponent, though. He came into Wednesday with 109 hits, 27 home runs, and 63 RBIs in 413 at-bats, along with a .264 batting average and a .343 OBP.
And with the Braves sitting in control of the NL East, Olson’s bat remains a major reason they’ve stayed in the mix. The four-time All-Star has been a steady force for Atlanta, and the 11-year veteran looks like he’ll keep driving that lineup through the second half of the 2026 campaign.
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