If the Braves were riding the wave of a championship into another successful season, the spotlight wouldn’t be so bright on the only major lineup change from that World Series winner. But here we are, with Atlanta below .500 in the nascent days of June and sitting 10 1/2 games back of the Mets in the National League East, further than it was at any point of last season.
Within an offense that’s largely been stuck in neutral, Matt Olson isn’t the reason for those frustrations (though it hasn’t all been perfect). In fact, he’s been the lineup’s most productive qualified hitter in a group that is 14th in runs scored, 21st in fWAR and seen two everyday players in Ozzie Albies and Adam Duvall suddenly become below league average hitters.