Matt Olson, Drake Baldwin powering Atlanta Braves’ offense

Matt Olson normally hits two spots behind Drake Baldwin within the Atlanta Braves‘ lineup, which suggests he’s typically on the high step of the dugout, about to stroll into the on-deck circle, when Baldwin finishes an at-bat. Some of their best conversations happen in these temporary moments of time.

The two distinctive left-handed hitters, seven years and 9 massive league seasons aside, will use it to speak what the analytics do not fairly seize — the place to select the baseball up out of the hand, how sure pitches look as they method house plate, what changes should be made due to it.

“We obviously get pitched a little bit differently because we have a little bit of different swings,” Baldwin stated. “But any information is good information.”

The Braves start simply their fourth homestand Tuesday — beginning with a three-game sequence in opposition to the red-hot Chicago Cubs — and are already operating away with the National League East, thanks largely to an offense that has been the most effective within the sport. And Olson, a three-time All-Star on tempo for his finest season, and Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, are main the best way.

Olson, 32, has homered 14 occasions, pushed in 36 runs, slashed .296/.377/.654 and produced a 178 wRC+, tied with Aaron Judge for the third-highest mark within the majors. Baldwin, 25, has hit 10 house runs and slashed .297/.383/.509 in his second 12 months, prompting Olson to name him “one of the best bat-to-ball guys I’ve played with.”

“It’s not soft bat-to-ball, either,” Olson stated. “He’s putting it on the barrel it feels like every at-bat.”

Baldwin ranks inside the high 15% within the sport in hard-hit charge whereas additionally main the majors with 17 hits on pitches outdoors the strike zone. He’s additionally doing issues unusual for his profile. Like being a left-handed hitter who has OPS’d .965 in opposition to left-handed pitching. Or being a second-year participant who has slugged .410 on two-strike counts, 133 factors above the main league common.

Braves officers have been struck by the strides Baldwin has made as a catcher, notably his work with pitchers, however are unsurprised by his manufacturing on offense. It was anticipated after they drafted him, confirmed as he emerged via each minor league stage and validated as he regularly made changes to excel as a rookie.

“This is just a continuation of what he did last year,” Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos stated. “It’s expected, to be honest with you.”

His crew’s dominance, nevertheless, may not have been.

The Braves’ streak of seven consecutive playoff appearances resulted in a brutal 2025 season that started with an 0-7 report and hit all-time low with an 8-17 July. The begin of this 12 months was simply as calamitous. Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim slipped on ice and broke a finger in January, left fielder Jurickson Profar was handed a 162-game suspension in March for a second PED violation, and 4 beginning pitchers — Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, Spencer Schwellenbach and Joey Wentz — suffered accidents forward of the common season.

Still, FanGraphs gave the Braves a 36% probability to win the division on Opening Day. The Braves then received 25 of their first 35 video games, their finest begin for the reason that nineteenth century. All advised, they’ve misplaced solely certainly one of their 13 sequence. And now, with the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies foundering, and the Braves’ lead within the NL East at 9 video games, FanGraphs has these odds at 85.7%.

Lots you’ve got gone into that. Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II have bounced again from down years. Chris Sale37, continues to appear to be one of many sport’s finest pitchers. Bryce Elder you’ve got elevated to a different stage. The bullpen trio of Dylan Lee, Robert Suarez and Raisel Iglesias you’ve got been virtually unhittable. Less-heralded gamers akin to Mauricio Dubon, Dominic Smith and Martin Perez have stepped up. Meanwhile, Baldwin has been a relentless supply of high quality at-bats on the high of the lineup, one which paces the game in runs and OPS, and Olson has been a significant presence behind him.

Braves first-year supervisor Walt Weiss served because the crew’s bench coach when Olson hit a significant league-leading 54 house runs in 2023. But Weiss believes Olson is “swinging the bat even better now,” noting his batting common — 13 factors larger than his earlier profession excessive — and the best way he appears to be driving pitches with authority to the other area.

A small tweak has helped. Olson typically tends to lean again when his entrance foot hits the bottom, throwing off his bat path and sapping a few of his energy. Mike Trout had the same challenge, prompting him to incorporate a step back into his load. Olson has mounted it with psychological cues. He must really feel as if he is falling ahead, so he’ll visualize dropping his entrance shoulder or crunching his proper rib cage earlier than beginning his swing. As Olson stated: “I’m just playing for a tie.”

Olson is simply the sixth participant to build up no less than 28 extra-base hits, rating 35 runs and tally 33 RBIs via his first 37 video games of a season, becoming a member of Nap Lajoie (1901), Lou Gehrig (1927), Babe Ruth (1928), Willie Mays (1965) and Lance Berkman (2008). Before Olson, solely eight gamers had ever led the majors in doubles, runs and RBIs at any level in May, in accordance with analysis by the Elias Sports Bureau. This month additionally noticed him crank his three hundredth profession house run, sparking dialog about whether or not 500 is feasible and, if that’s the case, whether or not a Hall of Fame induction may comply with.

Olson, about as unassuming as anybody of his stature, stated he thought of it for “maybe a second.”

“I think it’s natural to think about it, but I don’t think it’s going to do any good,” he added. “I’ve always been just kind of a put your head down and start walking and when you pick your head up, see where you’re at. It’s great. But I just don’t really care. I want to win with some good teammates, have some fun, and win a World Series.”

With Kim again from the injured checklist, Ronald Acuna Jr.. not distant and Strider trying sharp, the Braves — coming off a sequence win over the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers — appear to be legit World Series contenders.

The Braves have received a significant league-best 28 video games, and Baldwin has scored no less than eleven in 21 certainly one of them — a testomony to each his on-base capability and Olson’s prowess behind him. Their convergence was set in movement 4 years in the past. In March of 2022, when Anthopoulos felt uneasy concerning the prospects of re-signing Freddie Freemanhe jumped on the alternative to land one other first baseman, buying Olson from the Athletics for a prospect-laden bundle headlined by then 24-year-old catcher Shea Langeliers. Nine months later, the Braves handled one other younger, promising catcher in William Contreras as a part of a three-team commerce.

Langeliers and Contreras have advanced into two of the sport’s finest behind the plate, however their departures helped give Baldwin a path — from third-round draft decide to swapping intel on pitchers with Olson.

“He just puts as many good swings on the ball as anyone I’ve ever seen,” Baldwin stated of his teammate. “I’m still trying to learn how to do that.”