Walt Weiss faces many problems this spring when it comes to managing the Atlanta Braves' roster, but first base isn’t one of them. When he writes Matt Olson’s name near the top of lineup card, he knows he’s inserting superb defense at first and a 30-homer bat who is likely to play every single day.
In an era where days off are commonplace and everyone appears to be overly cautious, Olson is a throwback and one that could be a key advantage for the Braves in 2026 and beyond.
The best ability is availability, and no ne’s been more available than Matt Olson
Braves fans know, because announcers tell us every couple of games, that Olson is the active leader with 782 consecutive games played, putting him 12th on the all-time list.