Matt Olson Voices What Everyone's Thinking as Braves Hit Rock Bottom at the Plate

Apr 4, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson (28) in the dugout before a game against the Miami Marlins at Truist Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images

They say the first step to solving a problem is recognizing it exists and clearly defining it. Well, the Atlanta Braves are definitely at that point. Whether it’s on the field or in postgame interviews, the frustration is becoming more visible with every loss. Fans and media have been letting it fly for weeks now, and I get it. We’ve all been there and still are, living and dying with every pitch. But when it’s the team itself expressing that same level of frustration, you know the walls are closing in.

After Atlanta’s 3-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays yesterday, Matt Olson summed up the mood better than anyone. “We gotta play better. There’s no secret to that,” he said. “Sure, we got a lot of games left, but we can’t do this sh*t forever. We gotta find a way to start playing better baseball all the way around.”

Olson’s words didn’t come from a heated outburst, but from the tone of someone who knows this group is far better than what it’s showing. But facts are facts — the Braves were flat-out bad yesterday in the hitting department. No other way to put it. Atlanta struck out 19 times as a team, tying a franchise record and falling just one shy of the MLB all-time mark for a nine-inning game. That’s the kind of number that’ll make the headlines — and not in a good way.

Sure, some of that blame has to be shared. Home plate umpire Bill Miller was all over the place with his strike zone. Several pitches off the plate were getting called strikes, throwing off both hitters and the rhythm of the game. But even with that context, the Braves' approach at the plate just wasn’t good enough.

This isn’t a one-off issue either. Atlanta now ranks third in the majors in strikeouts with 178 through 18 games. The team is batting just .222 overall, with a .301 OBP and .373 slugging — adding up to a .674 OPS that ranks near the bottom third in baseball. They've scored one run or fewer in six different games already.

And it’s not just a problem getting hits — it’s a problem getting hits when they matter. The Braves went 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts with runners in scoring position on Wednesday. That kind of inefficiency has been the story of the season. Atlanta has a .273 on-base percentage with runners in scoring position, the second-lowest in the majors ahead of only the Colorado Rockies (.250).

Individually, it’s been tough sledding for some key guys. Michael Harris II is sitting at a .179 average, Matt Olson is hitting .203, and Austin Riley, while one of the leaders on the team with a .284 mark and five homers, has also struck out 26 times.

After the game, manager Brian Snitker was basically at a loss for words, it seems. "I think individually, we all have to make adjustments... and see where it's... Yeah, I don't know," Snitker said. It seems that he is almost in disbelief at what is actually going on. I am sure he realizes the magnification of the situation, but it would be nice to know something. Ultimately, it does fall back on him as the manager, whether you think it's right or not. Whatever adjustments need to be made, should have been addressed before now.

Add in the mental weight of falling to 5-13 on the year, and you start to understand where Olson’s comments are coming from. Fans might say, “well they’re millionaire athletes, they can take it.” And sure, that comes with the territory — but that doesn’t make it easier when you’re under the microscope every single night, and the scoreboard doesn’t move in your favor.

With Spencer Strider finally back and showing signs of being himself again, the Braves can only hope that some momentum starts to swing their way. Even Strider made it known yesterday that he was here to handle business, and his mindset wasn't on the "feel good" story that most of us were on yesterday, in regards to him. “My job isn’t to come back and have a moment and all that,” Strider said. “That’s not how I look at it. I’m here to help the team.” The Atlanta Braves will get a chance to reset as they head home to face the Minnesota Twins, but unless the bats start doing their part, this script is going to keep repeating.

At least now, no one’s pretending everything is fine — and maybe that’s the first real step forward.