Pete Crow-Armstrong has snagged the top spot in the latest MLB.com NL MVP poll, which means Matt Olson, even with a monster season brewing, isn’t the front-runner. Yeah, you heard that right, Olson’s been absolutely mashing, but the conversation is still wide open, and he’s gotta fight for it. It’s tough to just dismiss the guy, especially with how he’s been swinging the bat.
Olson’s Bat Is Pure Fire, So What’s the Holdup?
Look, Olson’s putting together one of the strongest seasons of his career. We’re talking 36 dingers, 77 RBI, 31 doubles, and an .865 OPS. The dude’s also got a 4.1 Baseball-Reference WAR, and he’s a rock in the middle of Atlanta’s lineup. On August 16, he absolutely launched his 36th homer, a three-run shot that grabbed the lead against Arizona. At that point, he was leading MLB with 66 extra-base hits. This ain’t new territory either, remember how he finished fourth in NL MVP voting back in 2023 with 54 bombs and 139 RBI? Braves manager Walt Weiss even thinks Olson’s a more complete hitter now, even if he doesn’t hit those massive power totals from a couple of years ago. So, the guy’s got a legit MVP argument.
Crow-Armstrong and Ohtani Are Bringing the Heat
Here’s the rub: winning MVP means separating yourself from some seriously elite competition. Crow-Armstrong is putting up a ridiculous all-around season, mixing power with speed and some truly premium center-field defense. That’s probably the NL’s best all-around game right now. Then you’ve got Shohei Ohtani still firmly in the mix, even with a knee issue keeping him off the mound since early July; his bat is just too dangerous to ignore. And don’t forget about guys like Kyle Schwarber who are also in the discussion. Olson’s biggest challenge? As a first baseman, you need absolutely overwhelming offensive numbers to beat out the positional value from an elite defensive center fielder like Crow-Armstrong. Olson’s 4.1 bWAR is fantastic, but it just doesn’t quite separate him from this stacked field.
It’s not over yet. There’s still over a month left in the season. If Olson can catch fire in September, push past 45 homers, and really drive Atlanta through the stretch run, voters might see his candidacy totally differently. He’s not the favorite right now, but he absolutely belongs in the conversation. Let’s see if this slugger can turn an MVP-caliber season into an MVP-winning one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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