WASHINGTON — When Matt Olson crushed a three-run homer in the top of the fifth inning on Monday night at Nationals Park, it wasnâ€t just any home run.
It was his fifth homer in his past nine games, and his third straight game with a home run. The last time he had a streak like that was in September 2023, when he hit long balls in four consecutive games.
Olson, who on Sunday had secured his fourth straight season with at least 25 home runs, dominated the Nats†pitching staff as he racked up four RBIs and led the Braves to an 11-3 win to open the four-game set.
Olsonâ€s offensive outpouring backed Spencer Striderâ€s second straight quality start, as the righty threw seven innings of one-run ball and allowed just four hits (one home run).
The highlight of Olsonâ€s 4-for-5 night was undeniably that three-run blast. Olson jumped Nats starter Mitchell Parker immediately, singling in his first at-bat then doubling to lead off the fourth inning.
By the time Olson stepped to the plate in the fifth, with two on and two outs, there seemed only one logical result: Another hit.
Olson mashed a curveball from Parker a Statcast-projected 400 feet into the right-field stands.
“He’s a professional hitter,†Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo said. “He can hit lefties, he can hit righties. He’s a professional hitter. He’s a really good first baseman. A superstar. You make a mistake with him, he makes you pay.”
“He jumped on one bad pitch,†Parker said. “We were doing well, he just got the curveball and he did what he was supposed to do.”
Arguably, itâ€s no fault of Parkerâ€s — even if he did leave the 80.5 mph pitch middle-middle to one of Atlantaâ€s best hitters. The first baseman has been on an obscene tear of late, hitting .386 in 13 games in this final month of the season.
That continued on Monday, when he finished a triple shy of the cycle for the fourth time this season (the 10th time in his career) while tallying four RBIs for just the second time this year (July 2 vs. the Angels).
But, while the numbers are impressive, itâ€s Olsonâ€s demeanor that really strikes a chord with his teammates and coaches.
“Itâ€s just how he’s been,†manager Brian Snitker said. “He’s swinging the bat really, really well and looking at having a really good year again. So, it’s nice to see. …
“[Itâ€s] just the consistency and stability that you get with a guy like that, and the teammates know he’s going to come to work every day and he’s going to prepare and he’s going to show up and play. I mean, he signed the contract, and he plays the games, and he’s just such a calming influence on guys, I think. And just the steadiness and professionalism and everything that he brings, it’s really special.â€
Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin, who went 3-for-5 with a home run of his own, echoed his managerâ€s sentiments.
“Olson just comes in here and does it every day,†Baldwin said. “He’s the same guy every day. He goes and gets his work done. I mean, he’s just a lead-by-example guy and a great guy to have in the clubhouse. …
“If he’s struggling a little bit or doing really well, itâ€s literally the same guy. And I think that’s huge in baseball, because of all the ups and downs. I mean, tonight he had a huge night, and just seems like he’s going to go in there tomorrow and he’s going to do everything the exact same and and play his hardest.â€
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