The Atlanta Braves have overcome key injuries this season, but it hasn't been thanks to the production of their corner infielders.
First baseman Matt Olson and third baseman Austin Riley are both having down years at the plate, which makes it even more miraculous that an Acuña-less Braves team finds themselves atop the National League Wild Card with 51 games remaining.
On Monday, Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer listed both Olson and Riley high on his list of players with the most to prove for the rest of 2024.
Rymer pointed out the discrepancy in combined OPS for Olson and Riley between this season and last, with the pair compiling a .749 OPS in 2024 compared to .926 in 2023. Furthermore, Rymer noted that Olson and Riley combined for 91 home runs last season, but have only combined for 33 this season (with the year two-thirds complete).
"It's a fall from grace," Rymer said. "It's only fair to note that reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. was also having a rough one before he tore his ACL in late May. Yet whereas Atlanta had no choice but to hope that event would spur Olson and Riley, they've only modestly improved to a combined .765 OPS since Acuña played his last game on May 26."
"With five homers in his last nine games, Olson seems motivated to bring the best possible outcome. But Riley? Less so. That's as many homers as he has in his last 25 games."
Luckily for Atlanta, Marcell Ozuna is having an MVP season that makes up for a lot of the lost production. Even so, Olson and Riley will have to get it going soon if the Braves want to have any real chance of advancing in the playoffs and contending for a World Series.
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