Matt Olson has been one of the most consistent forces in the lineup for the Atlanta Braves since being acquired from the A's. He was thrust into a tough spot, having to follow in the footsteps of Freddie Freeman. However, he has handled it incredibly well and has filled the void excellently.
Olson's defensive and offensive performances have him on the path to becoming a Hall of Famer at some point. He currently has 293 career homers (151 as a Brave), 1,177 hits, and an .861 OPS. However, his ability to be in the lineup every day could boost those chances even more.
If his Cooperstown case is borderline, Matt Olson being a modern-day Iron Man could prove decisive
Olson's streak of consecutive games played was in jeopardy during the 2022 season, but he ended up playing first base during the final two innings of that game to save the streak. Olson has now appeared in 800 consecutive games and has surpassed Nellie Fox for the 11th-longest streak in MLB history.
Matt Olson has now played in 800 consecutive games, the longest active streak and 11th longest streak in MLB history!
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) April 15, 2026
MLB’s modern day iron man 💪 pic.twitter.com/Tm69XHSAgR
If he appears in every game for the rest of the season, he will surpass Gus Suhr, Eddie Yost, and Stan Musial. That would give Olson 944 consecutive games played and the 8th-longest streak. Braves manager Walt Weiss is impressed by his first baseman's ability to play every day.
“But typically, there's always something, you know, a nick here or there that keeps you out, or even getting sick for a day. Guys come up with a stomach flu or something for a day, and you can't play. This guy's played through it all and continues to do so.”
Olson is one of the most dependable players on this roster, and that is incredibly valuable. If he plays every game through the 2027 and 2028 seasons, he would pass Steve Garvey with the 4th-longest streak at 1,268 games played.
He has some work to do after that, but would reach third on the list at some point in the 2029 season. If he completes every game, he will be at 1,430 games played. He has a club option for the 2030 season before he reaches free agency.
It'll take Olson a few seasons after that to reach the records set by Lou Gehrig and Cal Ripken Jr. However, it's wild to think Olson will reach the top five of this list in the next couple of years. It can't be understated how impressive it is to be in the lineup every single day.