Michael Harris II hasn't always been the most reliable person when it comes to offensive production. A big reason for that is how often he chases pitches out of the zone. To be fair, he's able to hit pitches out of the zone well at times. But it's not a recipe for success.
However, that, along with his inability to usually draw walks, has often held Harris back from playing at the superstar level he's capable of. 2026 saw some of the same issues, but Harris was a bit more consistent. He had his best season since 2023 with a .294/.321/.491 slash line, 36 doubles, 26 homers, 87 RBI, 23 walks, 119 strikeouts, and a 121 wRC+.
Harris' walk rate was still pretty terrible, but his strikeout rate improved a good bit. The biggest thing that stands out is the consistency at the plate. He produced hits more often and seemed more like himself this season.
That great work has carried over into the postseason, and he's one of the hottest hitters on the team. So far, Harris has a .400/.429/.700 slash line, one double, one triple, one home run, four RBI, and a 1.129 OPS through five games. He's been one of the bright spots in the offense, next to Ozzie Albies.
The problem is that he can't be expected to do this the entire time. It's been a struggle for the top of Atlanta's offense to produce consistently, and that has to change. Baldwin and Acuna need to work on things, but Matt Olson may be the most important piece of that puzzle.
Matt Olson has tons of praise for the @Braves bullpen and Michael Harris II after NLDS Game 2! pic.twitter.com/VYsHdS7DfU
— MLB (@MLB) October 5, 2026
Matt Olson needs to find himself soon so that Michael Harris II has some help in the lineup
Olson is one of the most dangerous bats in the lineup, and opposing pitchers know it. Olson is a player they cannot afford to let beat them. It hasn't helped that he's had to deal with some of the best left-handed pitchers in baseball in almost every game.
Which is tough to see, as Olson had a .261 average, 16 homers, a .506 slugging percentage, and an .824 OPS against left-handed pitching in 2026. So far in the postseason, Atlanta's first baseman has a .158 average, a .543 OPS, one homer, three RBI, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 19 at-bats. 12 of those at-bats have come against left-handed pitchers. He's going to have to remember how to hit southpaws well if the Braves want a shot at beating the Dodgers and advancing to the NLCS.
Luckily for Olson, he will face a right-handed pitcher on Tuesday night. The downside is that he'll face Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who is one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. It is a tall task, but it's time for Olson to show up.
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