Braves' Matt Olson Shares Injury Update Before Red Sox Game

Atlanta Bravesfirst basemanMatt Olson remains the most durable player in MLB. He currently holds the longest active consecutive games played streak, one that dates back to his time before joining the Braves.

Olson began his career with the Athletics, who traded him to Atlanta ahead of the 2022 season. He has not missed a single game over the past five years and has appeared in all 45 games this season for an Atlanta team that owns a 31-14 record, the best mark in baseball.

Despite playing every day, Olson's performance has not dipped. He has posted a .287 batting average, .364 on-base percentage, .979 OPS, 14 home runs and 37 RBIs. He is firmly in the National League MVP conversation.

During Friday's game against the Boston Red Sox, Olson had a rare hitless night, going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. After one of those strikeouts in the eighth inning, he was seen in visible discomfort, grabbing at his elbow and forearm area.

Speaking with reporters before Saturday's game, Olson downplayed the moment, saying his reaction was simply due to a bad swing and nothing to worry about. The interesting part, however, came when manager Walt Weiss was asked about any potential injury concerns minutes later.

Weiss acknowledged that Olson's elbow does bother him at times on certain swings and misses. He added that it has not been a lingering issue in the past and that he is not concerned for now (h/t Mark Bowman of MLB.com).

Matt Olson said he was just reacting to a bad swing when he grabbed his elbow/forearm after swinging through strike three in last night's eighth inning. He said it's nothing to worry about.

— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) May 16, 2026

Considering how tough Olson is, he likely does not want to risk missing any time on the field, not just to protect his streak but because he prides himself on being an iron man.

Still, Atlanta needs to be careful. There is no reason to push through any discomfort in May when his bat will matter far more in a potential postseason run.

For now, Olson will remain in the lineup. He has been the most important player on one of the best teams in baseball, but the Braves will keep a close eye on their first baseman moving forward.

Related: Walt Weiss Announces Ronald Acuna Jr. Decision After 10 Missed Braves Games

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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 5:55 PM.