The Atlanta Braves are heading into a pivotal three-game series against the New York Mets at Truist Park, and with their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the team will need key performances from their core hitters to get the job done.
While the offense has been inconsistent at times, a few Braves bats have consistently delivered when facing their division rivals. As the series kicks off on Tuesday, here are three players to watch who could tip the scales in Atlanta’s favor.
Marcell Ozuna
Though Ozuna’s power numbers have dipped recently—just one home run over his last 31 games—he’s still been a consistent contributor. During this “power slump,” Ozuna hasn’t lost his touch at the plate, batting .310 with a .389 on-base percentage while crossing the plate 14 times. This series against the Mets presents the perfect opportunity for Ozuna to reignite that power stroke and give the Braves a much-needed offensive spark.
Matt Olson
Matt Olson is another key player who thrives against the Mets, even during rough patches. While Olson hasn’t been the dominant force we’ve come to expect for much of this season, he’s shown flashes of brilliance against New York. Over 10 games this year, Olson has hit .263 with a solid .912 OPS, hammering three home runs and driving in seven runs. And here’s the kicker—all of those performances came during a prolonged slump.
From April 8 to July 28, the stretch when the Braves played all their games against the Mets this season, Olson batted just .220 with a .668 OPS overall. But even during that rough patch, he consistently came up big against New York, proving that he’s the guy Atlanta can count on when it matters most. With his bat heating up again, Olson could be the difference-maker in this high-stakes series.
Ozzie Albies
With the switch-hitter currently only batting right-handed due to an injury, he’s going to see two left-handed starters from the Mets this week. Albies has crushed left-handed pitching all season, hitting .340 with a .903 OPS when batting righty.
Given that he’s only facing lefties as a right-handed batter this year, these upcoming matchups could be tailor-made for him to have a breakout performance. With the Braves pushing for the playoffs, this is a golden opportunity for Albies to shine and help Atlanta secure those crucial wins.
As the Braves prepare for this do-or-die series against the Mets, the performances of Ozuna, Olson, and Albies will be critical. Each player has shown they can produce when facing New York, and with Atlanta’s playoff hopes on the line, they’ll need to continue that trend. If these three can deliver, the Braves could very well find themselves in the driver’s seat for a postseason berth.
