Matt Olson has been the epitome of health for the Braves

Playing first base has helped Matt Olson maintain this streak

Olson has maintained his durability because he plays first base. Not a physically taxing position like center field or shortstop, which requires high athleticism, first basemen are limited in their range of motion. 

Olson doesn't have much to play to his right, with Albies covering most of the ground, leaving foul territory to his left to catch popups. 

Since 2022, Olson has started 647 games at first base and finished 640 of them. Even with the designated hitter’s spot available, Olson has only DH’d four times, and that was all in 2021 before the streak. 

The Braves do have first baseman/designated hitter Dominic Smith on the roster to back up Olson. However, Smith will mostly be the Braves' DH against right-handers — Smith batted .296 with an OPS of .779 against right-handed pitching last season. Manager Walt Weiss could interchange Smith and Olson if he feels the need to give Olson a half day off his feet but keep his bat in the lineup. 

Matt Olson has been the epitome of health for the Braves

Olson is the only Braves regular who has not spent one day on the injured list during his run. Second baseman Ozzie Albies (left hamate), third baseman Austin Riley (strained lower abdominal muscle), center fielder Michael Harris II (left hamstring), and right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (both ACLs) each have missed significant time. 

Injuries have also ravaged the Braves' starting rotation. Right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach (bone spurs) went down at the beginning of spring training, while right-hander Spencer Strider (oblique) recently went on the injured list. 

Sandwiched in between Schwellenbach and Strider’s injuries was left-hander Joey Wentz, tearing his ACL after colliding with a Tampa Bay Rays baserunner. Right-hander Huston Waldrep (bone spurs) will also miss a significant portion of the season.

Depth pieces will be critical for the Braves to stay afloat to begin the year

Given all the injuries, the Braves will need depth pieces, such as right-hander Osvaldo Bido and even a prospect, right-hander Didier Fuentes, to step up. Bido was claimed off waivers from the New York Yankees to fill in for Strider, while Fuentes (a natural starter) was called up to work out of the bullpen. 

Fuentes, 20, had an outstanding spring, striking out 18 in 13.2 innings and allowing one earned run. Bido also did well, striking out seven in 7.0 innings. 

Infielder Mauricio Dubon will also be relied on to fill in at shortstop until Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) returns. Not known for his hitting, Dubon batted .311 with a .821 OPS with six RBI this spring.