Is Matt Olson being overlooked in the National League MVP race?

Is Matt Olson being overlooked in the National League MVP race? originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here .

Matt Olson isn't the favorite to win the National League MVP award.

But dismissing the Atlanta Braves first baseman from the conversation would be increasingly difficult.

Olson has put together one of the strongest seasons of his career, entering the final stretch with 36 home runs, 77 RBIs, 31 doubles and an .865 OPS. He has accumulated 4.1 Baseball-Reference WAR while once again providing Atlanta with durability in the middle of its lineup.

He has an argument. But right now, Pete Crow-Armstrong appears to have the stronger one.

MLB.com latest MVP poll placed Crow-Armstrong atop a crowded NL race, while Shohei Ohtani remains firmly in contention despite a knee issue preventing him from pitching since July 3.

Olson's case begins with power and consistency.

On Aug. 16, Olson launched his 36th homer of the season, a three-run shot that gave Atlanta the lead against Arizona . At the time, it also gave him an MLB-leading 66 extra-base hits.

Olson finished fourth in NL MVP voting in 2023 after producing 54 home runs and 139 RBIs. Braves manager Walt Weiss believes Olson might actually be a more complete hitter now, even if he doesn't match those massive power totals.

But winning MVP requires separating from elite competition.

Crow-Armstrong has combined power, speed and premium center-field defense into perhaps the NL's best all-around season. Ohtani remains one of baseball's most dangerous offensive players, and candidates such as Kyle Schwarber are also part of the discussion.

That's where Olson faces his biggest challenge.

A first baseman must produce overwhelming offensive numbers to overcome the positional value provided by an elite defensive center fielder such as Crow-Armstrong. Olson's 4.1 bWAR is excellent, but it doesn't currently separate him from the field.

If Olson finishes with a September surge, reaches or surpasses 45 homers and helps drive Atlanta through the stretch run, voters could look at his candidacy differently.

Right now, Olson shouldn't be called the NL MVP favorite.

But he absolutely belongs in the conversation.

And with more than a month remaining, the Braves slugger still has time to turn an MVP-caliber season into an MVP-winning one.