MLB All-Star Game starters 2023: 3 biggest snubs from starting lineups

1. Matt Olson, 1B, Atlanta Braves (Starter: Freddie Freeman, Los Angeles Dodgers)

Talk about narratives writing themselves. The two finalists for the first base starting spot in the National League were former Brave and current Dodger Freddie Freeman and his replacement in Atlanta, Matt Olson. Ultimately, it was Freeman who got the nod.

Make no mistake, Freeman is deserving in his own right with extremely impressive numbers this season. The Dodgers first baseman is hitting .317 with a .938 OPS and a 150 OPS+ on the season while hitting a league-leading 27 doubles along with 14 home runs and driving in 49 RBI. As mentioned in the intro, there aren’t any true snubs from the finalists because, well, Freeman has been great.

But so too as Olson. And frankly, it’s odd to not have the NL leader in home runs and RBI, which is where Olson is at for the Braves this season, smashing 26 home runs on the year with 62 RBi already to his credit, giving him an .888 OPS and 134 OPS+.

Admittedly, Freeman has a decisive edge in numerous statistical categories with an average that is 80 points better, a better OPS and OPS+ and accruing 1.2 more WAR to this point in the season. Having said that, Olson has been one of the best power hitters in baseball this year and not having him represent the best team in the NL at the MLB All-Star Game is going to be odd.

Once more, we can’t call it a true snub, but it’s odd that Olson isn’t going to be at first base with the power numbers he’s put up in the 2023 campaign.