Batting Around: Will Braves slugger Matt Olson hit 60 home runs in 2023?

Olson, the MLB leader, is currently on pace for 58 homers

Throughout the season the CBS Sports MLB experts will bring you a weekly Batting Around roundtable breaking down pretty much anything. The latest news, a historical question, thoughts about the future of baseball, all sorts of stuff. Last week we debated the AL West favorite. This week we're going to tackle Matt Olson's shot at a milestone with the Braves slugger currently on pace for 58 home runs.

Will Matt Olson hit 60 home runs?

R.J. Anderson: I hope Olson does. I enjoy home-run chases and he's having the kind of year that merits more national coverage. That said, my rational side says no, he won't cross the 60-homer threshold. If he hit home runs at his career rate the rest of the way, he's looking at something like 54 or 55. Still a gaudy total and a tremendous season by any measure. Of course, as we saw last year with Aaron Judge, regression doesn't always come into play on these matters.

Dayn Perry: I'll say no because I'm a hater. I also tend to take the under on any record paces, even this late in the season, and usually that stance is the correct one. Mostly, though, I'm a hater, and I like to see most people deprived of what they want. 

Matt Snyder: In all likelihood, his pace falls off. There are things to watch along the way that'll make the chase exciting, though. Hank Aaron never hit more than 47 in a season and that mark is tied with Eddie Mathews for the second-most in Braves history. The Braves club record is 51 (Andruw Jones in 2005). Just getting up into that territory is fun and I think Olson does set the team record. I really do hope Olson gets around 60 and some of the networks cut into college football games for his at-bats again, though, like with Aaron Judge last year. It was beyond hilarious to watch a collective meltdown on social media because people missed a few plays of a Tulane game last year. 

Mike Axisa: Olson goes into Friday's game with 43 home runs in 120 team games, putting him on pace for 58. Seventeen homers in the final 42 team games is very doable -- Olson has 19 homers in the team's last 44 games -- though it is a pretty extreme pace, and I have to think the Braves will give him a few days off later in the season. I know Atlanta plays its best players every single game, but the Braves have a huge division lead and the priority is winning the World Series, not individual players getting into all 162 games. I think Olson finishes with 57 or 58 homers and falls just short. That would still give us a fun chase though.