While ailing Ohtani stops…’45 Cannon’ Olson leads all MLB in home runs

Matt Olson (Atlanta Braves) has moved into sole possession of first place in Major League Baseball’s home run lead, passing Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels), who has been sidelined by injury.

Olson started at first base, batting fourth, against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday (June 6) at Truiste Park in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and activated the home run machine.

With the bases loaded in the sixth inning and his team trailing 2-9, he hit a changeup from Miles Mikolas for a solo shot over the center field fence.

It was his second home run in as many games and his 45th of the season, after hitting one the day before against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The blast moved him past Ohtani, who was tied for the major league lead in home runs, and into sole possession of first place.

Olson is on pace to reach the 50-homer plateau, surpassing his previous single-season record of 39 (set in 2021).

Ohtani, who had been battling with Olson for the major league lead in home runs, has seen red flags in his health recently.

The former two-hitter was diagnosed with ligament damage in his right arm late last month. He decided to take a break from the mound for the rest of the season and push himself to play as a designated hitter, but even that hasn’t been easy. 온라인바카라

Ohtani recently missed his last two consecutive games due to side pain.

His home run velocity has also dropped. Ohtani hasn’t added a home run in 10 games since hitting his 44th of the season in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds on May 24.

He appears to be on pace to break his career-high of 46 homers set in 2021.

However, he hasn’t lost the major league lead to Olson, and he remains the American League (AL) home run leader.

With 35 homers, Ohtani is only nine behind AL home run leader Lewis Roberts (Chicago White Sox).