ATLANTA — Matt Olson knew the Atlanta Braves were too talented to stay in a season-long slump.
That’s why neither the first baseman nor his teammates panicked when the New York Mets’ lead in the National League East standings swelled to double digits in May. Now the Braves are on the cusp of another division title.
“It’s a clubhouse full of guys who want to win,” said Olson, a 28-year-old Atlanta native in his first season with the reigning World Series champions after being traded by the Oakland Athletics in March.
“That’s all it’s been since the moment I walked in. That’s No. 1 on the program.”
Olson and Atlanta shortstop Dansby Swanson homered for the third straight game, Travis d’Arnaud hit a go-ahead, two-run single in the third inning, and the Braves beat the Mets 5-3 on Sunday night, completing a three-game sweep in the rivalry series and taking a two-game lead in the division with three games to play.