Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson claimed the franchise consecutive-games record Friday night in St. Louis, appearing in his 741st straight game for the club to surpass Dale Murphy's 740-game mark set from 1981 to 1986. Olson, who signed as a free agent before the 2022 season after six years with Oakland, has started 740 of those 741 contests; his lone non-start came as a defensive replacement in Philadelphia on Sept. 24, 2022.

The streak extends to 875 games overall dating to May 2, 2021, the ninth-longest run in major-league history and 20 games shy of Stan Musial's 895-game Cardinals streak from 1952-57. Manager Walt Weiss called the feat "mind boggling" in a league that plays virtually every day, while noting Cal Ripken's 2,632-game record remains in another universe.

Olson's durability has anchored a Braves lineup that relies on his everyday presence at first base and in the middle of the order. Since joining Atlanta, he has averaged 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBIs per full season while posting an .850 OPS, making him one of the few players who combines elite production with near-perfect availability.

The record underscores how rare true ironmen have become in an era of load management and expanded rosters. Atlanta's playoff hopes continue to run through Olson's bat and glove, and his ability to stay on the field gives the Braves a structural advantage few contenders can match.