The Mets returned home after sweeping the White Sox in Chicago, and kept the momentum going with another sweep, this one over the Boston Red Sox at home at Citi Field. New York has the longest current winning streak in the majors at seven. Their record now stands at 76-64, which is a half-game behind the Atlanta Braves for the last Wild Card spot in the National League.
Front and center in the Mets second half resurgence has been Francisco Lindor. His performance, and leadership, has put him squarely into the conversation for National League Most Valuable Player (MVP). While Shohei Ohtani remains the favorite to claim the award in 2024, Lindor has made it quite a race. Here is a quick comparison between the two, as they race to the finish.
While Ohtani is likely the most skilled player in the world, the nod at this point should still go to Lindor. When taking everything into account, including statistics on both sides of the ball, including leadership, and including the question of “what would the team be without this player,”, the case for Lindor is an easy one.
Offensive Stats
It is hard to argue with Ohtani’s performance in the batter’s box. A generational talent, Ohtani is on his way to an historic season. Through play on September 3rd, Ohtani’s statistics are staggering. He was batting .292 on the season, with 44 home runs (second in the league) and 99 RBIs (fifth in the league). His OPS of .995 ranks fourth in the league. He has also stolen 46 bases. Ohtani is on pace for a 50/50 season (home runs/stolen bases), which would be the first time in MLB history anyone has done that.
Lindor’s stats, on the offensive side, do not quite compare to Ohtani’s. Lindor is batting .273, with 30 home runs (tied for 11th in the league), and 84 RBIs (tied for 19th). His OPS of .843 also ranks 19th. Lindor is also speedy on the base paths, having stolen 26 bases. Instead of a 50/50 season, Lindor is pushing toward a highly respectable 30/30 campaign, which would be his second such season in a row.
Edge: Ohtani
Defensive Stats
It is very easy to talk about Ohtani’s defensive stats this season. He doesn’t have any. Acting as the designated hitter for the Dodgers, Ohtani spends half the game resting on the bench. That dynamic likely helps him on the offensive side of things. Ohtani, a marvel in the modern game, has pitched in prior seasons but is not doing so this year as he recovers from elbow surgery.
Lindor is a standard bearer when it comes to playing shortstop. He excels at defending what is arguably the most important position on the diamond. A two-time Gold Glove-winning shortstop in Cleveland in 2016 and 2019, Lindor is effectively automatic when fielding the position. Lindor’s .979 fielding percentage ranks him fourth in the National League.
Edge: Lindor
Replacement Factor
The true measure of a player’s value to his team is what would happen if he were not on the team. While both Ohtani and Lindor are very important to their individual squads, this is where Lindor’s case really stands out. Between the leadership, the importance to the lineup, and overall contributions, Lindor is a true superstar.
When Ohtani enters the batter’s box for the Dodgers, pitchers face a dilemma. Do they attack him? Or, do they pitch around him? If they choose to pitch around him, they then deal with two more all-world players in Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. No other player has that type of protection in their lineup. Ohtani’s Wins Above Replacement (WAR) of 6.7 is second among National League players. Other than statistics, Ohtani seems to be a solid leader. Playing in a country that he did not grow up in, he has steadily been the picture of humility. However, heading into the 2024 season, it is hard to ignore the distraction that was brought upon both the Dodgers and MLB by Ohtani’s interpreter being caught in a betting situation where he stole from Ohtani to pay the debt. While Ohtani was quickly cleared of any wrongdoing, this is a stain on the season for all involved, and quite frankly it doesn’t feel right that he would win the MVP in a season where this occurred, and he couldn’t pitch (a skill that rightly sets him apart).
Lindor is never a concern for the Mets and owner Steve Cohen, and he plays everyday, without fail. The most controversial thing he said this year was when the Mets played Cleveland. When asked if he missed playing for the Guardians, he said he misses winning the most. While a slap in the face to the team and its fans, he wasn’t wrong. Compared to LA, the rest of the Mets lineup is not as much of a concern for opposing pitchers either. Instead of Betts and Freeman, Lindor is followed by Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos. No offense to them, but they are not Betts and Freeman. Rewinding this season, as late as May 21st, Lindor was batting under .200, at .198. He has very much righted the ship, a testament to his skill and his attitude. Later in May, following a sweep by the Dodgers (ironically), dropping them to a season-worse 11 games under .500 at 22-33, Lindor called a team meeting, and since then the season has completely changed. The fact the Mets are even mentioned in the playoff race is because of Lindor. Lindor’s WAR of 7.2 ranks first in the NL, ahead of Ohtani’s 6.7.
Again, the Replacement Factor, other than WAR, is very hard to measure. Lindor is a natural leader, with a weaker lineup to protect him, who took it upon himself to right the ship for the Mets this season. Ohtani is still a generational talent, but Lindor is having a special season too, in different ways.
Edge: Lindor
The 2024 National League MVP race is a close one. The voters have two great choices, in generational talents Lindor and Ohtani. If Ohtani was still pitching, while delivering Major League Baseball’s first 50/50 season, he’d be a clearer favorite. If Ohtani was not backed up by two players in Betts and Freeman that could be more valuable to the Dodgers on a particular night, he’d be a clearer favorite. However, Lindor has all of those attributes. He plays every single game, he plays defense, and the Mets wouldn’t even be close to the playoffs without him. Definitionally, he is a much better and more clear cut choice for MVP. Ohtani should enjoy the Hank Aaron Award, given to the league’s best hitter, as a consolation. Lindor is the MVP.
Here are the by-game rundowns of the Red Sox series:
Game 1: Mets 4, Red Sox 1
The Mets picked up where they left off in Chicago, winning their fifth straight game behind a gem from Luis Severino and another great game by Lindor. The game’s scoring was done by the end of the fourth inning.
Lindor had two hits in three at-bats, including his 81st RBI to put the Mets up by the final score. Luis Torrens had a solid day at the plate as well, also with two hits in three at-bats. Nimmo had the other RBI for the Mets, driving in Lindor with a double in the third.
Severino is showing no ill effects of his complete game a few starts ago. He threw exactly 100 pitches over seven innings. He gave up one run on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts. The bullpen contributed two hitless shutout innings, with Danny Young taking the eighth. Given his recent workload, Edwin Díaz was not available for the ninth, so Phil Maton stepped in to pick up his third save of the year.
For Boston, their only run was driven in on a single by Jarren Duran in the top of the third to tie the game at one at that point. The Red Sox were one for four with runners in scoring position, with Rafael Devers going hitless in two such attempts.
Brayan Bello got the start for the Red Sox, going five innings. He surrendered four runs on seven hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Josh Winckowski threw three shutout innings in relief.
Game 2: Mets 7, Red Sox 2
The Mets won their sixth in a row, with Lindor helping to carry the team again. Starter David Peterson pitched another great game and made some obscure history in the process, with the most strikeouts by any Mets pitcher in history in a start on his birthday (11).
The Mets produced three home runs in the game. Lindor hit his 30th, Pete Alonso his team-leading 31st, and Mark Vientos his 22nd. Lindor and Alonso each had multi-hit games. New York was two for three with runners in scoring position.
Peterson had his 11 strikeouts over six innings of work. He allowed one run on six hits with one walk. His season stats now stand at 9-1 with an ERA of 2.75. Jose Butto came on next and allowed a run in an inning of work. Reed Garrett pitched a scoreless eighth, and after the Mets scored four in the bottom of the eighth, Ryne Stanek finished it with a scoreless ninth.
For the Red Sox, the team only produced six hits in the game, versus 15 strikeouts. Nick Sogard and Enmanuel Valdez had the Boston RBIs. Each starter struck out at least once against New York pitching.
Kutter Crawford started for Boston, and though he pitched well he picked up the loss. Over six innings, he allowed two runs on one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts. Justin Slaten was up next and allowed a run in an inning. Chris Martin pitched the last inning and was charged with four runs.
Game 3: Mets 8, Red Sox 3
The Mets finished off the sweep behind a grand slam from Jesse Winker, three walks with the bases loaded in the eighth, and six pitchers combining to keep the Red Sox in check.
Winker’s grand slam put the Mets up 4-0 in the bottom of the first. MVP candidate Lindor continued producing, with two hits in five at-bats. His hit streak is now at 15 games. Vientos also had a multi-hit game.
On the mound, Tylor Megill got the start for New York. His final stat line was four innings, and he was charged with three runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts. Alex Young was next, pitching an inning and not getting charged with a run. Huascar Brazoban and Danny Young each went a scoreless 1.1 innings each. Maton picked up a scoreless 0.1 inning, before Diaz took the ninth and held Boston scoreless in that frame.
Three different Red Sox had multi-hit games. Those players were Duran (including a double, the only extra base hit for Boston), Connor Wong, and Valdez.
Similar to the Mets, Boston also had a total of six pitchers take the hill. Tanner Houck took the mound to start for the Red Sox. He took the loss, going five innings, and allowing four runs on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. Zack Kelly and Slaten then threw a scoreless inning each. Kenley Jansen was next to pitch, getting credit for only 0.1 inning and being charged with four runs. Rich Hill and Greg Weissert then had 0.1 inning each, and neither was charged with a run.
Up Next
After an off day on Thursday, the Mets host the Cincinnati Reds at Citi Field for three over the weekend. The expected starters for the Mets are Jose Quintana, Sean Manaea, and Severino.
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