Just last October, the New York Mets probably witnessed the Los Angeles Dodgers lifting the World Series title at the same stadium where they faced off each other on Monday. But this time, the result was different. The New York Mets managed to win by 4-3 against the Dodgers.

While many may argue that the pitchers led the Mets to their historic winning streak (the second-longest in MLB history), it was Francisco Lindor who stole the entire spotlight. And now, two MVPs have made their way onto the voting list. While Ohtani is still the first choice, Lindor is not trailing far – just second.

On Monday, Ohtani blasted off a 424-foot home run, and Francisco Lindor’s homer travelled up to 417 feet. And following the Mets’ victory, the shortstop jokingly talked about the distance to which Ohtani’s home run ball travelled. “I hit it with everything I had. Not as far as Ohtani. Ohtani’s was probably 40 feet further than mine. But they count the same.” Obviously, it was intended to inject some humor and nothing else. 

But, as per the result, Ohtani’s homer just travelled seven feet extra. Of course, Lindor wasn’t sure of that gap. So, while acknowledging Shotime, he didn’t forget to appreciate his own self, too – ‘but they count the same.’

While both players managed to add RBIs in the game, Lindor gained a slight edge over Ohtani in the extra inning. In the 10th inning, he scored an RBI single off closer Tanner Scott, allowing the  Mets to have a 4-2 lead, which later ended in the Mets’ 4-3 win. 

However, it’s not just about how far the ball travelled every time. It’s also about how far a player can go for his team. In this season, Francisco Lindor has already posted 14 home runs, 36 RBIs, and is batting at an average of .285 with a .857 OPS. His skills as a batter and versatility on the field are probably why the Mets are still placed atop the National League East with a 38-22 record.

Francisco Lindor’s taking the Mets to new heights

While all eyes were on Juan Soto to make it big this season, Francisco Lindor silently remained the heart and soul of the team. Lindor, paired with Pete Alonso, managed to blast off home runs when facing the Colorado Rockies. Yes, that 261st homer where he surpassed Yankees legend Derek Jeter.

And then, when facing the Dodgers, Francisco Lindor showed his potential yet again. He hit a home run against Dustin May on the second pitch. It was his sixth leadoff home run, which exited the bat at a massive 106.6 mph.

Praising the massive hit, Paul Blackburn shared, “After Lindor hit that homer to start the game, the biggest thing was how can I get them back in the dugout? Just keep momentum on our side.” Blackburn also shone. Despite allowing a leadoff single to Teoscar Hernandez, he retired three batters right after that.

But there is no doubt that Francisco Lindor was the highlight of the matchup. With him now hitting home runs consistently and getting well-rounded support from other team members, the New York Mets’ Clubhouse is heating up with high hopes in the league.