The Mets finished the first half of the season by winning seven of their last nine games heading into the All-Star break. They currently sit in place for the third wild card spot in the National League, trailing the St. Louis Cardinals by 0.5 games for the second spot and the Atlanta Braves by four games for the first wild card spot.
To be in the current position has taken contributions from everyone in the organization, but here we will highlight the most valuable players through the first half.
Offensive MVP: Francisco Lindor
Lindor’s first-half performance has been a major contribution to the Mets’ abrupt turnaround on their season, especially since being moved to the leadoff spot back in May. He’s a leader for this Mets squad both on and off the field. When the season seemed to be at its lowest point after the Jorge López debacle, Lindor stood before the microphones and took the heat himself. Since that dark day on May 29, the Mets have a 27-13 record. Far from the “worst f*****g team in baseball.”
Lindor leads the Mets in various offensive categories over the first half. He leads the team in hits (97), runs (63), doubles (26), total bases (174), WAR (3.6) and stolen bases (18). He is second in RBIs (52) and home runs (17), trailing only Pete Alonso, the lone representative at this year’s All-Star game, including another appearance in the Home Run Derby.
Adding to those impressive first-place stats, Lindor is currently ranked fourth in on-base percentage (.329), slugging percentage (.454), on-base plus slugging percentage (.784), and OPS+ (124). Oh, and he has appeared in all 95 games for the Mets this season, including 94 starts. He is as reliable as they come in modern-day baseball.
Despite leading all National League shortstops in home runs and sitting in second place in hits, doubles, RBIs and WAR; Lindor did not get the honors to represent his team in the all-star game. He has yet to appear at the ASG throughout his Mets tenure.
Photo by Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
Honorable Mention: Brandon Nimmo
Nimmo didn’t get off to a great start when the Mets struggled early on in April and May, but as he started to catch fire, so did the Mets. In June, Nimmo slashed .315/.406/.598. He tallied six long balls with 21 RBIs, his best month this season.
The Wyoming native currently ranks first on the team in on-base percentage (.361), RBIs (63), walks (49), and hit-by-pitches (11). Nimmo’s career-high in RBIs came in 2023 with 68.
He ranks second on the team in WAR (2.6), on-base plus slugging percentage (.815) and OPS+ (134). In addition to these numbers, he ranks third in home runs (16), doubles (18), total bases (154), and slugging percentage (.457). He is also on pace to hit career-high home runs, which came in 2023 with 24 long balls.
Pitcher MVP: Sean Manaea
The Mets inked the 6’5″ southpaw to a one-year $14.5 million contract with a player option for the 2025 season last winter, and Manaea has earned every dollar of that contract so far this season. After spending the first eight seasons of his major league career playing in the state of California for three different clubs, he is having perhaps his career year in his first season in New York.
The Mets took a bit of a flyer on Manaea, who spent the bulk of his 2023 campaign pitching out of the San Francisco Giants bullpen after a tough beginning in the starting rotation. Through the first half, it has paid off well.
Through 18 starts, Manaea boasts a 6-3 record with a 3.46 ERA, 1.215 WHIP, and striking out 96 opposing hitters across 96 1/3 innings. His ability to take the ball every fifth day and seemingly keep the team in the game every time should not be overlooked.
His 7.2 hits per nine leads the Mets starting rotation, which has helped him stay out of major trouble even while allowing those extra baserunners.
As a signing that was considered somewhat of a wild card, he’s been the most consistent Mets starter through the first half. Over his last six starts leading into the break, he’s allowed only seven earned runs across 35 2/3 innings and has pitched at least six innings in three of those starts. He seems to be picking it up at the right time to be a key factor in the Mets’ playoff push.
Honorable Mention: Luis Severino
Severino has enjoyed a huge bounce-back season after a rough campaign pitching for the New York Yankees in 2023. He has already logged more innings (109.2) this season than any other since his 2018 season when he made the American League all-star team with the cross-town rivals.
Through 18 starts this year, he currently holds a 6-3 record with a 3.78 ERA, 1.195 WHIP and 81 strikeouts. He’s been a pleasant surprise for the Mets, who inked Sevy to a one-year, $13 million contract in the offseason. Many people questioned the move when it happened, and rightfully so due to his struggles to stay healthy and produce at a major league level when he was available.
David Stearns made the smart decision by bringing him in, and he’s even flirted with two no-hit bids earlier in the season. He was deemed to be a low-risk high-reward flyer that could compete for the fifth and final spot in the Mets rotation, but in actuality he’s looked like a legitimate number two or three option over the course of the first half.
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