Strategic Reasons Why Mets’ Francisco Lindor could steal MVP from Shohei Ohtani
New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor is making a compelling case to disrupt the NL MVP bid of the favorite, Los Angeles Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani.
Named NL Player of the Week on Monday, Lindor is surging at the right time. He now leads Ohtani in fWAR at 6.5 to 6.3, a stat that highlights Lindor’s superior defensive value, a critical edge in a race in which every facet of the game matters.
Ohtani remains the favorite, with DraftKings placing him at -1400 and Lindor at +550. The odds are long for Lindor, but his overall brilliance gives him a fighting chance to win the award.
A crucial part of Lindor’s success this season is his durability. Through Monday’s play, he has appeared in every game this season, starting all but one. His consistent presence on the field, combined with his elite performance, makes him indispensable to the Mets.
While Ohtani is primarily a designated hitter this season, Lindor has been a defensive anchor at shortstop, contributing at the plate and in the field.
No primary designated hitter has won the MVP since the position was created in 1973. Ohtani won AL MVP in 2021 and 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels, but those seasons featured his dominance as a hitter and pitcher.
This season, however, Ohtani is limited to hitting, albeit at an extraordinary level, because of a September 2023 surgery on his throwing elbow. He could become the first player in MLB history to hit 50 homers and steal 50 bases, but he hasn’t played an inning in the field.