New York Mets: Michael Conforto takes home MVP of series vs Nationals

The New York Mets might have lost two of three during their home opening series against the Nationals but that doesn’t mean Michael  Conforto didn’t put on a clinic. Here is how he gets the MVP of the series.

The New York Mets hit a lot of home runs during their home opening series against the Nationals but perhaps none of them were bigger than the ones Michael Conforto hit. Overall, Conforto had a great series and continues his solid 2019 campaign so far.

Note: At the end of every series the Mets play this year, I am going to come here and reward a ‘MVP of the Series.’ It will simply be who I think helped the Mets all things considered. At the end of the year, I will see who has the most ‘MVP awards’ to help crown the ‘best’ Met of 2019. 

Michael Conforto, much like the rest of the New York Mets players, did not exactly show a lot of life in the first game of the series, the first home game of the season on Thursday. He went 0-4 to open the season at Citi Field, but only four hits total and no runs combined by the rest of the Mets players kind of gives him a Mulligan.

For the rest of the series, he raked. I initially wanted to give this MVP award to Pete Alonso again, he had a great series too including two home runs, but in the end, it was Conforto who just got the edge. Overall, “Forto” notched two hits, two runs, and an RBI on Saturday in a Mets win. On Sunday, after being down 12-1 at one point, Conforto helped spark a rally. He was good for two more hits, a home run, three more RBIs and two runs.

In reality, Alonso and Conforto almost had series that mirrored each other. They both came up in spots with runners on, both had multi-hit games, and both are having great seasons.

That is really why I went Forto for the series MVP. With all things considered, both truly are having great seasons so both deserve some love. Alonso already got an MVP award so it was more or less Conforto’s turn to get some deserved recognition.

What’s next?

The Mets are now 6-3. However, already multiple wins over two teams in their division. Up next is two more at home against the Minnesota Twins beginning on Tuesday. The Twins are not terrible this season and are off to an over .500 start, but the Mets are likely to pitch Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard in that two game series. The Mets need to win those games with their aces because they then go to Atlanta for four straight games which could end up being a challenge.

Can Conforto stay hot in the next series, well perhaps. The Mets are scheduled to face Kyle Gibson, who Conforto is two for three against him, and then they are set to face Jake Odorizzi who Conforto is 0-3 against in his career.

Either way, with Jacob deGrom set to start the Mets’ next game, I don’t think anyone will be able to touch him in terms of MVP of the upcoming series. If he is even half of what he was against the Marlins, then it will be tough for me to not give it to him.

2019 Series MVP Tracker: (denotes MVPs won this year)

Alonso (1), deGrom (1), Conforto (1).