It's been a team effort all season for the Mets who have won five in a row and are now 16-7, tied for the best record in MLB.

Mets matchup, let's examine the early goings for the division's top contenders (and yes, that includes the Braves).

Francisco Lindor hit two more home runs, including a leadoff shot for the second consecutive day, and the New York Mets held off the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 on Monday night in the first meeting this season between the NL East rivals.

In the St. Louis series, Lindor set the tone from the leadoff spot, going 7‑for‑18 (.389) with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored over the four games. He opened the series with a 3‑for‑4 night that included an RBI single in Game 1, helping New York jump out to a four‑run second inning.

Lindor homered twice — once to begin the game and once to all but end it — in a game a bit reminiscent of last October.

Alvarez, who broke the hamate bone in his left hand and needed surgery during spring training. is expected back later this week.

Jeff McNeil and Francisco Alvarez are both scheduled to receive at-bats for Triple-A Syracuse on Tuesday and Wednesday and barring a setback would be in position to join the Mets for their four-game series that begins Friday in Washington.

Reinforcements are waiting in the wings for the first-place Mets. Jeff McNeil (right oblique strain) and Francisco Alvarez (fractured left hamate bone) each continued their respective rehab assignments on April 20 with Double-A Binghamton.

Brandon Nimmo took away a home run in the sixth inning and singled home the tiebreaking run in the seventh as the Mets​ beat the Cardinals 7-4 on Sunday