McLean eyes revenge against Reds after 7-run May start

CINCINNATI -- Nolan McLean will return to the mound Wednesday for his 15th start of the season against the Reds, carrying a 3-4 record and 4.01 ERA into that game at Great American Ball Park. He’ll be looking for revenge against a Cincinnati team that handed McLean one of the worst losses of his career late last month. Here’s what else to know about his outing:

Last start: McLean has at least somewhat steadied himself after a rough stretch in May, going 1-0 with a 2.40 ERA over his last three outings. But control remains a problem for McLean, who has issued 12 walks against 13 strikeouts over that stretch, including four free passes in four innings last time out against the Braves. He needed a career-high 42 pitches to escape the second inning of that one.

Stat to know: Since May 14, McLean ranks last among qualified National League pitchers with 5.52 walks per nine innings. Only José Soriano of the Angels (6.06 per nine) has issued walks at a higher clip.

What he said: “You don’t ever really prepare to go and throw 40 pitches in an inning, 50 pitches in an inning. But once you get that tired out there, you’re trying to piece it together and get those outs, get back in the dugout and try and recover. I was pretty tired.”

Next opponent: The last time McLean saw the Reds on May 25, they bludgeoned him for a career-high seven earned runs. Much of the damage came courtesy of bottom-of-the-order hitters Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson, who drove home five of the seven against him.