NEW YORK -- It’s been quite easy to get caught up in the results of Nolan McLean’s rookie season, to become enamored with the electric stuff leaving his hand as he reached double-digit wins with a seven-inning gem in his previous outing vs. Houston. But according to interim manager Andy Green, the massive strides McLean has made in 2026 -- which showed up in a start where he only notched four strikeouts -- are impressive in a slightly different light.
“He didn’t punch out as many as he used to, or usually does, and he was just economical from an outing perspective,” Green said before Friday’s series opener vs. the Giants at Citi Field. “So, I think when you’re capable of reading the game that way, utilizing your arsenal in a way that gets you deeper into it, that has evolved from where he started this season.
“He’s also had the opportunity to respond to some adversity this year. I think that just gives guys more solid footing when they’ve gone through a tough stretch like that.”
McLean had to use that intangible on Friday, battling to provide the length after the Mets offense hit three home runs in the first two innings, giving the right-hander a bit of cushion. It wasn’t his cleanest outing -- he ran into some trouble in the third frame, allowing a couple of walks and a loud two-run double to Rafael Devers. But McLean earned the win in New York’s 10-6 victory, notching seven strikeouts while giving up just two runs on six hits and four walks over six innings.
Perhaps the moment most indicative of McLean’s growing resilience came in the fifth inning. With his pitch count already at 77 entering the frame, he allowed the first three batters to reach with the Mets holding a 7-2 lead. After a mound visit to settle him down, McLean caught Jung Hoo Lee looking on a 96.2 mph sinker that started at the left-handed-hitting right fielder’s front hip.
McLean then got catcher Drew Cavanaugh to roll over an outside sinker. Second baseman Marcus Semien ranged to his right to make a sliding stop and flipped to the covering Francisco Lindor, who fired to first to complete the inning-ending double play. McLean, already walking towards the direction of the dugout, let off a cathartic yell as he and the Mets escaped trouble.
Almost surprisingly, McLean came back out for the sixth inning, and retired the Giants in order to complete his fifth consecutive quality start (18th of the season). Those 18 quality starts are the most by a Mets rookie since Dwight Gooden (21) and Ron Darling (22) in 1984.
His final pitch -- his 105th of the night, a career high -- was a 96.3 mph sinker that ran back over the plate, catching Christian Koss looking. It almost seemed as if McLean knew he got Koss as soon as the ball left his hand.
It certainly helped that the Mets crushed five home runs -- Mark Vientos’ three-run home run in the first inning, Francisco Alvarez and Bo Bichette swatting one each in the second, Lindor adding a two-run blast in the sixth inning and Alvarez’s second solo shot in the eighth punctuating the outburst.
It was the third time the club had hit five home runs in a single game this season (first since New York’s 10-5 win vs. the White Sox on Aug. 22).