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New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza
The New York Mets look to halt their first slump of the season, losing four of their last five and the series opener against the San Francisco Giants. As a result, manager Carlos Mendoza turned to rookie righthander Nolan McLean to stop the slide, as this CBS Sports article points out.
“The task for right-hander Nolan McLean in his 10th major league start will be much like the task in his first nine outings: save the New York Mets from spiraling further out of control. McLean again will look to serve as a stopper on Friday night when he takes the mound as the Mets visit the San Francisco Giants in the second game of a four-game series between the National League clubs.”
GettyNew York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean.
Normally, placing the burden of embracing the stopper role would be a bit much for a rookie. However, McLean, as shown in the last year, does not approach the game like a rookie. After losing three straight games, they need a player notching his first double-digit start to pull the team through.
Nolan McLean against Pittsburgh:
5.0 IP | 4 H | 2 R | 2 ER | 2 BB | 8 SO #Mets
pic.twitter.com/36nkXWv3OP
— Milb Central (@milb_central) March 29, 2026
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McLean Won’t Fix Dormant Bats
For all of his abilities on the mound, McLean cannot revive the Mets on offense. With a 107 average with runners in scoring position in its last six games, the team cannot find the big hit when it needs one. The lone bright spot against the Giants, a homer by Mark Vientos, could provide a spark.
However, the other batters look stunned when teammates are on base. Since the team’s 11-run opening day barrage, the team has scored just 14 runs. Under those circumstances, McLean holding the Giants down while his offense cobbles together runs becomes a necessity.
Bo Bichette, after one hit in his previous 13 at-bats, has two in his last nine. Granted, it’s still low, but it could be a catalyst for a resurgence, so he spoke about staying on an even keel.
“I think people are looking at everything every day throughout the whole season,” Bichette said. “Some years you get off to a good start, some years you don’t. Just part of it.”
The Mets go 3-for-11 with RISP and leave 10 runners on base. pic.twitter.com/w7K5tbU8W2
— Metsmerized Online (@Metsmerized) May 5, 2025
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McLean Looks to Continue WBC Success
Despite Team USA falling to Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic, McLean placed the American squad in a position to win the game. However, much like the Mets, the bats went silent when it mattered most. Yet, McLean did not buckle or fold on the world stage. Additionally, the quality of his pitches has actually improved since last season.
For instance, his sinker provides a similar velocity (94.9 mph) but with a sharper vertical drop. In essence, a sharper sink. According to Baseball Savant, McLean’s horizontal break on the pitch increased from 16.1 inches to 17.8 inches. Combined with mid-90s velocity, the sinker drops sooner and faster, creating a swing-and-miss.
Nolan McLean strikes out the side in the 1st inning! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/R04LQitY22
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 11, 2026
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Early Test Could Tell Story for the Season
While the season is just about one week old, struggles can start to disappear. Yet, slumps can widen, and then desperation sets in. From there, poor swing and lunging at pitches will only compound issues. The Mets sit at 3-4. Can McLean ride to the rescue once again and rally the Mets?
Terrance Biggs Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
He is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs
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