{"id":30835,"date":"2026-08-07T07:48:26","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T02:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30835"},"modified":"2026-08-07T07:48:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T02:48:26","slug":"nolan-mclean-battles-through-worst-mets-start-in-months-despite-sweep","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=30835","title":{"rendered":"Nolan McLean battles through worst Mets start in months despite sweep"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>CLEVELAND \u2014 Nolan McLean\u2019s early turbulence Thursday appeared as if it would just be a footnote in another strong start.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>But the Mets rookie allowed two straight singles with one out in the fifth inning and threw three consecutive balls to Nathaniel Lowe before finally firing a strike. <\/p>\n<p>The next pitch was a four-seam fastball that Lowe crushed into the right field seats.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It left McLean with the distaste of his worst outing since May 25. He allowed five earned runs on eight hits with three walks and eight strikeouts over five innings in the <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/08\/06\/sports\/carson-benge-continues-rookie-surge-in-mets-offensive-explosion\/\">13-6 victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnfortunately for me, I wasn\u2019t able to locate the fastball that well today,\u201d McLean said. \u201cI always talk about off-speed [pitches] for strikes, and that was pretty much the only thing I had going for me today.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The outing was McLean\u2019s first in his past nine in which he failed to complete at least six innings. The eight hits he surrendered tied a career high.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40230510\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40230510\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"A New York Mets pitcher in a blue uniform with a mustache pitches during a baseball game.\" class=\"wp-image-40230510\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=200,133&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=662,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 662w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/GettyImages-2289359539.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Starting pitcher Nolan McLean of the New York Mets pitches during the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Thursday, August 6, 2026, in Cleveland, Ohio. <span class=\"credit\">Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>McLean ran his strikeout total this season to 213. It\u2019s the fifth most in franchise history in a pitcher\u2019s first 31 starts, behind Dwight Gooden (276), Matt Harvey (234), Noah Syndergaard (221) and Kodai Senga (219).\u00a0<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>McLean\u2019s day started rough enough: He faced eight batters in the first inning and surrendered two runs on three singles and two walks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe was in typical Nolan cruise control there for a while, spinning the baseball really well, mixing really well,\u201d interim manager Andy Green said, referring to the 12 straight batters McLean retired before the Guardians began their rally in the fifth. \u201cAnd then that fifth inning, I know he didn\u2019t want to fall behind 3-0. Falling behind 3-0 to good hitters puts you in some tough spots.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40230520\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40230520\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Nolan McLean pitching a baseball.\" class=\"wp-image-40230520\" 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=231,154&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 231w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=661,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 661w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/08\/AP_Mets_Guardians_Baseball_3_783-7b28c-0.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>New York Mets starting pitcher Nolan McLean delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, in Cleveland. <span class=\"credit\">AP Photo\/Phil Long<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Adding to his challenge was facing a complete lineup of left-handed hitters.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGetting ahead in the count against anybody, righty or lefty, always helps,\u201d McLean said. \u201cIf I just played a little bit better ahead in the count, it could have been a much better outing for me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-spotlight product-spotlight-block wp-block-nypost-editor-product-spotlight\">\n<p>\n\t\t\tMEts merch shop\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t\t\tNew York Post receives revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and when you make a purchase.\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>But McLean could savor the three-game sweep.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think finding multiple ways to score like we did today, whether it was homers or grinding out at-bats and making them walk us in, that\u2019s really cool to see,\u201d McLean said. \u201cIdeally, a better start out of me could help, too, but I appreciate the offense keeping me in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>CLEVELAND \u2014 Nolan McLean\u2019s early turbulence Thursday appeared as if it would just be a footnote in another strong start.\u00a0 But the Mets rookie allowed two straight singles with one out in the fifth inning and threw three consecutive balls to Nathaniel Lowe before finally firing a strike. 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