The New York Mets have been running out of remedies for their pitching problems, but on Saturday, a rookie arrived with just the right prescription. Nolan McLean, making his long-awaited debut, turned Citi Field into a clinic by carving up the Mariners with 5.1 sparkling innings. The Mets have been searching for answers for most of the summer, and suddenly their top pitching prospect delivered one with precision, poise, and plenty of spin.
They call him a prospect for now, but after this performance, it might be time for a new label. McLean didn’t just throw strikes; he commanded the moment, working his slider and curveball like a surgeon while shutting down an opponent during the team’s most fragile stretch of the season.