Rookie pitcher Nolan McLean's outing on Wednesday against the Cubs unraveled in his final two innings, contributing to the New York Mets' 10-3 loss in the first game of a doubleheader. McLean surrendered six runs and six hits in those later innings after a strong start.
"I made some good players make some good swings today, and got burned on that homer there in the sixth," McLean stated after the game. Through the first four innings, McLean appeared dominant, reminiscent of his performance for Team USA in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He indicated that the momentum from his previous start, where he allowed only one run, carried over.
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza opted to keep McLean in the game after he allowed three runs in the fifth inning, citing trust in the rookie to navigate the inning after two early outs. However, McLean has not consistently performed to expectations this season, and his latest outing adds to the pressure on Mendoza.
Despite the team's struggles, including a 34-45 record, McLean said he is not feeling additional pressure from external noise and aims to approach each start the same way. He noted that the entire Mets pitching staff has faced challenges this season, ranking 14th in MLB in runs allowed with 361, and having given up 40 runs in their last four games.
"The season is definitely testing our mental fortitude," McLean commented. "Each day, we’re all having conversations with each other, figuring out how we can each get better."