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Nolan McLean Finishes Rookie Year as Mets’ Durable, Reliable Starter

Durable innings from McLean strengthened a Mets rotation short on starters, raising his profile in the National League Rookie of the Year race.

Overview

  • McLean closed his 2026 regular season with a seven-inning, 2‑run outing in a 7-2 win over the Texas Rangers, beginning the game with four perfect innings and retiring the final six batters he faced.
  • He finished the year 12-10 with a 3.16 ERA in 31 starts, an ERA that ranked among the top 10 in the National League.
  • McLean was the only Mets starter to make every scheduled start this season, a résumé point he highlighted as his proudest achievement and a key reason manager Andy Green praised his campaign.
  • A late-season base collision with teammate Jared Young briefly put his availability in doubt but McLean returned to make his next start, underscoring his durability through a long season that began at the World Baseball Classic.
  • Coaches and analysts see room for growth in McLean’s command and walk rate, but his 179 2/3 innings, 194 strikeouts and rookie fWAR place him among the top young pitchers in the NL and make him a foundational piece for the Mets going forward.