Nolan McLean fades in loss to Cubs

The runs all came in the first, and that one was unearned was the product of McLean’s own errant pickoff throw. Rather surprisingly, McLean was sent back out for the seventh at 92 pitches. He gave up a single to Austin Riley and was pulled, but Brooks Raley got through the rest of the inning without issue. McLean has won four of his last five decisions and is now 6-5 with a 3.73 ERA. He struck out five and walked one today, and he has a nice 30/6 K/BB in his last four starts. He’ll next face the Red Sox on Friday.

McLean allowed just three hard-hit balls in his first scoreless start of the year. He’s previously allowed only one run five times, including 13 days ago against the Reds when the lone run he gave up was unearned. This makes him 5-5 with a 3.78 ERA ahead of next start Monday in Atlanta.

McLean will have his scheduled start pushed back an extra day in the wake of Monday’s rainout at Citi Field. It also eliminates the possibility of a two-start week where he would’ve had to face the red-hot Phillies this weekend. It’ll be Sean Manaea taking the ball for the other contest during Wednesday’s twin bill before Freddy Peralta starts Thursday’s series finale.

The run came in the third after a Mark Vientos error and a double to left that a better outfielder than Juan Soto would have caught. It’s just McLean’s fourth victory, though it’s the 10th time this season he’s allowed two runs or fewer. With nine strikeouts today, he’s currently tied for seventh in the majors at 97 on the year. He’s due for home starts against the Cubs and Phillies next week.

In the midst of a frustrating set of starts, this one stands out as being particularly annoying. The Mets put up six runs in support of McLean over the first two innings and he still couldn’t hang on long enough to earn the win. His 42-pitch second inning was a huge reason for that. McLean gave up alternating hits and walks to the first five hitters he faced that frame to bring two runs in with the bases loaded and still nobody out. It was a pure Houdini act to get out of that without any more damage being done with plenty of help from Mauricio Dubón, who chased a 3-1 pitch out of the zone to pop-up and help neutralize the threat. Otherwise, the command of his often stellar breaking stuff remains choppy and he’s not putting away hitters – especially lefties – like he was earlier in the season. He’ll have another chance to right the ship next week against the Reds in Cincinnati.

McLean was solid again on Saturday, holding the Padres to one run over six frames. He scattered three hits and walked three batters while collecting five strikeouts. He’s now allowed one run in back-to-back starts after giving up a combined 13 over his previous two. The 24-year-old right-hander will take a 3.98 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and an 82/27 K/BB ratio across 71 1/3 innings into a start against the Braves in New York on Friday.

McLean only struck out two, lowering his ERA to 4.21 on the year. The walks were uncharacteristic for the sophomore right-hander, whose ERA estimators suggest he’s pitched better than his results thus far. McLean entered Sunday with the second-lowest left-on-base rate among qualified starters. He’ll aim to get back on track when visiting the Padres next time out.

McLean gave up two runs in the second, but it would have been one if Bo Bichette had made a better effort to start a double play. The Reds then got a solo homer in the third and opened the fourth with a walk, a double, a two-run groundball single past the drawn-in infield and a two-run homer. McLean was left in to get a groundout but then pulled after a HBP. McLean did strike out six, but it was a second straight poor outing for the 24-year-old, and in spite of his strong peripherals, he’s now 2-4 with a 4.40 ERA overall. He’ll probably be better against the Marlins this weekend.

Well, that was unexpected. Fantasy managers can at least take solace in the fact that three of the runs were unearned, as McLean’s defense didn’t do him any favors, but either way it’s the most runs he’s allowed in a start in his brief major league career. The big blow as an inside-the-park grand slam from James Wood in the second inning. McLean gave up eight hits in all — including two homers — while walking two, hitting two batters, and striking out five. The rookie right-hander just didn’t have his usual command in this one and the velocity on his four-seamer was down a tick as well. He’ll attempt to rebound this weekend against the Marlins in Miami.

All three of the runs scored in the first courtesy of a Gage Workman homer that barely scraped past the left-field wall at Citi Field. McLean did allow eight hard-hit balls -- six off his main fastballs -- and his velocity was down a bit. It speaks well of him and his arsenal that he was able to go seven and strike out seven despite that. He’ll continue to be a must-start as he takes on the Nationals next week.