Nolan

McLean

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.

McLean made it look easy in this one. Besides a solo home run by Nolan Arenado, only one other Diamondback reached scoring position. That came in the first inning while Arenado’s homer was in the second, so Arizona didn’t threaten at any point after then. He forced multiple swings-and-misses with four different pitches and located his four-seam fastball especially well against left-handed batters, which can sometimes be a problem for him. Next, he’s scheduled to face the Tigers back home in Citi Field.

McLean struck out six and issued just one walk, but despite throwing just 78 pitches — 51 of them strikes — he was unable to get through five innings for the first time this year. The 24-year-old didn’t exactly full the Los Angeles lineup, as he generated just six swings and misses while allowing four hard-hit balls before exiting. Nobody’s perfect. McLean gets the Diamondbacks in Arizona on Friday.

Following a Mark Vientos error, McLean left a 1-1 game with the bases loaded and none out in the sixth. Fortunately, Huascar Brazoban came in and stranded two of the runners, with the one to score being an unearned run for McLean. Still, that was enough to tag McLean with the loss in another low-offense game for the Mets. McLean is just 1-2 in spite of a 2.55 ERA in six starts. McLean will face the Angels next time out.

Warren will provide some pitching depth for the twin billing. Nolan McLean will start the first game of the doubleheader, and Kodai Senga will get game two.

Watching McLean pitch doesn’t even make sense sometimes. He was perfect through five innings in this one and the way he can break off wicked sweepers and curveballs leaves opposing hitters dumbfounded. Same for sinkers that can saw-off righties and shock lefties when they land on the inner edge after that started behind their back. Yet, once the Twins turned the lineup over they found some success. Byron Buxton launched a 3-1 cutter for a two-run homer in the sixth inning and then they scratched across another run in the seventh. That soured McLean’s final line on a night where it looked like he could’ve gone all nine early on. Alas, McLean is lined up to face the Rockies at home next time out.