Mets ride McLean debut to 3-1 win over Mariners

The New York Mets turned to their top pitching prospect, Nolan McLean, and he delivered a rapid jolt to a faltering rotation, blanking the Seattle Mariners for 5 1/3 innings in a 3-1 win that offered a glimmer of relief in a season marked by uneven performance and injuries. The 24-year-old rookie, making his major-league debut, allowed two hits and struck out eight while showcasing a multi-faceted arsenal that gave the franchise a much-needed depth lift as it tries to sustain a playoff push.

The victory came at a pivotal moment for a Mets team that entered the game with a significantly stretched rotation and a looming schedule against several contenders. Earlier in the season, New York had crafted one of baseball’s better rotations, but injuries to key pitchers—Senga, Canning, and Megill—altered the plan. The Opening Day mix of Kodai Senga, David Peterson, Tylor Megill, Clay Holmes, and Griffin Canning shifted into a fragile, injury-riddled group by midseason, forcing management to lean on depth and minor-league reinforcements. In response, the front office added bullpen bolstopers and tried to fortify the staff, while acknowledging that the club’s high salary budget did not...