Nolan McLean has emerged as a bright spot for the struggling New York Mets, who currently hold a 10-19 record and sit last in the NL East. The team's performance has been disappointing, tying them for the worst record in MLB.
Nolan McLean has been a silver lining to a nightmarish start for the Mets originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There were a lot of eyes on the New York Mets coming into the 2026 season. They made plenty of moves that the front office thought would put them in contention this year.
Unfortunately, those moves aren't paying off. The Mets currently sit in last place in the NL East with their 10-19 record.
Not only do they sit in the basement of the NL East, but they are also tied for the worst record across MLB with the Philadelphia Phillies.
MORE:Mets have just one way to turn disaster season around, according to ESPN analyst
The offense has been a huge problem for the Mets this year. They rank last in runs scored, runs per game, OBP, SLG, wOBA, and wRC+.
They have also been bitten by the injury bug as Juan Soto just returned from the IL, Kodai Senga is back on the 15-day IL, Luis Robert Jr. is dealing with back issues, and Francisco Lindor is expected to miss a few weeks with a strained left calf.
Nolan McLean has been a standout player for the Mets, providing a silver lining amid the team's overall struggles.
The Mets have made several offseason moves that have not yielded the expected results, leading to their current last-place standing in the NL East.
The Mets are tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the worst record in MLB, sitting at 10-19.
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Now, if you're looking for some good news, Nolan McLean has been lights-out so far this season. According to Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly, he has emerged as the No. 2 rookie in his latest power rankings.
"Over his first six starts of the 2026 season, McLean has a 2.55 ERA and 2.25 FIP. He leads all rookie starting pitchers in WAR, according to FanGraphs. His 11.5 K/9 is fourth among all starting pitchers in the sport, trailing only Jacob Misiorowski, MacKenzie Gore and Cristopher Sanchez."
This would feel a lot better for fans if the team were actually doing anything, but at least McLean is a bright spot.
The Mets have finally found their ace. Now, they just gotta get the offense back on track. It's still early in the season, and while it looks like a lost cause, there is still plenty of time to turn this ship around.