Mets, aiming to halt slide, ship Nolan McLean to oppose Braves

The New York Mets will send their promising rookie to the mound on Friday in hopes of slowing a brutal recent skid against the Atlanta Braves.

Right-hander Nolan McLean will attempt to boost a New York squad that has lost 16 of 21 games to put its National League wild-card hopes in jeopardy. The Mets hold a half-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds for the final NL playoff slot.

The Mets dropped a 9-3 decision to the host Washington Nationals on Thursday in the decisive game of a three-game series.

The Braves have won 10 of their past 12, and they just took two of three from the visiting Chicago White Sox.

Atlanta leads the season series 7-3 heading into the teams’ final meeting of the year. The Braves, who swept a three-game set against the Mets in Atlanta from June 17-19, have not lost a season series to New York since 2017.

McLean (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will face left-hander Joey Wentz (4-3, 4.72) on Friday.

McLean, who is set for his second major league start, made a fast ascent through the organization after he was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft. He posted a 2.45 in 21 games (18 starts) this year in Double-A and Triple-A Syracuse before being called up.

In his debut on Saturday against the visiting Seattle Mariners, McLean pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and four walks while striking out eight in a 3-1 New York victory.

“Honestly, I felt pretty good,” McLean said. “Once the batters stepped in there, it was just competition mode from there, but just getting the first one out of the way is always good.”

The last Mets starter to record a scoreless outing in his debut was Zack Wheeler on June 18, 2013, against the Braves.

“He was attacking, and he wanted to get back in the dugout and continue to give us the momentum,” Mets second baseman Francisco Lindor said of McLean. “We have a good pitching staff here and a lot of guys that try to do that, and for his first day, you wouldn’t be able to tell that was his first day.”

Wentz has been a godsend since joining the decimated Atlanta pitching staff after being claimed on waivers from the Minnesota Twins on July 11. In seven appearances (six starts) since joining the Braves, Wentz is 2-2 with a 2.60 ERA.

“I feel pretty good right now,” he said. “I think I’m just trying to execute as much as I can, and I’ve done that.”

In his latest start, on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians, Wentz earned the victory after allowing one run over six innings. He permitted three hits and two walks while striking out five.

“Just keeps an even-keel type thing and, you know, he’s been around a little bit now, so I love that he’s taking advantage of a really nice opportunity,” Atlanta manager Brian Snitker said. “It’s been more than we could ever imagine. It’s been really good, just the strike throwing and the pitch mix.”

Wentz has made two career appearances, one start, against the Mets, going 0-0 with a 5.87 ERA.

The Braves announced Thursday that third baseman Austin Riley will miss the rest of the season. He underwent surgery to repair a sports hernia and should be ready to play again by spring training. Rookie Nacho Alvarez Jr. is expected to get most of the remaining starts at third base.

–Field Level Media