Nolan McLean unravels in second straight start as Mets issues reappear in loss to Reds
Out of all the potential issues the Mets could face, this wasn’t supposed to be one of them.Nolan McLean was their constant.
Their ace who could stabilize, solve everything and stop losing streaks single-handedly during his starts.In an ideal world for the Mets, Carlos Mendoza wouldn’t have needed to walk to the mound in the fourth inning Monday and pull McLean after just 78 pitches.He wouldn’t have needed to turn to his bullpen that early.
But after delivering the worst start of his career last week, McLean one-upped that Memorial Day, lasting just 3 ¹/₃ innings, surrendering seven runs on five hits, walking two and hitting two more batters in the 7-2 loss to the Reds at Citi Field.The usual issues appeared for the Mets (22-32).They couldn’t score more than two runs for the fifth consecutive game and now have their second four-game losing skid of the season.
They made Reds starter Nick Lodolo, who entered with a 7.20 ERA, look like an All-Star.The boos at Citi Field were temporarily replaced by “Let’s go Knicks” chants.But around all that, the second consecutive brutal start for McLean stacked together.
The 24-year-old mostly breezed through opponents last season and at the start of 2026, too, and that’s exactly what happened Monday for his first 18 pitches.McLean struck out the side in the first inning, but he quickly unraveled after hitting Reds third baseman Sal Stewart.
He eventually loaded the bases and watched as Cincinnati scored its first two runs when Spencer Steer grounded into a fielder’s choice and McLean threw a wild pitch.Then, JJ Bleday crushed a homer over the right-center field fence in the third, before Steer connected on a two-run single the following frame and Tyler Stephenson launched a two-run homer on the first pitch after a mound visit.Most of the damage by Cincinnati occurred when McLean threw his sinker.
McLean has allowed 16 runs, with 14 earned, across his last nine innings, walking four batters and hitting ano...