Those plans ended a while ago, and even McLean’s standout season wasn’t enough to get the Mets past their awful start.
asserted
Mets → end → start
Still, as they look to the future and believe they’ve found some good young players in outfielders Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing, they’re also confident McLean can front a rotation that should also include pitchers with solid futures ahead of them, such as righty Christian Scott and lefty Zac Thornton.
asserted
that → look → Scott
None is more important than McLean, who made his 30th start of the year Thursday night in the Mets’ 3-0 loss to the Phillies in the opener of their final home series of the season.
asserted
who → make → season
McLean enjoyed another quality start, holding the Phillies to one run over six innings, but suffered the loss and is now 11-10 with a solid 3.18 ERA.
asserted
McLean → enjoy → ERA
McLean was also involved in a harrowing collision with Jared Young in the sixth inning when he inadvertently struck Young with his knee, forcing the first baseman to exit the game and to be stretchered off the field before being taken to the hospital.
asserted
he → involve → hospital
Though his season ended on a tough note, McLean gave the Mets hope that he could be their ace of the future.
uncertain
he → end → future
No rookie pitcher in the National League has made more starts than McLean in 2026, and he also entered Thursday’s action with a league-high 166 ²/₃ innings and 184 strikeouts.
asserted
he → make → innings
As interim manager Andy Green noted before Thursday’s loss, it’s not enough for McLean, who is scheduled to make one more start on the road before the end of the year.
asserted
who → note → year
“We’re encouraged he could handle that workload and demonstrate that durability,’’ Green said.
uncertain
Green → ’re → durability
“Frankly, he pushed back on me when we didn’t give him a start [Wednesday on four days’ rest].
asserted
we → push → rest
He could do math.
uncertain
He → do → math
I like the fact he pushed back on me and wanted to pitch.
asserted
he → like → me
I also liked that he understood what we were solving for late in the season, and there wasn’t a reason to pitch on four days.”
asserted
we → like → days
Instead, McLean will likely have to settle for one more in Texas on Wednesday.
asserted
McLean → have → Wednesday
“He’ll take the ball every chance he gets,” veteran left-handed starter Sean Manaea said.
asserted
Manaea → take → ball
“He wants to go deep into games and eat up innings.
asserted
He → want → innings
And he puts in the work every day.
asserted
he → put → work
For his first full season [in the majors], it’s pretty incredible.
asserted
it → ’ → majors
For the Mets to make sure they aren’t in a similar situation down the stretch in the future, McLean will have to build on what he’s done.
asserted
he → make → what
As Green noted, McLean also took on the added pressure of pitching in the World Baseball Classic before the season.
asserted
McLean → note → season
McLean pitched 7 ²/₃ innings in the tournament before spring training was over, which Green believes will serve him well in the future.
“He can concoct a scenario in his head that he’s ‘got to get to 220 innings because that’s what I want to do the rest of my career.’
asserted
I → pitch → career
You love that about him and the way he’s wired and the way he wants to compete.”
asserted
he → love → him
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asserted
you → receive → purchase
It’s part of what sets him apart from other pitchers, especially inexperienced pitchers, according to Manaea.
uncertain
what → ’ → Manaea
“No matter what the expectations were for him and his talent, you knew there would be ups and downs,’’ Manaea said.
asserted
Manaea → know → him
“There were a lot more ups, but he also does a great job of not letting one outing get to him.
asserted
outing → be → him
If he has a bad one, he moves on and doesn’t let it snowball.
asserted
it → have → one
To withstand all of that for the first time, that’s a big step.
asserted
that → withstand → time
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He’ll miss out on adding to that workload in the playoffs, but the Mets have to hope McLean being one of their few bright spots will lead to them avoiding this situation again.
asserted
them → deliver → situation
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