Nolan McLean has started his MLB career brilliantly. In fact, it's hard to start much better than the New York Mets' rookie right-handed pitcher. Nobody in MLB history has begun a career quite like McLean has. The criteria that makes that true through his first two starts, via OptaStats: McLean was sharp on Friday night against the Atlanta Braves.

Rookie Nolan McLean delivered what the Mets needed in his MLB debut, striking out eight and flashing some clutch leather over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over the Mariners.

On Baseball Night in NY, Anthony DiComo and Jim Duquette discuss the possibility of another young pitching prospect Brandon Sproat, joining the Mets rotation sooner rather than later.

New York Mets’ color commentator Ron Darling made a glowing comparison after Nolan McLean’s first big league start.

But finishing this marathon has proven challenging: Holmes is averaging less than five innings in his last nine starts, the Mets losing five of them, as he’s posted a 5.02 ERA and his strikeout-walk ratio has shriveled to 1.66.

The first pitch was a ball. The second, Rodríguez lined toward McLean, who fielded the ball on one hop behind his back, and then had the presence of mind to throw to second for a chance at a double-play.

The Atlanta Braves are set to take on the New York Mets in a three-game set beginning tonight at Truist Park. It’s a sneaky critical matchup because — if there’s any chance the Braves are to make the postseason — they have to sweep the Mets this weekend.