The 2026 Mets enter a Memorial Day matchup with the Reds at Citi Field with a season that has steadily deteriorated. The team’s early struggles resemble the 2024 Mets in record timing, but the causes differ. The 2024 Mets had underperformance while keeping core players mostly intact, leaving room for improvement. The 2026 Mets instead show a mix of offensive ineptitude and slapstick defensive problems, alongside a troubling pitching trend. Nolan McLean, once viewed as a budding ace, has recently pitched poorly, allowing seven runs with two homers in 3 1/3 innings. His ERA rose from 3.57 to 4.40, and over his last two starts he has allowed 13 earned runs in nine innings, including four homers.
"Considered a budding ace, McLean has pitched lately like someone barely holding onto a rotation spot. He allowed seven runs, including a pair of homers, in just 3 1/3 innings Monday as his ERA jumped from 3.57 to 4.40 for the season. Over his last two starts, McLean has surrendered 13 earned runs in nine innings, including 13 hits and four homers, for a 13.00 ERA during that span."
""It's a combination of things," McLean said. "Getting behind in counts, not landing off-speed pitches like I should and I've been hitting guys with two strikes, too, which isn't a great recipe for success.""
Read at Newsday
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