A much-needed pitching shakeup is lastly coming for the Mets.
McLean, a 24-year-old prospect ranked third general within the Mets’ system, is predicted to take the place of Frankie Montas within the rotation. With none beginning pitchers out there for the fitting worth on the commerce deadline, McLean and Brandon Sproat grew to become the fallback plan. Nonetheless, the Mets have been banking on Montas, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea and Kodai Senga to enhance after the deadline handed.
It hasn’t occurred but. The hope was that Montas would enhance as the majority man behind an opener, however when he had to make use of 72 pitches in solely three innings, it grew to become clear the experiment was for one sport solely. The Mets have been swept in Milwaukee, resulting in a choice to maneuver the veteran starter and his 6.38 ERA to the bullpen.
The fallback possibility grew to become the best choice, particularly when McLean’s title saved arising in dialog with Mets supervisor Carlos Mendoza and Syracuse supervisor Dick Scott.
“How he carries himself, like how he deals with adversity, his ability to navigate lineups, the way he fields his position and controls the running game,” Mendoza stated of what he’s heard about McLean. “There’s a lot to like when you’re talking to a manager and the people that have seen him outing after outing.”
The Mets didn’t shed a lot mild on why they selected McLean over Sproat, however McLean has posted higher numbers with Triple-A Syracuse general this season. A 24-year-old out of North Carolina, McLean is 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA in 16 video games (13 begins) since he was promoted from Double-A Binghamton. Total, he’s 8-5 with a 2.45 ERA in 21 appearances (18 begins) in two ranges this season.
Sproat has a 4.10 ERA in 22 begins.
McLean’s 10.0 strikeouts-per-nine-innings fee is the best amongst all Syracuse starters. He misses bats with a spinning sweeper that will get a ton of horizontal motion, however largely tries to maintain the ball on the bottom. His fastball largely sits within the mid-90s, however he can attain again and hit 97-98 occasionally, and a low arm slot induces weak contact for floor balls.
McLean’s pitching success isn’t essentially surprising, however he’s forward of the timeline scouts initially anticipated when the Mets chosen him within the third spherical of the 2023 draft out of Oklahoma State. A two-way participant who transitioned solely to pitching final season, farm director Andy Inexperienced talked about him to Mendoza as a possible bullpen arm in the course of the Mets’ playoff push final summer time.
“I remember Andy Green last year telling me, ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if this kid helped you at the end of this year out of the bullpen,’” Mendoza stated. “This was back last year when he was still hitting. That stuck out to me that he was that high on him.”
Blackburn shall be used out of the bullpen as soon as once more. After Justin Hagenman went three innings in aid of Clay Holmes on Tuesday evening in opposition to the Atlanta Braves, the Mets wanted a contemporary arm. Blackburn has been rehabbing on and off this season, first with a knee damage and most lately with a shoulder impingement, and the Mets have been operating out his rehab clock, scheduling one other rehab sport for him Wednesday in Triple-A. He wakened Wednesday morning in Syracuse to a missed name from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, and heard a knock on his door quickly after.
Blackburn pitched properly as a starter, however struggled popping out of the bullpen earlier this season, making solely six appearances and posting a 7.71 ERA. Nevertheless, he’s spent loads of time pitching within the minor leagues in rehab appearances this season, making 12 rehab begins between 4 ranges.
This got here after he was shut down with a freak damage final summer time and underwent an offseason process to restore a spinal fluid leak in his mid-back. The Mets tried to commerce him on the deadline, however have been unable to maneuver the nine-year veteran. The 31-year-old is keen to pitch once more after spending the final 12 months coping with accidents and inconsistencies.
“I just want to pitch,” he stated. “I just want to be in a place and pitch, that’s it. I’ve been on a flight every two days for the last month. I just want to be somewhere and pitch.”
RAIN DELAY
The begin to Wednesday’s sport in opposition to the Atlanta Braves was delayed resulting from climate, which additionally delayed the deliberate pregame ceremony honoring Pete Alonso’s record-breaking dwelling run. The slugger handed Darryl Strawberry along with his 253rd dwelling run Tuesday evening, setting a brand new franchise file. The ceremony will happen Thursday evening earlier than the collection finale in opposition to the Braves.
Initially Printed: August 13, 2025 at 7:04 PM EDT
