After starring for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza revealed when fans can expect Nolan McLean to take the mound for the 2026 regular season.
There’s been plenty of excitement in Queens since McLean’s impressive first Mets appearances last year, a buzz that grew even more when he was chosen to start the WBC championship game for the United States.
Now that the WBC has concluded, Mendoza addressed questions about McLean’s Opening Day role. When asked about his first start this season, Mendoza said McLean is likely to pitch in game three of the Mets’ first series. Mendoza didn’t confirm who would start game two against the Pittsburgh Pirates, noting that Opening Day honors have gone to new acquisition Freddy Peralta.
McLean is expected to slot into the top three of New York’s rotation alongside Peralta, giving the Mets a strong 1‑2 punch. Potential starters for game two include Sean Manaea, Kodai Senga, Clay Holmes, or David Peterson. With only a few Spring Training games left, it’s unclear if McLean will make one more tune‑up start before the regular season begins.
Last year, McLean burst onto the scene after his call‑up on August 16, earning a win in his first career start versus the Seattle Mariners with nearly six scoreless innings and eight strikeouts. Across eight starts in 2025, he went 5‑1 with a 2.06 ERA, 1.042 WHIP, and a 57:16 strikeout‑to‑walk ratio.
Known for his elite spin rates, especially on his sweeper and curveball, McLean’s stuff quickly caught attention in 2025. Although he struggled in one WBC outing, he rebounded by giving up just two earned runs over more than four innings in the championship game.
Once he makes his third start of the season likely on the road in San Francisco McLean will be under even greater scrutiny as one of the favorites for the National League Rookie of the Year. With the league now having more data and video on him, how he handles the spotlight in New York as a frontline starter will be one of the big storylines of the 2026 season.
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