Rookie Nolan McLean, Mets Look to Sweep Pirates

New York's young ace aims to continue strong start against Pittsburgh

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:22pm

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Rookie right-hander Nolan McLean will make his season debut for the New York Mets on Sunday as they look to complete a three-game sweep of the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. McLean, who emerged as a top prospect last year, will face off against Pirates righty Carmen Mlodzinski.

Why it matters

The Mets are hoping McLean can build on his impressive rookie campaign and help them return to the playoffs after a late-season collapse in 2025. The Pirates, meanwhile, will try to find a way to push across more runs after stranding 17 baserunners in Saturday's extra-inning loss.

The details

McLean, 24, went 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA in eight starts for the Mets last season after being called up in August. He'll look to pick up where he left off against a Pirates team that has struggled with runners in scoring position through the first two games of the series. Mlodzinski, 25, made two relief appearances against the Mets in 2025, recording a 0.00 ERA.

  • McLean made two starts for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic this spring, allowing two runs in 4 2/3 innings in the championship game against Venezuela.
  • The Mets went 6-2 in McLean's starts last season after his promotion on August 16, but just 38-55 with anyone else on the mound as they collapsed down the stretch.

The players

Nolan McLean

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher who emerged as a top prospect for the Mets last season, making eight starts and going 5-1 with a 2.06 ERA.

Carmen Mlodzinski

A 25-year-old right-handed pitcher for the Pirates who made two relief appearances against the Mets in 2025, recording a 0.00 ERA.

Luis Robert Jr.

The Mets' center fielder who hit a game-winning three-run homer in the 11th inning of Saturday's 4-2 victory over the Pirates.

Carlos Mendoza

The Mets' manager, who praised McLean's ability to handle the spotlight after his strong performance in the World Baseball Classic this spring.

Don Kelly

The Pirates' manager, who acknowledged his team's struggles with runners in scoring position in Saturday's loss but expressed confidence they will improve.

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What they’re saying

“If anyone is built for something like this, it's Nolan, with how much and how quickly (things have) been thrown at him. We saw it when he came up and how he handled it and then recently with the WBC, playing one of the biggest games — besides playing playoffs or the World Series — and how he handled it.”

— Carlos Mendoza, Mets Manager

“That's tough, but we'll be better. As we go through (the season), we have to find a way to push those runs across. We played offensively during the opener. Today, with runners in scoring position, it kind of evaded us. But we are going to be better at it.”

— Don Kelly, Pirates Manager

What’s next

McLean will look to continue his strong start to the season and help the Mets maintain their early lead in the NL East, while the Pirates will try to solve their issues with runners in scoring position.

The takeaway

Nolan McLean's rapid rise from prospect to reliable starter has given the Mets a boost, but the team will need to avoid another late-season collapse if they want to return to the playoffs. The Pirates, meanwhile, are searching for ways to capitalize on their scoring opportunities and keep pace in the NL Central.