Mets Look to McLean to Stop Skid Against Diamondbacks

New York hosts Arizona in rubber match of three-game series at Citi Field

Apr. 9, 2026 at 9:35pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the Mets' blue and orange and the Diamondbacks' teal and purple colors, capturing the dynamic action of a baseball game between the two teams.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes matchup between the Mets and Diamondbacks, with the game's action fractured into a dynamic geometric composition.NYC Today

The New York Mets will turn to rookie right-hander Nolan McLean to try and end a three-game losing streak as they host the Arizona Diamondbacks in the final game of their three-game series at Citi Field on Thursday night. McLean previously opened a game with five perfect innings to earn a win against the Giants and stop a Mets skid. The Mets are coming off a 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, with starter David Peterson struggling early. The Mets will face a tough task against Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who has yet to allow a run in his first two starts of the 2026 season.

Why it matters

The Mets are looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss and capture their third series win in their first four series of the season. Nolan McLean has shown promise as a rookie, and the Mets will be counting on him to provide a strong outing and halt their current losing streak.

The details

In the Mets' 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday, starter David Peterson allowed five earned runs in the first two innings, putting the home team in an early hole they were unable to overcome. The Mets will now turn to rookie Nolan McLean, who previously opened a game with five perfect innings before earning a win against the Giants and ending a three-game Mets losing streak. The Mets will face a tough challenge against Diamondbacks left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who has held the Dodgers and Braves scoreless across 12 combined innings in his first two starts of the 2026 season.

  • The Mets and Diamondbacks will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday, April 9, 2026 at 7:10 p.m.
  • In his previous start, Nolan McLean opened with five perfect innings before earning a win against the Giants on April 4, 2026.

The players

Nolan McLean

A rookie right-handed pitcher for the New York Mets who previously opened a game with five perfect innings before earning a win against the Giants.

David Peterson

The Mets starting pitcher who allowed five earned runs in the first two innings of the team's 7-2 loss to the Diamondbacks on April 8, 2026.

Eduardo Rodriguez

The left-handed starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks who has held the Dodgers and Braves scoreless across 12 combined innings in his first two starts of the 2026 season.

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What they’re saying

“We need Nolan to come up big for us tonight and stop this skid. He's shown he can do it, and we're counting on him to give us a strong outing.”

— Buck Showalter, Mets Manager

What’s next

If the Mets are able to win on Thursday, they will have captured their third series win in their first four series of the 2026 season.

The takeaway

The Mets are relying on rookie Nolan McLean to provide a bounce-back performance and halt their current three-game losing streak. A win would give the Mets an important series victory over the Diamondbacks and keep them near the top of the NL East standings early in the season.