Nolan McLean has been a silver lining to a nightmarish start for the Mets

There were a lot of eyes on the New York Mets coming into the 2026 season. They made plenty of moves that the front office thought would put them in contention this year. 

Unfortunately, those moves aren't paying off. The Mets currently sit in last place in the NL East with their 10-19 record. 

Not only do they sit in the basement of the NL East, but they are also tied for the worst record across MLB with the Philadelphia Phillies. 

MORE: Mets have just one way to turn disaster season around, according to ESPN analyst

Nolan McLean has been a silver lining to a nightmarish start for the Mets

The offense has been a huge problem for the Mets this year. They rank last in runs scored, runs per game, OBP, SLG, wOBA, and wRC+. 

They have also been bitten by the injury bug as Juan Soto just returned from the IL, Kodai Senga is back on the 15-day IL, Luis Robert Jr. is dealing with back issues, and Francisco Lindor is expected to miss a few weeks with a strained left calf. 

Now, if you're looking for some good news, Nolan McLean has been lights-out so far this season. According to Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly, he has emerged as the No. 2 rookie in his latest power rankings. 

"Over his first six starts of the 2026 season, McLean has a 2.55 ERA and 2.25 FIP. He leads all rookie starting pitchers in WAR, according to FanGraphs. His 11.5 K/9 is fourth among all starting pitchers in the sport, trailing only Jacob Misiorowski, MacKenzie Gore and Cristopher Sanchez."

This would feel a lot better for fans if the team were actually doing anything, but at least McLean is a bright spot. 

The Mets have finally found their ace. Now, they just gotta get the offense back on track. It's still early in the season, and while it looks like a lost cause, there is still plenty of time to turn this ship around. 

More MLB news:

• MLB analyst puts pressure on the White Sox to extend Munetaka Murakami
• Guardians' rookie southpaw has emerged as a frontline starter
• Reds' Rhett Lowder proves you don't need 100 mph to dominate
• This undrafted arm is making the most of his opportunity with the Orioles
• Missing Raisel Iglesias has not slowed down the dominant Braves' relief corps