Sunday, May 31, 2026 • 1:40 PM
Citi Field • Flushing, NY
RHP Janson Junk (3-5, 4.80) vs. RHP Nolan McLean (2-4, 4.40)
SNY

Last week the Miami Marlins swept the New York Mets. Now the Mets have the chance to return the favor Sunday afternoon.

All eyes are on Nolan McLean. The Mets’ young pitcher has started to stack the tough starts. Over the last few outings he has flashed his usual electric stuff, however, he’s also had bumps that spiraled into massive innings for opposing batters. McLean has tremendous stuff and the Mets need the version of him that can give the bullpen a day off.

Mets Lineup

  1. Carson Benge – RF
  2. Bo Bichette – SS
  3. Juan Soto – LF
  4. Jared Young – DH
  5. Mark Vientos – 1B
  6. A.J. Ewing – CF
  7. Brett Baty – 3B
  8. Marcus Semien – 2B
  9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Nolan McLean

Nolan McLean has made 11 starts this season totaling 61 1/3 innings with a 4.40 ERA, 3.58 FIP, 1.092 WHIP, and a 90 ERA+. In his last two starts he has allowed 16 runs (13 earned) over nine innings.

His last start was emblematic of his recent struggles. He struck out the side in the first inning before things went off the rails in the next. Before those two starts McLean had a 2.92 ERA over nine starts. This will be McLean’s first start against the Marlins and no one on the Marlins roster have faced him in an official major league game.

Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Marlins Lineup

Starting Pitcher: Janson Junk

Janson Junk has tossed 60 innings over 11 starts with a 4.80 ERA, 4.06 FIP, 1.300 WHIP, and an 83 ERA+ this season. Junk had two rough starts in mid-May allowing a total of 15 runs from 18 hits over 10 2/3 innings. He rebounded in his last start allowing only one run, scattering eight hits over five innings on Monday.

The Mets have the following career numbers against Junk:

  • Bo Bichette 3-4
  • Vidal Bruján 0-0, BB
  • MJ Melendez 0-3, 2 K
  • Juan Soto 1-2
  • Jared Young 0-1, K

Game Notes

Jorge Polanco continued his rehab Saturday playing three innings for Binghamton (Double-A) at first base. According to Mike Puma of the NY Post, the Mets are hopeful he will return for the Seattle series.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Under the hood. McLean still has a 3.16 xERA (75th percentile) and .216 xBA (77th percentile). His strikeout rate  is still top tier (29.6%; 92nd percentile). McLean has been hit hard more recently which has seen him drop to around the middle of the league in barrel percentage and hard hit rate, but he’s still in 81st percentile for average exit velocity.
  2. David Peterson. The Mets announced before Friday’s game that David Peterson was moving back to the bullpen with Sunday being his first available day. Peterson had two successful starts in mid-May allowing three runs off 10 hits over nine innings. His last start was pretty poor, allowing six runs off 11 hits and three walks over five innings against the Reds. In 33 1/3 innings as a starter he has a 7.56 ERA. In 20 innings as a reliever he has a 2.25 ERA.
  3. OPS watch. Saturday, Bo Bichette was getting close again to a .600 OPS with a .592 OPS. He went 0-for-3 with a walk, dropping his OPS down to .588. Semien has also been hitting around the .600 OPS line as well. Saturday he went 2-for-4 with a double, raising his OPS to .582. With a good week both hitters could finally cross that .600 line.