Friday, May 8, 2026 • 9:40 PM
Chase Field • Phoenix, AZ
RHP Nolan McLean (1-2, 2.97) vs. RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 6.61)
WPIX

The good news is the Mets have won two consecutive series on the road. That being said, yesterday’s game was a winnable game that they just couldn’t close the deal on. The Mets look to shake it off as they head to Arizona to end this long West Coast road trip.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Mets Lineup

  1. Juan Soto – LF
  2. Bo Bichette – SS
  3. Brett Baty – 3B
  4. Mark Vientos – 1B
  5. Carson Benge – CF
  6. Marcus Semien – 2B
  7. MJ Melendez – RF
  8. Francisco Alvarez – DH
  9. Luis Torrens – C

Starting Pitcher: Nolan McLean

McLean gets the start for the Mets today! Over seven games and 39 1/3 innings, he has a 2.97 ERA, 2.12 FIP (league-leading), 0.914 WHIP and a 134 ERA+. McLean is coming off of his shortest start of the season where he allowed three runs on six hits and one walk over four innings against the Los Angeles Angels. He still managed to strike out six batters.

The Diamondbacks have the following career numbers against McLean:

Opposing Lineup

  1. Geraldo Perdomo – SS
  2. Ildemaro Vargas – 2B
  3. Corbin Carroll – RF
  4. Adrian Del Castillo – DH
  5. Nolan Arenado – 3B
  6. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. – LF
  7. Gabriel Moreno – C
  8. Jose Fernandez – 1B
  9. Jorge Barrosa – CF

Ryne Nelson has pitched 31 1/3 innings over seven starts this season with a 6.61 ERA, 5.50 FIP, 1.436 WHIP and a 64 ERA+. Nelson has been either great or terrible this season with very little in-between. Against the Mets earlier this season, he allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings. His last time out against the Cubs, he allowed one run over 5 2/3 innings. He also has three starts where he allowed six runs or more.

The Mets have the following career stats against Nelson:

  • Francisco Alvarez 2-10, HR, 4 K
  • Brett Baty 1-4, BB, K
  • Carson Benge 0-2
  • Bo Bichette 3-8, BB, K
  • Vidal Bruján  0-1,K
  • Marcus Semien 1-7, 2 K
  • Juan Soto 3-12, 3B, 2 HR, 7 BB, 2 K
  • Tyrone Taylor 1-4, K
  • Luis Torrens 0-2
  • Mark Vientos 2-9, 2 K

Game Notes

  • The Mets have not won three series in a row so far this season, though they have a chance to do so in Arizona this weekend.
  • New York has not lost the season series to the Diamondbacks since 2017, when it went 1-6 against them.

Three Things To Watch For

  1. Be Patient Mets. Nelson has a BB/9 rate of 3.7 this season, which is quite a bit above his career rate of 2.5. The last time the Mets faced Nelson, they worked zero walks, the only outing for Nelson this year where that happened. Let’s take the patient approach tonight and make Nelson work.
  2. Mark Vientos. Earlier in the week, Vientos was the engine pushing the entire Mets offense, recording six RBIs over two games. Since then, he has gone 0-for-8 at the plate with a walk and two strikeouts. Vientos doesn’t have great numbers in Arizona, going 4-for-17 with one RBI in his career. Can he flip the script tonight?
  3. Too many double plays. The Mets are tied with the Astros and the Rangers for No. 5 in the majors with 30 GIDP’s this season. Alvarez has 10 of them, following by Bichette with 6. Alvarez is leading the league and Bichette is tied for No. 6. So it’s not just you if you’re watching games at home thinking the Mets are ending rallies early, and often.

Let’s go Mets!