New York Mets’ color commentator Ron Darling made a glowing comparison after Nolan McLean’s first big league start.

The spin rates were eye-opening. The results spoke for themselves. Yet everyone around the Mets seemed most impressed by the poise that Nolan McLean demonstrated in his outstanding major league debut on Saturday at Citi Field.

Rookie Nolan McLean delivered what the Mets needed in his MLB debut, striking out eight and flashing some clutch leather over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over the Mariners.

The first pitch was a ball. The second, Rodríguez lined toward McLean, who fielded the ball on one hop behind his back, and then had the presence of mind to throw to second for a chance at a double-play.

The identity of the most successful New York Mets teams has been about pitching. Rarely have they been an organization fully dependent on large offensive number

The Mets turn to top pitching prospect Nolan McLean on Saturday to try and alleviate some of their starting pitching woes. Here's what to know.

There are many culprits. A starry, highly paid lineup main four of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo has lacked enough clutch impact. A refortified bullpen has been central to blowing leads in each of the seven games going into Saturday.

But finishing this marathon has proven challenging: Holmes is averaging less than five innings in his last nine starts, the Mets losing five of them, as he’s posted a 5.02 ERA and his strikeout-walk ratio has shriveled to 1.66.