Mets fight to stay alive in the NL playoff hunt as the final six weeks loom, and the rookie Nolan McLean has given orange-and-blue fans something to cling to. McLean dazzled in his major-league debut, fanning eight over 5 2/3 innings and instantly injecting life into a rotation that has struggled to piggyback a lineup that’s gone off-balance. New York’s veteran arms—Griffin Canning, Clay Holmes, Sean Manaea, Frankie Montas, Kodai Senga, and David Peterson—have supplied flashes but not consistency, leaving the club to lean on youth and a late-inning bullpen to salvage the season. With a wild-card grip precarious, the Mets are also eyeing further help from the pipeline, including Tong, as they chase October while Soto’s $765 million deal looms as a payroll reminder.

Fantasy angles: McLean, if he sticks, could become a sneaky innings option with strikeout upside, but managers should temper expectations until he proves stamina against a full order of big-league hitters. Peterson showed a path to stability in a key win and could be a streamer in favorable matchups; Senga’s durability remains a concern, so rostering complementary arms who eat innings will be pivotal in the Mets’ late-season sprint.