Nolan McLean is absolutely carving up the Phillies right now, rocking an insane 0.47 ERA over his first three career starts against them. This isn’t just good, it’s the best for any Met through their first three outings against the rival Phillies (minimum 5 innings per outing). Talk about making an immediate statement!
Soto’s All-Star Spotlight and Shutout History
Juan Soto made some serious history this past week, starting the All-Star Game in right field. He became only the third Met ever to do that, joining legends Dave Kingman (1976) and Darryl Strawberry (1984-1988). And Soto wasn’t done! He went and got a hit in the All-Star Game, making him just the sixth Met since 2000 to do it. Big names like Carlos Beltrán, David Wright, and Pete Alonso are on that list, so Soto’s in some seriously elite company.
The All-Star Game itself? A total pitching clinic. It resulted in a shutout, the first time that’s happened since 2013, when the American League beat the National League 3-0 at Citi Field. Pitching was definitely locked in that night.
Streaks, Swipes, and Schwarbombs
Luke Weaver had an incredible run, going 25 consecutive appearances without giving up an earned run. That streak, which was tied for the second-longest in Mets history with A.J. Minter, finally ended when Trea Turner went deep with a solo homer. Only Mark Guthrie in 2002 had a longer streak, with 33 straight. What an unbelievable stretch for Weaver!
Rookie A.J. Ewing is flying around the bases, snatching 10 stolen bags before his 60th career game. He’s only the tenth Met to pull off that quick-start feat, putting him alongside guys like José Reyes and Darryl Strawberry. That’s some serious wheels early in a career.
And can we talk about Kyle Schwarber? The guy really loves hitting dingers against the Mets. He notched his 26th homer against them, putting him fourth among active players. Only Bryce Harper (43), Giancarlo Stanton (38), and Freddie Freeman (31) have more. He’s truly a nemesis at the plate.
Lindor’s Big Day and McLean’s Dominance
Francisco Lindor had himself a day, reaching base five times in a single game for the fifth time in his career. He’s done it with both Cleveland and the Mets, including that memorable “new-cleat game” back in September 2025. When Lindor gets going, he’s a force on offense.
But let’s circle back to Nolan McLean. Besides that ridiculous 0.47 ERA against the Phillies, he’s now struck out 10+ batters twice this season, and three times in his career. Nobody else on the Mets has even touched double-digit K’s since David Peterson in August 2025. That kind of dominance from a young arm is something special, especially against a heated rival. Frank Viola is second with a 0.87 ERA and Jon Matlack third with a 1.01 ERA against the Phillies in their first three starts, but McLean’s numbers blow them away.
It’s been a wild week of stats, from Soto’s All-Star recognition to McLean absolutely dealing against a division rival. There’s always something special happening on the diamond, and these numbers from the past week prove it. Oh, and quick throwback: the last time the All-Star Game was in Philadelphia before 2026 was ’96, and Mets center fielder Lance Johnson started and went 3-for-4, showing some serious pop.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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