Nolan McLean took the mound for the Mets against the Braves on July 5, 2026. The start came as the Mets tried to end another losing skid, making the first inning matter before the game even settled in.
First pitch was scheduled for 12:30 PM ET. The game was also set to be shown on NBC and Peacock and heard on Audacy Mets Radio, WHSQ 880AM, the Audacy App, and 92.3 HD2.
A.J. Ewing Opens For The Mets
A.J. Ewing led off for the first time this season, giving the Mets a different look at the top of the order. Francisco Lindor was listed at shortstop, Juan Soto as the designated hitter, Bo Bichette at third base, Mark Vientos at first base, Carson Benge in right field, Tyrone Taylor in left field, Luis Torrens at catcher, and Brett Baty at second base.
That lineup put McLean behind a group built to support him early, with Ewing setting the tone and Soto in the middle of the order. The Mets were starting a series against the Braves, so the opening game already carried extra weight inside the division race and inside the clubhouse push to stop the skid.
Braves Lineup Across The Field
The Braves answered with Drake Baldwin at catcher, Ozzie Albies at second base, Matt Olson at first base, Michael Harris in center field, Mauricio Dubon in left field, Dominic Smith as the designated hitter, Austin Riley at third base, Mike Yastrzemski in right field, and Jim Jarvis at shortstop.
That left McLean facing a full major-league lineup from the first pitch, with both clubs set up for a game that was supposed to begin at 12:30 PM ET. The weather delay changed the timing around that start, and the practical question for anyone following live was simple: did the delay alter the scheduled first pitch or only push the game back from it?
Either way, the Mets needed the outing to count immediately. McLean’s start was not just another turn through the rotation; it was tied to a team trying to halt another losing skid while opening a series against the Braves, and that made every inning from him part of the same task.
