ATLANTA — August’s dog days have nothing on Nolan McLean. 

At a time of the season when concerns about a rookie starting pitcher’s workload might arise, the right-hander appears on his game. But that alone couldn’t get the Mets a victory Tuesday night. 

With their previously sizzling bats cold, the Mets lost 4-0 to the Braves at Truist Park for their second loss in eight games on this road trip. 

McLean surrendered one hit — a homer to Ozzie Albies — over six innings, allowing one run on a night he retired 16 straight batters to begin the game. He struck out three and walked two while extending his workload for this season to a career-high 136 ²/₃ innings. Last year he combined to pitch 113 ²/₃ in the minors and major leagues. 

“I think a lot of it is working out in between your starts, not changing the routine even if you don’t feel the best,” McLean said of his crispness. “Just getting in the weight room and getting after it to keep the strength up. And then early in the year we talked about throwing too much in between starts and just being mindful of your chronic workload in between starts as well.” 

Interim manager Andy Green indicated that McLean, at 85 pitches, might have returned for the seventh inning if the Mets had the lead. 

“[But] he’s thrown a lot of pitches his last number of outings, so 85 pitches, six innings, one run and one hit, that’s a good day’s work for him in August in his first year,” Green said. 

New York Mets pitcher Nolan McLean (26) pitches against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning at Truist Park on Aug. 11, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

McLean’s rebound from a shaky start last week in Cleveland was a welcome sign. Thursday, he had his worst start of the season, surrendering five earned runs over five innings. 

Overall, he’s pitched to a 3.42 ERA in 24 starts this season. 

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” McLean said. “There’s a lot of games left this season. I wouldn’t say the body of work is finished. I can learn every time we go out there and each lineup is completely different, too. So, I think it proposes a good challenge every time we go out there on how to navigate lineups multiple times through the order. The goal is to keep learning from that.” 

Atlanta Braves shortstop Jim Jarvis (74) throws for a double play in front of New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (12) during the first inning at Truist Park in Cumberland, Georgia, on Aug. 11, 2026. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Mets had averaged 7.1 runs over the previous seven games, but on this night were stifled by lefty Martín Pérez. They were also shut out in their other loss on this road trip, Saturday in Pittsburgh. 

A.J. Ewing’s full-extension, diving catch racing toward the foul line in left field deprived Mauricio Dubón of a hit to conclude the second inning. McLean raised his right arm to celebrate the play. 

Albies homered leading off the home fifth, jumping on an 0-2 fastball and clearing the right field fence to give the Braves a 1-0 lead. 

The Mets wasted an opportunity in the sixth, putting runners on the corners with one out before Carson Benge grounded into an inning-ending double play against Pérez, who before the night concluded extended his scoreless streak to 18 innings. The lefty allowed four hits and three walks over six innings, departing after 82 pitches. 

“[Pérez’s] change-up was really special,” Green said. “We didn’t make the appropriate adjustments to it. He only left a couple of them up.” 

Matt Olson of the Atlanta Braves reacts as he rounds first base after hitting a two-run homer in the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia, on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026. Getty Images

Jefry Yan walked Matt Olson and Albies in the seventh. Dubón’s sacrifice fly extended the Braves lead to 2-0. The lefty Yan was removed with two outs in the inning after walking Lane Thomas. 

Chayce McDermott allowed a two-run homer to Olson in the eighth that sank the Mets into a 4-0 hole. Olson’s homer was his 35th this season, which tied him for the major league lead with Kyle Schwarber, Yordan Alvarez and Junior Caminero.