NEW YORK -- Nolan McLean finished a bullpen session on Wednesday in Syracuse when he got a message from pitching coach A.J. Sager, saying he was joining the New York Mets .

Two days later, he was in New York preparing to make his major league debut on Saturday and hoping to help a struggling rotation during a playoff race.

"I think it was a surprise," McLean said before the Mets opened a three-game series against Seattle on Friday. "I was trying to do my best to stay in the moment and be with Syracuse as much as I could."

McLean is joining a rotation that began Friday with a 5.31 ERA in the past 52 games, 25th amongst the 30 teams. Overall, the Mets have a 3.77 ERA from their rotation, but they began Friday with 33 losses in the past 52 games.

McLean, 24, was 8-5 with a 2.45 ERA in 2

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