With Nolan McLean's major league debut looming, the New York Mets have made a corresponding move on their 40-man roster. Shortly after New York's 11-9 loss to t

Nolan McLean is as advertised. In fact, in his MLB debut, he had a start only matched by one of the most-hyped young pitchers in Mets history. McLean went 5.1 innings on Saturday and struck out eight without allowing a run.

The Mets designated pitcher Paul Blackburn for assignment, the club announced Saturday, likely ending the right-hander’s rocky tenure with the team. The move removes Blackburn from the club’s 40-man roster,

“I told (Mendoza) I consider myself a starter,” Montas said before a game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field. “In the meantime, if that’s the way that can help this team and I can contribute to get a win, I’m definitely willing to do it.”

McLean's strong start sparked a rare complete and efficient performance by the Mets, who recorded only their third win in the last 17 games to move 1 1/2 games ahead of the Cincinnati Reds in the race for the last wild-card berth in the National League.

Jonah Tong was lights out in his Triple-A debut for the Syracuse Mets. After a dominant run in Double-A where he posted a sparkling

The left-hander had only a brief career in MLB, but he shared it with many of the young Mets who would go on to miraculously win the 1969 World Series.