Sunday's game will be played in front of Little League World Series players at Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field

Nolan McLean made his major league debut on Saturday afternoon and looked impressive in his first inning of work, striking out two in a clean frame.

Following Saturday's middle game in Queens, the Mariners and New York Mets travel to Williamsport, Pa., for the eighth installment of MLB's Little League Classic, televised nationally on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball."

There are many culprits. A starry, highly paid lineup main four of Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo has lacked enough clutch impact. A refortified bullpen has been central to blowing leads in each of the seven games going into Saturday.

Right-handed pitcher Nolan McLean, the Mets' No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, will make his Major League Baseball debut on Saturday at an inopportune time, with his team mired in a horrific slump and All-Star Bryan Woo on the mound for the opposing Seattle Mariners.

Carlos Mendoza's flailing team only maintained a half-game lead for the final NL wild-card spot because the Reds flushed an 8-1 advantage and lost.

Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the L.A. Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, grew up in Texas, then moved back to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

In his Major League debut, Nolan McLean was never likely to avoid trouble altogether. It’s what McLean did once trouble found him that mattered most.

Citi Field was rocking in the fourth inning Friday night when Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto went back-to-back, but the fireworks didn’t last long as the New York Mets once again collapsed late in an 11-9 loss to the Seattle Mariners.