By the time Nolan McLean returned to the mound Friday for the fourth inning — a danger zone for Mets starting pitchers — he had plenty of latitude.

The Mets have lost back-to-back games entering this series and are 5-13 in August as they continue to struggle. Atlanta though, is hot! The Braves are 7-1 in the past eight games, including going 2-1 versus the Mets on August 12-14. For the year, Atlanta owns the series edge, 7-3.

The Mets and Braves have had a number of climactic late-season series. This… will not be one of them. But it is a chance for the Braves to extend the Mets’ recent misery, something that, should it happen, we will all relish.

WASHINGTON — Adult Nolan McLean is looking forward to his encore. As is Young Nolan McLean, who grew up in North Carolina rooting for the Braves and listed Chipper Jones among his childhood heroes (which also included a few Orioles and Nationals, plus North Carolinian Josh Hamilton).