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The Mets didn’t need Nolan McLean to be a savior Saturday, but it sure didn’t hurt that the rookie assumed such a role.

A team desperate for even decent starting pitching got the bonus package, as McLean — in his major league debut — helped the Mets, without much thunder offensively, forget their worries for an afternoon.

With that injection of energy from McLean, the Mets ended a three-game skid with a 3-1 victory over the Mariners at Citi Field.

It was only their third victory in their past 17 games.

McLean, the No. 37 prospect in the league according to MLB.com, pitched 5 ¹/₃ scoreless innings in which he allowed two hits and four walks with eight strikeouts.

The Mets pieced together the rest, which included scarcely used Edwin Díaz pitching two innings for his 24th save in 26 chances.

“I couldn’t have dreamed it up any better,” McLean said. “From the fans, to getting out there and being able to compete against a good Seattle team.”

McLean, 24, relied mostly on his signature sweeper, but showed six pitches, averaging 95.5 mph with his four-seam fastball.

He provided a boost for a rotation that last week demoted struggling Frankie Montas to the bullpen and watched David Peterson and Sean Manaea struggle in subsequent starts.

Much of the sellout crowd booed as manager Carlos Mendoza went to the mound to remove McLean in the sixth.

McLean had just struck out Julio Rodríguez — on pitch No. 91 — after walking Cal Raleigh to begin the inning.

“I heard them loud and clear,” Mendoza said of the fan reaction. “If I was sitting in the stands I would have been booing myself, too. I completely understand. But I have a responsibility here, No. 1 to win games. But No. 2 is when you are talking about one of our best major league prospects making his major league debut … we have a plan in place.”

Mendoza admitted McLean brought a certain energy to the team that was perhaps needed.

“It’s pretty neat,” Mendoza said. “Definitely something that maybe we’re missing, especially with how hard this stretch has been.”

McLean exited to a standing ovation.

Gregory Soto entered and escaped the inning, striking out Eugenio Suárez for the final out after Raleigh stole second and reached third on Francisco Alvarez’s throwing error.

Twice after his departure, McLean was shown in the dugout on the huge outfield screen and received further adulation from the crowd.

“I saw everybody just part away from me that I was talking to at that moment,” McLean said. “I thought, ‘Uh oh, I really don’t know what to do,’ but that was awesome.”

McLean walked J.P. Crawford and Cole Young — the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters in the lineup — to begin the third.

But after a visit from pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, the right-hander returned to pounding the strike zone.

Randy Arozarena struck out and after Raleigh singled to load the bases, Rodríguez hit a chopper that McLean fielded behind his back to start an inning-ending 1-4-3 double play.

“That was kind of sick,” Francisco Lindor said.

The Mets struggled to generate offense against Mariners starter Bryan Woo, who allowed one earned run on six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks over six innings.

Lindor brought in the game’s first run with a third-inning double.

Brett Baty singled leading off the frame before Lindor, who blasted two homers the previous night, hit a line drive into the right field corner for his 70th RBI this season.

The lefty Soto gave the Mets a boost by retiring all five batters he faced.

It was an eighth straight appearance by Soto since his July arrival from Baltimore in which he did not allow an earned run.

Soto has recorded more than three outs in back-to-back outings.

Juan Soto’s sacrifice fly in the seventh gave the Mets a 2-0 lead after Baty singled leading off the inning and stole second.

Lindor’s single put runners on second and third with nobody out.

Lindor got thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Brandon Nimmo’s single.

Pete Alonso greeted Carlos Vargas with an RBI double on the right-hander’s first pitch that extended the lead.

“When I got here [Friday], everybody made me feel like it was home,” McLean said. “I think all the guys in here do a great job of making it feel like a really good culture and environment for everybody.”