Nolan McLean isn’t a curiosity or a placeholder. He hardly even seems a rookie. Not when he is working with Greg Maddux’s efficiency and John Smoltz’s electricity against a first-place team before 40,000-plus at Citi Field in late August amid a playoff chase.

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McLean is a solution.

In replacing Frankie Montas, the righty hasn’t been a breath of fresh air as much as an oxygen tank for a suffocating patient. In 11 days, he made three starts that have gone really good, superb and “wow.” That was Carlos Mendoza’s word Wednesday night after McLean delivered eight shutout innings and the Mets completed a three-game sweep of the Phillies with a 6-0 triumph.

“He’s a stud, man,” Mark Vientos summed up about McLean, the first to win his first three starts as a Met.