As the Mets look to their future, the starting rotation is the best place to begin.

By 6 p.m. Monday, the roster is likely going to look very different. A number of veterans are expected to be shipped out for prospects — the product of this disastrous season in Queens. Already, reliever A.J. Minter is on the move, headed to the Twins for a pair of prospects.

But the young guys on the mound are going to be the same. Nolan McLean, Christian Scott and Zac Thornton — three bright spots in this bleak season — have given fans a reason to think that maybe tomorrow won’t be as dark as today.

McLean kept the good vibes of the trio going Thursday, registering his eighth straight start of at least six innings, and the rookie has held the opposition to two earned runs or less in seven of those starts.

“[McLean and Scott] are guys that are proving they can handle staring down the best pitchers in the National League East and compete with them, and going toe to toe with them,” interim manager Andy Green said of McLean, who allowed six hits and struck out six over 6 ¹/₃ innings of work. “Zac’s off to a great start, he’s doing some impressive things. I think it’s what you want from development, to see those guys show up here, handle it, believe they can win and go out and do it, really do it, and continue to repeat [those performances].”

Luis Robert Jr., one of many Mets who may be gone come Monday, drove in two runs with an eighth-inning single as the Mets won for the fourth time in five games, 4-2 over the Marlins in front of 25,774 at Citi Field.

McLean’s effort wasn’t enough to earn his eighth victory of the season — the late Mets rally made a winner out of Brooks Raley, who delivered 1 ²/₃ innings of scoreless relief — but it continued his upward trend. At this point, with the season well beyond saving, the youngsters producing is almost as important as wins, and they have each other to lean on.

“It matters more inside the clubhouse than it does out there on the field, the way we’re hanging out,” McLean said of the trio. “We don’t even really talk about baseball. We’re kind of messing around with each other. That’s what makes it fun.”

The three youngsters have been the Mets’ best starters of late.

Thornton has pitched to a 2.43 ERA in five starts and has won consecutive decisions. Scott, coming off Tommy John surgery, has a 2.99 ERA in 15 outings and is eighth in baseball in strikeout percent at 28.8.

Then there is McLean, so impressive after an August call-up a year ago. He began the year well, then hit a rough patch. He had a 6.10 ERA in May. He’s been a different pitcher over the last two months. His walks are down and his strikeouts are up.

“His numbers are really good, when you compare them against the best pitchers in baseball,” Green said.

McLean made only two mistakes Thursday, and was punished for both of them.

A flat changeup wound up in the seats down the right field line in the fourth, Kyle Stowers’ 15th homer of the season.

In the seventh, McLean grooved a 3-0 fastball, and Jakob Marsee pulled the Marlins even at 2-2.

“I thought he showed too much emotion after the first out in the seventh inning,” Green said. “He was fired up to be back out there for the seventh. Three straight balls and then he paid the price. I know that is going to leave the right kind of sour taste in his mouth going forward. But, really overall an impressive outing.”