Ryan Helsley has a sky high ERA and done nothing but blow saves
When the New York Mets swung a trade deadline deal to land All-Star closer Ryan Helsley from the St. Louis Cardinals, the expectation was clear: Helsley would bring late-inning stability and push the Mets’ bullpen toward elite status. But so far? It’s been rocky waters in Queens for the Mets’ new closer.
Since donning the blue and orange, Helsley has battled through what he calls “a bad dream.” In his first seven outings, he’s posted an 8.44 ERA and blown three straight save chances — part of a brutal stretch where the Mets dropped 14 of 16 games. Instead of cementing their playoff push, the team finds itself clinging to the NL’s final wild-card spot while staring up at the Phillies in the East.
“It seems like every time the other team swings, the ball finds a hole,” Helsley said before Saturday’s matchup against the Mariners at Citi Field. “And when we hit it hard, it’s right at somebody. Sometimes baseball is just going to baseball.”
Mets’ New Closer not Closing
The Mets felt the sting again Friday when Helsley surrendered two runs in the seventh, erasing a lead and setting up another gut-punch loss. In total, he allowed nine hits and five earned runs across just 5 ⅓ innings with his new club.
Still, there’s no panic in the 2024 NL Reliever of the Year. Ryan Helsley racked up a Cardinals record 49 saves last season. Ryan Helsley insists the results don’t match how he feels physically. “My body feels great, my stuff feels good — I’ve just got to keep going,” he said.
The raw velocity is still there — Helsley regularly touches 100 mph — but his slider has betrayed him. Opponents like Michael Harris II and Eugenio Suárez have punished even well-located sliders for run-scoring doubles, turning the Mets’ new closer Helsley’s wipeout weapon into a liability.
“I need to make that pitch just off the plate,” Helsley admitted. “Get guys to chase. A lot of it is about execution — when things are going well you get away with mistakes, but right now every mistake feels magnified.”
New York Mets Fans are not Happy
For Mets fans worried about the free fall, Helsley offered some reassurance. With 39 games left, he believes the bullpen will turn the corner and help this team fight into October. “We’ve got too many experienced guys in here to keep letting this happen,” he said. “The only thing we can do is put the past behind us and focus on today.”
The Mets didn’t acquire Helsley to play .500 baseball — they brought him in to finish games when it matters most. And while the early returns have been bumpy, both the pitcher and the club are betting that his 100 mph fastball and All-Star pedigree will soon shine through. If Helsley finds his groove, the Mets’ bullpen could once again become the force they hoped it would be at the deadline.
