Ryan Helsley's deceptive season performance so far should not dampen the spirits of St. Louis Cardinals supporters.
Spin on Ryan Helsley's Performance in 2025
The St. Louis Cardinals' ace closer, Ryan Helsley, had a scorching hot 2024, breaking records and leaving opposition in the dust. But, ol' Helsley ain't been the same fire-breathing dragon at the back of the bullpen this season. His last three outings have been a real pain in the ass, with him failing to lock down a single save.
Yep, you heard that right. Three games, three blown saves. But don't be quick to doubt the big guy. His early-season jitters and recent stumbles aren't a fair reflection of the pitcher he still is.
Take his first June appearance against the Kansas City Royals, for example. With a 4-3 lead, Helsley entered the ninth. After striking out the first batter, a little line drive single, followed by a seeing-eye single, sent the pinch-runner, Nick Loftin, scampering to third. But come on, man, ground balls are gonna get through sometimes—it ain't always the pitcher's fault.
His next appearance, on June 7, was just some bad luck for the opposing team. With a 1-0 Cardinals lead against the Dodgers, Shohei Ohtani hit a grounder to second. It looked like a routine groundout, but the ball simply refused to comply and bounced off the second base bag. That gave Ohtani new life, and after a single by Mookie Betts, Helsley struck out Freddie Freeman, but a wild pitch scored Ohtani, tying the game.
The June 9 game against the Toronto Blue Jays wasn't an act of fate, though. Helsley surrendered a solo home run to Jonatan Clase, tying the game at four.
But don't write off Helsley just yet, mate.
According to Derrick Goold from STLToday, Helsley was dealing with toe pain during spring training that led to his team placing a protective thingy in his cleat. The discomfort caused Helsley to mess around with his delivery, leading to subpar results in the early part of the season. Add to that the fact that Helsley's appearances were few and far between, and it's no wonder his stats were looking shaky.
Toss in the fact that he converted all nine save opportunities in May with a much more respectable 2.45 ERA, and it's clear that Helsley's back to full health. His last three outings could've easily gone the other way, but somehow they didn't.
For all those fans riding the Cardinals sell-off train at the trade deadline, hold your horses. Helsley's 2025 campaign has likely taken the wind out of your sails, as you may believe he won't fetch the return the Cardinals would've gotten had they traded him before the season. But don't sell other teams short, mate. Remember when the Milwaukee Brewers got next to nothing for their All-Star closer, Devin Williams, in the offseason? Relief pitchers are known for their fickle nature, and it's likely that most teams expected a regression from a historic season like Helsley's.
Now 30 years old, Helsley won't be reaching the heights of his 2024 season ever again. But fret not, he's back to being a trusty weapon at the end of games. So hold your breath, grab a brew, and cross your fingers—because Helsley's still got what it takes.
In the wake of Ryan Helsley's challenging starts in June, his performance in Major League Baseball (MLB) games should not be overlooked. As evident in his successful save conversions in May, Helsley appears to be back to his top form, rekindling hope for the St. Louis Cardinals in the sports arena.
