Edwin Díaz did not get off to a nice begin with the Mets or their fan base when he arrived as a key commerce acquisition in 2020, so the All-Star nearer understands higher than most what Ryan Helsley has been going through over his first 4 weeks with the team.
Helsley coughed up another lead in the eighth inning Tuesday night time before the Mets rebounded for a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Phillies.
“I’ve been through that, and my advice to him is stay with your head up,” said Díaz, who recorded the closing 5 outs to earn the victory. “We trust him. We know the pitcher he is, he’s one of the best closers in the game. He’s going through some bad moments right now, but we [have] trust in him and we support him. Just stay with your head up and keep going.”
The Mets acquired Helsley, a former nearer who saved 49 video games last season, from the Cardinals, while also buying and selling for relievers Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers forward of the July 31 deadline to fortify the back finish of their bullpen forward of Díaz.
Mets pitcher Ryan Helsley walks to the dugout during the eighth inning of a baseball recreation against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2025. AP
Helsley flushed a 5-3 lead Tuesday night time on a two-run homer by Harrison Bader in the eighth, giving him 10 earned runs surrendered and a 10.38 ERA over 8 ²/₃ innings with the Mets.
He now has surrendered 4 blown saves in 11 appearances, main some to believe he may be tipping pitches.
“We just gotta get Helsley right,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Too good of stuff for them to be taking actually good swings on fastballs, actually good takes on the sliders. We gotta look back and see what we’re lacking with him.
“Because for these guys or for groups to have snug at-bats like that, something is going on here that we have to determine out.
Díaz pitched to a 5.59 ERA and was booed typically during his first season with the Mets in 2019 following a commerce from the Mariners before establishing himself as a Citi Field fan favourite.
Ryan Helsley (56) gives up a game-tying two-run home run to ex-Mets outfielder Harrison Bader (2) during the eighth inning. Robert Sabo for NY Post
The three-time All-Star has been stellar this season, with 24 saves, a 1.60 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 50 ²/₃ innings over 49 appearances.
He struck out the first 4 of 5 batters he confronted Tuesday night time, including Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper bridging the eighth and ninth before Brandon Nimmo won the recreation in the backside half with a bases-loaded single off Phillies nearer Jhoan Duran.
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