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OCTOBER 18 • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM
RYAN HELSLEY
#56 - PITCHER - ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
1-1 W-L
1.33 WHIP
5.25 ERA
RYAN HELSLEY He is the right-handed version of Genesis Cabrera. Helsley brings heat but he lacks command. He struck out 10 batters in 12 innings, but he...
Notches first save Helsley walked two batters without allowing a run in two-thirds of an inning to record his first save of the season during a 6-5 win over the Pirates in the first game of Friday's...
Impact Alex Reyes got the first out of the seventh inning before handing the ball to Helsley, who loaded the bases with two outs thanks to a Paul DeJong error sandwiched between the free passes. The right-hander was then able to escape the jam by getting John Ryan Murphy to fly out to end the game. Helsley has not pitched well at all since coming off the COVID-19 list, posting an 11.81 ERA, 2.63 WHIP and 2:6 K:BB through 5.1 innings while going 1-for-3 on save chances, but he will apparently remain in the high-leverage mix for manager Mike Shildt.
SEPTEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE
Cardinals sweep Pirates to gain ground in playoff push Rookie Dylan Carlson hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run outburst to help the St. Louis Cardinals earn a doubleheader sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 7-2 victory in the n...
SEPTEMBER 18 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Takes loss, blown save Monday Helsley (1-1) took the loss and a blown save in Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the Brewers, allowing two runs (one earned) on one hit and one walk across one-third of an i...
Impact With Giovanny Gallegos (groin) on the injured list, Helsley was called upon to try and pick up the save after the Cardinals took a 1-0 lead in the eighth. He walked Avisail Garcia to start the frame before bouncing back to strike out of Christian Yelich. He was pulled a batter later after allowing a game-tying double to Ryan Braun and was ultimately charged with another run on Keston Hiura's sacrifice fly. Given Helsley's inability to shut the door Monday, it would not be surprising to see manager Mike Shildt go in a different direction next time the Cardinals come across a save chance.
SEPTEMBER 14 • ROTOWIRE
Lamet pitches Padres over Kershaw, Dodgers 7-2
SEPTEMBER 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cards, Brewers split pair as both games go extra innings Paul DeJong knocked in the go-ahead run with a two-out single in the ninth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals edged the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 to salvage a split of their doubleheade...
SEPTEMBER 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Candidate for save chances Helsley was identified by manager Mike Shildt as a candidate to see save opportunities the rest of the season in the wake of Giovanny Gallegos' (groin) placement on the injured lis...
Impact Granted, the right-hander hasn't exactly built a compelling case for high-leverage work recently, as Helsley has allowed at least one earned run in four straight appearances and now carries a bloated 7.71 ERA and 1.43 WHIP over six trips to the mound. However, the 26-year-old certainly demonstrated upside in his rookie 2019 campaign, when he finished with a 2-0 record and 2.95 ERA in 36.2 innings. Moreover, Helsley posted double-digit K/9s at four different minor-league seasons and boasts a fastball that's currently averaging a tick under 97 mph, so the foundational tools for a ninth-inning role would appear to be there.
SEPTEMBER 12 • ROTOWIRE
Helsley on Bonifacio homer: 'I think it was just a bad pitch'
SEPTEMBER 10 • Fox Sports
Scuffling since return to action Helsley, who surrendered two earned runs on two hits over an inning while recording a strikeout in the first game of a doubleheader against the Twins on Tuesday, now has a 10.80 ER...
Impact Helsley had opened the season with a pair of perfect appearances before he and the Cardinals' season were both sidelined due to the team's coronavirus outbreak. The hard-throwing right-hander's struggles since his return underscore the notion the month-plus layoff particularly affected him; Helsley came into the season riding high off an impressive rookie campaign during which he posted a 2.95 ERA and didn't give up an earned run in more than two consecutive appearances over 36.2 innings.
SEPTEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE
Trout hits 300th homer, Angels rally to take 2 from Astros
SEPTEMBER 5 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
O'Neill, DeJong HR, Cardinals sweep doubleheader from Cubs Tyler O’Neill and Paul DeJong homered, five St. Louis pitchers combined on a three-hitter and the Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-1 to sweep a doubleheader
SEPTEMBER 5 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gives up run in return Helsley allowed an earned run on a solo home run and allowed one other hit and a walk across one inning in a win over the Reds on Tuesday.
Impact The right-handed reliever was making his first appearance since July 29 after a bout with COVID-19 and an extended build-up period on the injured list. Helsley threw 15 pitches overall and surrendered a solo blast to Joey Votto, but some rust was to be expected after such a long layoff. Given the solid workload he logged Tuesday, Helsley should be ready for a steady role moving forward.
SEPTEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan Helsley: COVID-19 recovery has been 'kind of a whirlwind'
AUGUST 31 • Fox Sports
'I am the most poorly put together': Worst Dressed Cardinals
AUGUST 23 • Fox Sports
Among positive COVID-19 cases Helsley has tested positive for COVID-19, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact The Cardinals had two players and one staff member test positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday and Thursday, and Helsley was revealed as one of those players Friday. He's reportedly experiencing a low-grade fever as he deals with the virus. The team's weekend series against the Cubs was postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak among team members, but Giovanny Gallegos could see save chances once the Cardinals return to play. Helsley will be eligible to return to the team once he produces two negative tests.
AUGUST 7 • ROTOWIRE
Candidate to close Helsley was mentioned by manager Mike Shildt on Wednesday as one of the Cardinals' top candidates to close going forward, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Impact Kwang-Hyun Kim opened the year as the Cardinals' closer, but the team has since decided to move him into the rotation. With Jordan Hicks opting out of the season, the ninth inning is wide open in St. Louis, and Helsley was one of a large group of candidates who are being considered for the job. Helsley has closer velocity, with his fastball averaging just shy of 98 mph, though he hasn't necessarily achieved closer-worthy results through his first 39.1 big-league innings. His 2.75 ERA is quite strong, but it's come with a 4.04 FIP and a 5.04 xFIP, as his 21.1 percent strikeout rate is rather unimpressive.
AUGUST 5 • ROTOWIRE
Impressive in first two appearances Helsley fired 1.2 scoreless innings in a loss to the Twins on Wednesday, allowing no hits or walks and recording two strikeouts.
Impact The 26-year-old has picked up right where he left off during spring training and summer camp, as Wednesday marked his second scoreless effort in as many regular-season appearances thus far. Helsley should be a constant presence in the late innings thanks to an impressive repertoire that includes a high-90s fastball.
JULY 30 • ROTOWIRE
Monday Sports in Brief
JULY 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Likely to serve as closer Kim will move to bullpen and likely begin the season as the Cardinals primary closer, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.
Impact Kim will head to the bullpen after Carlos Martinez earned the fifth spot in the Cardinals' starting rotation Monday. With Giovanny Gallegos (undisclosed) currently on the 10-day IL, Kim will have the opportunity to establish himself as the premier late-game option for manager Mike Shildt. Ryan Helsley remains a candidate as well to pitch in late game situations. Kim is set to make his major-league debut after pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization for the past three seasons, posting a 2.51 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, and 180 strikeouts across 190.1 innings in 2019.
JULY 20 • ROTOWIRE
Braves remove 'Chop On' sign, slogan, but no call on chant The Atlanta Braves have removed a “Chop On” sign that sat near an entrance to Truist Park as the team considers its stance on fans’ tomahawk chop chant
JULY 20 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
NL Central Preview Capsules Capsules of National League Central teams, listed in order of finish last year
JULY 16 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Closer chances ratcheting up? Helsley's chances of spending at least some time in the closer role this season seemingly have increased in the wake of Jordan Hicks' (elbow) decision to opt out of playing in the...
Impact Helsley was already in the running for some ninth-inning work in the early portion of the season, at minimum, with Giovanny Gallegos still stuck in Mexico for the time being. Hicks' decision may also inch Helsley closer to filling such a role in at least a part-time capacity, as it guarantees the former will no longer be a candidate for closing duties in the second half of the campaign. If Gallegos' travel issues persist into the regular season, it may be down to either Helsley or Carlos Martinez for closing duties for at least the start of the campaign, with a decision from manager Mike Shildt on how he'll handle the situation potentially not coming until much closer to Opening Day.
JULY 14 • ROTOWIRE
Braves say they won't change name but studying chop chant The Atlanta Braves say they are not changing their team name
JULY 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cardinals reliever Hicks opts out of playing; has diabetes Hard-throwing St. Louis Cardinals reliever Jordan Hicks has opted out of playing this season, citing pre-existing health concerns
JULY 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Missing early summer camp Gallegos won't be present for the early portions of the Cardinals' summer training while he remains in Mexico, Mark Saxon of The Athletic reports.
Impact Teams are reporting to camp this week to begin ramping up for the 60-game regular season, but the 28-year-old won't be joining his teammates early on for unspecified reasons. The timing of Gallegos' arrival could impact his availability once games start toward the end of July. He's pegged as the closer with Jordan Hicks (elbow) beginning the season on the injured list, but if Gallegos is also unavailable duties could fall to Ryan Helsley, John Gant or Andrew Miller.
JULY 3 • ROTOWIRE
