Edwin Díaz didn’t get off to an incredible start with the Mets or their fan base when he arrived as a key trade acquisition in 2020, so the All-Star closer understands higher than most what Ryan Helsley has been going through over his first 4 weeks with the team.
Helsley coughed up one other lead within the eighth inning Tuesday night 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 along with your head up,” said Díaz, who recorded the ultimate five outs to earn the victory. “We trust him. We all know the pitcher he’s, he’s the most effective closers in the sport. He’s going through some bad moments straight away, but we [have] trust in him and we support him. Just stay along with your head up and keep going.”
The Mets acquired Helsley, a former closer who saved 49 games last season, from the Cardinals, while also trading for relievers Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers ahead of the July 31 deadline to fortify the back end of their bullpen ahead of Díaz.
Helsley flushed a 5-3 lead Tuesday night on a two-run homer by Harrison Bader within the eighth, giving him 10 earned runs surrendered and a ten.38 ERA over 8 ²/₃ innings with the Mets.
He now has surrendered 4 blown saves in 11 appearances, leading some to consider he could also be tipping pitches.
“We just gotta get Helsley right,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Too good of stuff for them to be taking really good swings on fastballs, really good takes on the sliders. We gotta look back and see what we’re missing with him.
“Because for those guys or for teams to have comfortable at-bats like that, something is occurring here that we’ve to work out.
Díaz pitched to a 5.59 ERA and was booed often during his first season with the Mets in 2019 following a trade from the Mariners before establishing himself as a Citi Field fan favorite.
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 primary 4 of 5 batters he faced Tuesday night, including Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper bridging the eighth and ninth before Brandon Nimmo won the sport in the underside half with a bases-loaded single off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran.
Edwin Díaz didn’t get off to an incredible start with the Mets or their fan base when he arrived as a key trade acquisition in 2020, so the All-Star closer understands higher than most what Ryan Helsley has been going through over his first 4 weeks with the team.
Helsley coughed up one other lead within the eighth inning Tuesday night 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 along with your head up,” said Díaz, who recorded the ultimate five outs to earn the victory. “We trust him. We all know the pitcher he’s, he’s the most effective closers in the sport. He’s going through some bad moments straight away, but we [have] trust in him and we support him. Just stay along with your head up and keep going.”
The Mets acquired Helsley, a former closer who saved 49 games last season, from the Cardinals, while also trading for relievers Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers ahead of the July 31 deadline to fortify the back end of their bullpen ahead of Díaz.
Helsley flushed a 5-3 lead Tuesday night on a two-run homer by Harrison Bader within the eighth, giving him 10 earned runs surrendered and a ten.38 ERA over 8 ²/₃ innings with the Mets.
He now has surrendered 4 blown saves in 11 appearances, leading some to consider he could also be tipping pitches.
“We just gotta get Helsley right,” Carlos Mendoza said. “Too good of stuff for them to be taking really good swings on fastballs, really good takes on the sliders. We gotta look back and see what we’re missing with him.
“Because for those guys or for teams to have comfortable at-bats like that, something is occurring here that we’ve to work out.
Díaz pitched to a 5.59 ERA and was booed often during his first season with the Mets in 2019 following a trade from the Mariners before establishing himself as a Citi Field fan favorite.
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 primary 4 of 5 batters he faced Tuesday night, including Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper bridging the eighth and ninth before Brandon Nimmo won the sport in the underside half with a bases-loaded single off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran.
