Ryan Helsley

Ryan Helsley

30-Year-Old PitcherRP
St. Louis Cardinals
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Helsley entered 2024 with a tentative grasp on the closer role in St. Louis, but the hard-throwing righty led the majors with 49 saves, setting the Cardinals franchise record for a single season. Prior to the campaign, he had yet to achieve a 20-save season and had trouble staying healthy, but Helsley rewarded drafters who exhibited a higher risk tolerance. In fact, he did not miss any time, establishing new career-highs in games played (65) and innings pitched (66.1). Helsey's 89.1 percent team save share was the 2nd-highest mark among closers. The injury risk remains for someone who throws as hard as Helsley does - he averaged 99.6 mph on his fastball (5th among relievers) - but the 30-year-old still warrants a pick among the top-10 closers for 2025. Just keep in mind this is Helsley's final year of salary arbitration before he becomes a free-agent. If the Cardinals aren't competitive in 2025, he'll be a likely trade candidate. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
From Preseason
$Signed a one-year, $3.8 million contract with the Cardinals in January of 2024.
Move to rotation not considered
PSt. Louis Cardinals
November 12, 2024
The Cardinals are not mulling a move to the rotation for Helsley, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
ANALYSIS
All 239 appearances for Helsley at the major-league level have come in relief, but he came up through the minors as a starting pitcher. While there has been some speculation the Cardinals might consider giving the 30-year-old another chance to start, it does not appear that is in the plans following Helsley's major-league-leading 49 saves in 2024. They will, however, reportedly entertain trade offers for Helsley, who is entering his final year of arbitration eligibility.
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Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2024 MLB Game Log
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2023 MLB Game Log
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2022 MLB Game Log
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2021 MLB Game Log
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2020 MLB Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
14
Last 10 Games
13
Last 5 Games
11
How many pitches does Ryan Helsley generally throw?
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
 
1-10
 
11-20
 
21-30
 
31-40
 
41-50
 
51-60
 
61-70
 
71-80
 
81-90
 
91-100
 
101-110
 
111-120
 
121+
What part of the game does Ryan Helsley generally pitch?
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
 
 
 
1st
 
 
 
2nd
 
 
 
3rd
 
 
 
4th
 
 
 
5th
 
 
 
6th
 
 
 
7th
 
 
 
8th
 
 
 
9th
 
Extra
% Games Reaching Innings Threshold
% Games By Number of Innings Pitched
Left/Right Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-23%
BAA vs RHP
2024
 
 
-15%
BAA vs RHP
2023
 
 
-40%
BAA vs RHP
2022
 
 
-16%
BAA vs RHP
BAA Batters K BB H 2B 3B HR
Since 2022vs Left .197 289 91 26 51 10 1 5
Since 2022vs Right .152 362 134 34 49 8 0 5
2024vs Left .229 123 37 11 25 3 0 2
2024vs Right .194 143 42 12 25 3 0 1
2023vs Left .224 66 22 7 13 4 1 1
2023vs Right .134 80 30 10 9 2 0 0
2022vs Left .141 100 32 8 13 3 0 2
2022vs Right .118 139 62 12 15 3 0 4
More Splits View More Split Stats
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
 
 
-13%
ERA on Road
2024
 
 
-16%
ERA on Road
2023
 
 
-11%
ERA on Road
2022
 
 
-33%
ERA on Road
ERA WHIP IP W L SV K/9 BB/9 HR/9
Since 2022Home 1.95 0.99 87.2 10 5 47 11.3 2.9 0.5
Since 2022Away 1.69 0.91 80.0 9 4 35 12.9 3.6 0.6
2024Home 2.19 1.08 37.0 4 3 27 9.7 2.9 0.2
2024Away 1.84 1.13 29.1 3 1 22 12.0 3.4 0.6
2023Home 2.63 1.32 13.2 1 1 5 11.9 2.6 0.0
2023Away 2.35 0.91 23.0 2 3 9 13.3 5.1 0.4
2022Home 1.46 0.78 37.0 5 1 15 12.6 2.9 1.0
2022Away 0.98 0.69 27.2 4 0 4 13.7 2.6 0.7
More Splits View More Split Stats
Stat Review
How does Ryan Helsley compare to other relievers?
This section compares his stats with all relief pitcher seasons from the previous three seasons (minimum 30 innings)*. The bar represents the player's percentile rank. For example, if the bar is halfway across, then the player falls into the 50th percentile for that stat and it would be considered average.

* Exit Velocity, Barrels/BBE %, Balls Hit 95+ MPH %, and Spin Rate are benchmarked against 2019 data (min 30 IP). See here for more exit velocity/barrels stats plus an explanation of current limitations with that data set.
  • K/BB
    Strikeout to walk ratio.
  • K/9
    Average strikeouts per nine innings.
  • BB/9
    Average walks per nine innings.
  • HR/9
    Average home runs allowed per nine innings.
  • Fastball
    Average fastball velocity.
  • ERA
    Earned run average. The average earned runs allowed per nine innings.
  • WHIP
    Walks plus hits per inning pitched.
  • BABIP
    Batting average on balls in play. Measures how many balls in play against a pitcher go for hits.
  • GB/FB
    Groundball to flyball ratio. The higher the number, the more likely a pitcher is to induce groundballs.
  • Left On Base
    The percentage of base runners that a pitcher strands on base over the course of a season.
  • Exit Velocity
    The speed of the baseball as it comes off the bat, immediately after a batter makes contact.
  • Barrels/BBE
    The percentage of batted ball events resulting in a Barrel. A Barrel is a batted ball with similar exit velocity and launch angle to past ones that led to a minimum .500 batting average and 1.500 slugging percentage.
  • Spin Rate
    Spin Rate is the rate of spin on a baseball after it is released. It is measured in revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Balls Hit 95+ MPH
    The percentage of batted balls hit that met or exceeded the 95 MPH threshold.
  • Swinging Strike
    The percentage of pitches that result in a swing and a miss.
K/BB
3.43
 
K/9
10.7
 
BB/9
3.1
 
HR/9
0.4
 
Fastball
99.6 mph
 
ERA
2.04
 
WHIP
1.10
 
BABIP
.303
 
GB/FB
1.03
 
Left On Base
78.5%
 
Exit Velocity
84.2 mph
 
Barrels/BBE
3.5%
 
Spin Rate
2492 rpm
 
Balls Hit 95+ MPH
23.6%
 
Swinging Strike
17.3%
 
Prospect Rankings History
Advanced Pitching Stats
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Defensive Stats
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Stats Vs Today's Lineup
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2024
2023
2021
2020
2019
Sustaining the level of success he achieved during his breakout 2022 season was a longshot, but Helsley's follow-up campaign certainly fell short of expectations. Injury was mostly to blame as the hard-throwing righty missed two-and-a-half months with a right forearm strain. Injuries have been a constant for the 29-year-old, who has missed time during each of his five seasons to date. Prior to the forearm strain, Helsley split closing duties and struggled to a 1.26 WHIP. Upon returning from injury in September, the flamethrower ended the year on a high note, recording 7 of the Cardinals' final 8 saves while routinely hitting triple-digits on the radar gun - maxing out at 102.8 mph. Helsley posted a 0.77 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB ratio over his final 11.2 innings to remind fantasy managers of the upside he possesses. However, weighing that upside against the risks may prove too difficult for some, especially since Helsley has yet to post a 20-save season.
Helsley added 2.2 mph on his fastball in 2022, averaging 99.7 mph on the pitch while routinely reaching triple digits. He threw the third-most pitches in the league at 100 mph or greater and the added velocity significantly improved his effectiveness, as he went nearly two months without giving up an earned run. Couple this with a devastating slider (.111 BA) and the occasional curve (.000 BA) that opposing batters struggled to hit and Helsley turned in the finest season of his career. He posted career highs in innings (64.2), strikeouts (94), saves (19) and wins (9), which made him one of the most impactful waiver wire additions last season. Helsley's 1.25 ERA ranked third in the league among qualified relievers, while his 0.74 WHIP ranked second. The right-hander jammed his finger at the end of last season, but assuming he's healthy entering 2023, he's likely to be drafted among the top seven or eight closers.
The most memorable part of Helsley's major-league career to date is how he entered the 2020 season as the de facto closer due to injuries, opt outs and COVID breakouts. The truth is, nothing in his profile really screams "closer." Sure, he can pump gas with the best of them, but the outcomes off his fastball do not exactly validate a fastball-heavy approach to his game. The cutter has served as a nice complement to the fastball, and he has used his curveball as his primary offspeed pitch because his changeup makes the rarest of appearances. He has essentially been split neutral in his time at the big-league level, but 20 walks and eight homers in 48.2 career innings does not make for a high-leverage reliever. There is still room for growth here and you can't quit on high-90s heat, but without consistent control, he is not leaving middle-relief work any time soon.
A starter throughout most of his minor-league career, Helsley transitioned to a relief role during his first season in the majors, tossing 36.2 innings in 24 appearances. The move to the bullpen befits his profile as a flame throwing right-hander with one dominant pitch and questionable control. That dominant pitch is a four-seam fastball that approaches triple-digits on the radar gun and has been graded as his only plus offering. Although Helsley registered a middling 20.9 K% during his time with the Cardinals last season, he averaged over a strikeout per inning throughout his minor-league career and has a curveball that is good enough to function as an effective complement to his heater. The Cardinals are unlikely to have a rotation spot open for Helsley next season, so they will likely again deploy him as a reliever. He could compete for the closer role with Jordan Hicks out to begin the campaign.
A shoulder injury limited Helsley to just 12 starts in 2018, but he showed enough promise in those starts for the Cardinals to add him to the 40-man roster for Rule 5 draft protection. At Double-A Springfield, Triple-A Memphis and one rehab start in rookie ball, the 24-year-old combined for a 3.97 ERA, striking out 28.1% of opposing batters and holding them to a .190 batting average. He did battle some walk issues (11.0 BB%), and that's not a new problem for Helsley. Much of the righty's profile reads like a reliever -- iffy command, a questionable changeup and a fastball that can touch 100 mph. If the Cardinals elect to move him to the bullpen this season, he has the tools to make a big-league impact right away. If they keep him as a starter, it will be harder for Helsley to crack the roster.
More Fantasy News
Sets franchise record
PSt. Louis Cardinals
September 27, 2024
Helsley allowed a hit and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 6-3 win over the Giants.
ANALYSIS
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Notches save No. 48
PSt. Louis Cardinals
September 25, 2024
Helsley earned a save Wednesday, inducing a double play on the only pitch he threw against the Rockies.
ANALYSIS
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Collects save Sunday
PSt. Louis Cardinals
September 23, 2024
Helsley threw a perfect inning and earned a save against Cleveland on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
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Strikes out side in 46th save
PSt. Louis Cardinals
September 21, 2024
Helsley earned a save against the Guardians on Saturday, striking out all three batters he faced in a perfect ninth inning.
ANALYSIS
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Locks down 45th save
PSt. Louis Cardinals
September 17, 2024
Helsley allowed a hit and struck out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Pirates.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Interest from Toronto, Arizona
PSt. Louis Cardinals
December 24, 2024
The Blue Jays and Diamondbacks have shown trade interest in Helsley, Mark Feinsand, John Denton and Bryan Hoch of MLB.com report.
ANALYSIS
The Cardinals are reportedly leaning toward hanging onto Helsley for now, although they would surely entertain it if the right offer came along. A Helsley trade would seem likelier if the club is unable to deal Nolan Arenado, as it would need to find other ways to trim payroll. Helsley is projected to earn around $8 million in 2025 in his final year of arbitration eligibility.
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