The St. Louis Cardinals are entering a rebuilding stage this offseason, but teams that have talked to the Cardinals have come away with the impression that they will not trade closer Ryan Helsley. "It's something we will always remain open-minded to, but our plan is to have him be part of our organization," president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said. Helsley is entering his age-30 season and is projected to earn $8.5 million in his final year of arbitration eligibility. His value is as high as it will probably ever be after he saved a league-high 49 games in 53 chances in 2024 on his way to winning the award for best closer in the National League. Helsley also had a strong 2.04 ERA in his 66 1/3 frames. The Cardinals are open to trading third baseman Nolan Arenado, but they aren't expected to go for a full teardown. The Cardinals also aren't considering moving Helsley to their starting rotation.
The St. Louis Cardinals are not considering moving closer Ryan Helsley into their starting rotation for the 2025 season. Helsley was a starting pitcher as a prospect in the minor leagues, but he has yet to make a start at the major-league with the Cardinals in his six years with the team. He made his second All-Star team in 2024 and was outstanding in the ninth-inning role, posting a league-high 49 saves, a 2.04 ERA (2.41 FIP), 1.10 WHIP, 79 strikeouts and 23 walks in 66 1/3 relief innings. The 30-year-old veteran is entering his final year for salary arbitration, so the Cardinals are reportedly considering dealing him this winter. If Helsley sticks with the Red Birds for the 2025 campaign and in the closer's role, the right-handed reliever will be a high-end fantasy closing option yet again.
St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley earned his MLB-leading 38th save on Saturday night in a 5-2 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. Helsley threw a perfect ninth inning and earned a strikeout as well. The veteran has four wins, 38 saves, a 2.61 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and 58 strikeouts in 51 innings. Helsley has three saves in three consecutive appearances for the Cardinals. The key to the resurgent season for Helsley has been a return to health for the big right-hander. He will look to keep his dominant season going in the series finale on Sunday afternoon.
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Ryan Helsley retired all three batters he faced to earn the save in Saturday's 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs. He entered the ninth inning to protect a one-run lead. The 30-year-old needed just nine pitches to earn his 34th save of the season. Helsley now leads the major leagues in saves and owns a 2.64 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 54:19 K: BB over 47 2/3 innings. Helsley has been one of baseball's best closers, and fantasy managers should continue to roll with him in all leagues.
St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley had a rare off night on Thursday, allowing three runs on four hits to blow the save and take the loss in a 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Chicago Cubs. The fireballer allowed a one-out solo homer to Cody Bellinger and then unraveled after he recorded the second out, giving up three hits including a walk-off two-run double to pinch-hitter Mike Tauchman. All of Helsley's pitch data looked good in this one, so it's probably just a blip on the radar. He has been fantastic this year and leads the MLB with 33 saves, so it's tough to complain about one bad outing.
St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley converted his 33rd save of the season in Tuesday's 2-1 win over the Pirates. Helsley came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by one and locked things down by striking out the side. The 30-year-old has been one of baseball's and fantasy's top closers this season, converting all but two save opportunities with a 2.25 ERA, a 10.84 K/9 rate, and a 3.68 BB/9 rate. He currently has the most saves in baseball and should continue to provide top fantasy value in the second half, especially if the Cardinals continue to play well.
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said the reason closer Ryan Helsley (hip) declined to pitch in the All-Star game earlier this week was due to nagging hip tightness. Helsley alerted the team to the pain, and they decided it would be better for him to rest up for the second half of the season. The Cardinals' series opener on Friday against the hosting Atlanta Braves was postponed due to inclement weather, but Helsley is available to pitch for Saturday's doubleheader. It's something worth watching for the lockdown 30-year-old closer in the second half of the season, but fantasy managers obviously need to keep him in their starting lineups. Helsley made his second All-Star team this year by recording a league-high 32 saves to go along with a 2.36 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 48 strikeouts and 17 walks in 42 innings out of the bullpen.
St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley said that he's unlikely to pitch in the All-Star game on Tuesday and instead wants to take a break so that he's well-rested for the start of the second half of the season on Friday. As a result, Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan will take Helsley's place on the National League roster. Helsley isn't injured at all but just wants to monitor his workload after throwing 42 innings in the first half. The 29-year-old has been brilliant in 2024 and leads the league with a career-high 32 saves, but he's on pace to easily set a new career-high in innings pitched, with his previous career-high in innings in the majors coming in 2022 (64 2/3). Along with his league-leading 32 saves, Helsley has a 2.36 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP and 48 K's and has become an elite fantasy closer.
St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley continued his stellar season on Tuesday, earning his 31st save in a 7-4 win over the Pirates. Helsley came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth inning up by three and delivered a 1-2-3 outing with a strikeout. Helsley provided fantasy value in his last several seasons but has taken another step this season, converting a league-best 31 saves in 32 opportunities with a 2.54 ERA, a 10.85 K/9 rate, and a 3.69 BB/9 rate in 39 innings pitched. The Cardinals have been playing better baseball lately, which should give Helsley plenty of opportunities to provide further fantasy value.
St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley tossed a clean ninth inning to secure a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants. Helsley ran into a bit of trouble, allowing a walk and a single, but got out of it without damage. The 29-year-old now has a league-leading 25 saves and has blown only one, which came in his first opportunity of the season back in March. Helsley should continue to be an elite fantasy option and provide solid ratios, strikeouts, and plenty of saves the rest of the way.
Ryan Helsley
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Cardinals
