Ryan Helsley
29-Year-Old
2024 Stats
W-L
2-2
ERA
2.25
WHIP
1.04
K
31
SV
21
Rest-of-Season Projections
2024 Fantasy Outlook
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. Read Past Outlooks
Secures 21st save
Helsley picked up the save in Friday's 8-5 victory over Colorado. He pitched a perfect inning with two strikeouts.
ANALYSIS
Helsley handily retired all three batters faced in his third consecutive scoreless outing to gather his league-leading 21st save. The Cardinals closer has been stellar, suffering just one blown save in his 28 total appearances. Overall, the 29-year-old flamethrower sports a 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB in 28 innings this season.
Helsley handily retired all three batters faced in his third consecutive scoreless outing to gather his league-leading 21st save. The Cardinals closer has been stellar, suffering just one blown save in his 28 total appearances. Overall, the 29-year-old flamethrower sports a 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 31:6 K:BB in 28 innings this season.
Pitching Stats
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2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Minor League Game Log
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Pitching Appearances Breakdown
Average Pitch Count
13
Last 10 Games
14
Last 5 Games
13
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+
What part of the game does Ryan Helsley generally pitch?
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
-11%
BAA vs RHP
2024
-35%
BAA vs LHP
BAA | K | BB | H | HR | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022vs Left | .174 | 72 | 18 | 35 | 4 | |||
Since 2022vs Right | .154 | 105 | 25 | 38 | 5 | |||
2024vs Left | .176 | 18 | 3 | 9 | 1 | |||
2024vs Right | .269 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 1 | |||
2023vs Left | .224 | 22 | 7 | 13 | 1 | |||
2023vs Right | .134 | 30 | 10 | 9 | 0 | |||
2022vs Left | .141 | 32 | 8 | 13 | 2 | |||
2022vs Right | .118 | 62 | 12 | 15 | 4 | |||
More Splits→ | View More Split Stats |
Home/Away Pitching Splits
Since 2022
-14%
ERA on Road
2024
-25%
ERA on Road
ERA | WHIP | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Since 2022Home | 1.95 | 0.97 | 64.2 | 11.0 | 2.6 | ||||
Since 2022Away | 1.67 | 0.82 | 64.2 | 13.6 | 3.3 | ||||
2024Home | 2.57 | 1.14 | 14.0 | 5.8 | 1.9 | ||||
2024Away | 1.93 | 0.93 | 14.0 | 14.1 | 1.9 | ||||
2023Home | 2.63 | 1.32 | 13.2 | 11.9 | 2.6 | ||||
2023Away | 2.35 | 0.91 | 23.0 | 13.3 | 5.1 | ||||
2022Home | 1.46 | 0.78 | 37.0 | 12.6 | 2.9 | ||||
2022Away | 0.98 | 0.69 | 27.2 | 13.7 | 2.6 | ||||
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.
* 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
5.17K/9
10.0BB/9
1.9HR/9
0.6Fastball
99.5 mphERA
2.25WHIP
1.04BABIP
.305GB/FB
1.58Left On Base
76.3%Exit Velocity
84.1 mphBarrels/BBE
3.9%Spin Rate
2481 rpmBalls Hit 95+ MPH
21.3%Swinging Strike
16.7%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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Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Ryan Helsley See More
Ryan Helsley was the first closer to 20 saves this season despite the Cardinals' losing record. Just how historic is that, and is it likely to continue?
Dan Marcus looks at non-closing relievers who can provide value in points leagues, including starters who qualify at RP like the Rays' Zack Littell.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be target for Yankees
Helsley could be a trade target for the Yankees this summer, reports Brendan Kuty of The Athletic.
ANALYSIS
The right-hander isn't eligible for free agency until 2026, so the Cardinals would need to be willing to part with their closer for the next season and a half. Helsley has been one of the best relievers in baseball with a 1.35 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 23:2 K:BB across 20 innings this year. He's also tied for the MLB lead with 13 saves, but Helsley's fantasy value would likely take a major hit if he's sent to New York. Yankees closer Clay Holmes also has 13 saves and hasn't given up an earned run through 19 outings, so he'd likely retain the role.
The right-hander isn't eligible for free agency until 2026, so the Cardinals would need to be willing to part with their closer for the next season and a half. Helsley has been one of the best relievers in baseball with a 1.35 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 23:2 K:BB across 20 innings this year. He's also tied for the MLB lead with 13 saves, but Helsley's fantasy value would likely take a major hit if he's sent to New York. Yankees closer Clay Holmes also has 13 saves and hasn't given up an earned run through 19 outings, so he'd likely retain the role.
Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2021
2020
2019
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.
More Fantasy News
First to 20 saves
Helsley earned the save in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Astros, recording a pair of strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.
ANALYSIS
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Locks down save
Helsley struck out two without allowing a hit or a walk in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Phillies.
ANALYSIS
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Hangs on for 18th save
Helsley earned the save in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Reds, allowing a run on a hit and two walks in the ninth inning.
ANALYSIS
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Picks up another shaky save
Helsley allowed a run on three hits in one inning but earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Cubs. He struck out a batter in the outing.
ANALYSIS
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Escapes with save
Helsley allowed two runs on four hits in one inning but earned the save in Saturday's 7-6 win over the Cubs. He did not walk or strike out a batter.
ANALYSIS
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