Carlos Mendoza is finally seeing the New York Mets slowly emerge from a tough slump, but after a recent win against the Braves, he felt compelled to say the team needs to help Ryan Helsley after a difficult outing.
Helsley’s performance caught some people by surprise, knowing he came off a good outing against the Mariners where he hadn’t allowed any runs. While that seemed like a sign he was recovering, after the Braves game, Mendoza had to speak clearly about his pitcher’s situation.
The curious thing is that Mendoza claimed not to be concerned about Helsley. “I’m not going to say I’m concerned,” he said, but at the same time added that they need to find a way to help him, “…but we’ve got to help him.”
How Badly Did Helsley Fare Against the Braves?
Helsley allowed three runs against the Braves in a taxing 24-pitch inning. The game was his worst so far with the Mets in terms of earned runs and hits allowed, and he failed to record a single strikeout.
Ryan Helsley #56 of the New York Mets in action during the MLB Little League Classic against the Seattle Mariners at Bowman Field on August 17, 2025 in South Williamsport. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
Helsley now has a 4.15 ERA, which indicates that his performance is worsening. This is what Mendoza was referring to when he said they must help him. “He’s not getting swing and misses, he’s not getting chases,” the manager said, adding that hitters are guessing his pitches, including his fastballs.
Despite the rough inning, the Mets were able to win, giving them four victories in their last six MLB games with only two losses. They started the road series against the Braves with a win and will return home on August 25 to play the Phillies.
