DETROIT -- The Mets’ bullpen couldn’t get the job done in Wednesday afternoon’s 6-2 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park. Sweeping the American League’s best team in three games had been a possibility until the game unraveled for the visitors.
The score was 1-1 when Mets starter Clay Holmes walked off the field with two outs in the fifth. But then reliever Gregory Soto allowed two inherited runners to score, and Ryan Helsley gave up a three-run homer to Kerry Carpenter in the seventh on a 100 mph four-seamer.
Helsley, obtained from the Cardinals at the Trade Deadline, continued his struggles. He’s allowed nine earned runs over 5 2/3 innings in his past six outings and now has an 11.45 ERA with the Mets, while his overall ERA rose to 4.98.
It was previously believed that he was tipping his pitches, and he’s made attempts to return to the form that helped him secure an MLB-leading 49 saves last year in St. Louis. But success continues to elude him.
“I’m trying anything and everything,” said Helsley. “You make a good pitch and it gets hit, and mistakes always get hit, as well. It seems like everything’s falling, and obviously you can’t walk guys and you’ve got to compete out there. I keep trying to get after it when I’m out there.
“Guys are swinging at 100 [mph] pitches like it’s 91. So it’s not a good thing. When you feel like you have to be perfect out there, it’s not a good thing. So just trying to get back to the basics and start at square one, try and get back to form, be myself and help the team win.”
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza added, “For me, [pitch execution] is the biggest thing -- his ability to elevate the fastball. We saw it again today with the homer. It’s a fastball in the power zone [low and inside] for the lefty. When he’s at his best, he’s able to elevate the fastball.”
Helsley had 21 saves and a 3.00 ERA with St. Louis this year before being obtained to be the setup man for Mets closer Edwin Díaz.
“He’s made some adjustments,” said Mendoza. “But how can we help this guy? Because right now, we’re not doing that. When you have that type of stuff and they keep hitting it like that, something’s going on.
“We acquired this guy, and we believe in this guy, and I keep saying it: In order for us to get to where we want to get, we’re going to need him. This is obviously hard for him by now, and for all of us. But we’ve got to get him right.”
Holmes gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings against Detroit, but actually pitched better than those numbers indicate. A catcher’s interference call against Hayden Senger led to the game’s first run in the second, and it was the only run the Tigers had scored when Holmes departed with two outs and two on via walks in the fifth.
However, Soto moved both runners into scoring position with a wild pitch. Then, down 1-2 in the count, Riley Greene hit a scorching one-hopper off the glove of shortstop Francisco Lindor. It dribbled into left-center to score both runs for a 3-1 Tigers lead.
Holmes got the Tigers to strike out chasing pitches outside the strike zone, including getting two K's each against lefties Greene and Carpenter. He got three of his strikeouts with his changeup even though it’s typically his third-most used pitch behind his sinker and sweeper.
“The changeup today I thought was really good,” said Mendoza. “He was really good today.”
Holmes has quietly been one of the better stories in baseball this season.
He went from being the Yankees’ closer with 30 saves in 2024 to becoming one of the top two pitchers in the Mets’ rotation by leading the team in wins (11) and tying with David Peterson for the lowest ERA (3.61).
Holmes knows well the challenges Helsley is facing.
“There’s times when you might not be at your best,” said Holmes, “but we all have a lot of confidence in Ryan. Obviously, the stuff’s still there. He has a work ethic. It’s just you have to keep moving forward and believing in yourself, and find ways to get better.
“He wants it, and guys like that will come out the other end. But times like this can be tough.”