NEW YORK -- When the Mets acquired right-hander Ryan Helsley before the July 31 Trade Deadline, they thought they were getting a player who would fortify the back end of the bullpen. That didn’t happen in a 4-3 loss to the Braves on Thursday night at Citi Field.
Dating back to July 28, New York has lost 13 of its last 15 games, and the Mets missed an opportunity to gain ground on the Phillies, who lost to the Nationals, 3-2, at Nationals Park. New York remains five games behind Philadelphia in the National League East race.
Don’t look now, but the Reds are gaining on the Mets, who are now just a half-game ahead of Cincinnati for the third and final NL Wild Card spot. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is aware his team is sinking fast, but he still believes he has the talent to go to the postseason.
“Obviously, we are not playing well,” the skipper said. “But [we have] too much talent. We are going through a very tough time right now. There are a lot of good players here. We have to get through this. We can’t be looking at the standings. … We are right in the thick of things.”
Helsley is one of those good players Mendoza was talking about. With the Mets leading, 3-2, Helsley had a tough time getting outs in the eighth. After allowing a one-out walk to Marcell Ozuna, Michael Harris II came to the plate and doubled to left-center field, scoring pinch-runner Eli White to tie the score at 3.
Atlanta then took the one-run lead when the next hitter, Ozzie Albies, roped a double off the right-field wall that sent Harris home.
Since he joined the Mets, Helsley has pitched five innings and allowed seven runs (three earned). Mendoza has noticed that Helsley’s fastball and slider are getting hit often.
“The fastball is getting hit and [it’s] a plus-plus fastball, but he is leaving that slider up in the strike zone. That’s the big difference for me,” Mendoza said. “You see that pitch today to Harris. It was a slider. They are going to get ready for 100 mph and then that slider staying right there in the middle of the zone, good hitters are going to make you pay for it.
“We have to continue to finish those pitches, especially the breaking ball -- the slider in this case -- so the fastball can be used effectively. We have to get him back on track.”
Helsley acknowledged that he is placing his pitches in the middle of the plate.
“The pitch to Albies was a ball below the zone. It was kind of a weird swing, but it ended up with a good result. I have to keep working and try to figure it out,” he said. “[I’ve been] leaving the slider up. It feels good. The shape is there. I just have to get it in a better location.”
Helsley said he has to get used to his new role being a setup man. He spent most of his career as a closer when he was with the Cardinals. The Mets’ ninth-inning guy is Edwin Díaz.
“I’m trying to figure out that role, that routine and be ready when my name is called. I haven’t been good,” Helsley said.
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Mets. At one point, they were 21 games over .500 (45-24) and had a 5 1/2-game lead over the Phillies on June 12. Now, the Mets are struggling to maintain a playoff spot. But Francisco Lindor believes they have the players to turn things around.
“No matter what happens, we stay together, fight for each other and play for each other,” he said. “It’s definitely a test that we are going through -- big adversity. Everyone here has the sense of urgency to win and they want to win. … It’s tough to deal with the ups and downs at the end of the night.”