Ryan

Helsley

The notion that the Cardinals could hold onto Helsley is something that president of baseball operations John Mozeliak seems to support: “It’s something we will always remain open-minded to, but our plan is to have him be part of our organization.” The 30-year-old Helsley posted a 2.04 ERA in 66 1/3 innings and won the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best closer in the National League. He is projected to earn $8.5 million in his final year of arbitration before he is eligible for free agency, but if the Cardinals wait until the summer to trade him while he’s on an expiring contract, they will obviously get a much weaker return.

It’s hard to find any arguments against that one, as Helsley was an unstoppable force in the ninth inning for the Cardinals in 2024. He secured a league-leading 49 saves while posting a 2.04 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and a 79/23 K/BB ratio across 66 1/3 innings in his 65 appearances. He also notched seven victories in his extremely impressive campaign. Helsley will find himself among the upper echelon of closers in 2025 fantasy drafts.

Helsley’s save was his 49th of the season. He struck out two batters and lowered his ERA to 2.04 on the season in the process. With two games left in the year, he’s on the precipice of a 50-save season.

Helsley came into the game with a runner on first and one out with a three-run lead in the ninth inning. He needed just one pitch to induce a ground ball double-play to end the game with his 48th save of the season.

He didn’t allow a hit, didn’t issue a walk, and didn’t strike anyone out. Not the most exciting save, but certainly an effective one, and he’s now up to 47 saves on the year. With six games left in the St. Louis season, he’s got an outside shot at finishing with 50 on the year.

Helsley picked up his 46th save of the season in style. He lowered his ERA to 2.12 in the process. Helsley has been outstanding this year and certainly one of the best closers in fantasy.

Helsley needs three more saves to tie Trevor Rosenthal’s Cardinals record of 48 from 2015. It’s possible he’ll get there, but the Cardinals aren’t going to want to be too aggressive with him here; he’s already topped his career high for appearances by seven.

Helsley makes it look so easy. He threw just eight pitches – seven fastballs – en route to his league-leading 44th save which tied Emmanuel Clase, who saved his 44th game earlier on Wednesday. Helsley hasn’t given up an earned run in over a month in what’s been an outstanding season.

Hensley’s save was his 43rd of the year. He allowed one hit, but struck out three batters in the inning. Helsley has a 2.23 ERA on the year. The 30-year-old right-hander has been among the best closers in baseball this season.

Helsley blew his fourth save of the season when he allowed an RBI single in the 11th to Willy Adames. The run wasn’t earned, at least, and the Cardinals were able score three in the 12th with Helsley shutting down the Brewers bats in the bottom of the inning. He also struck out four, so fantasy managers get a little bit of better with the bitter blown save.