Edwin Díaz did not get off to a good start with the Mets or their fan base when he arrived as an important trade recruitment in 2020, so the All-Star closer understands better than most Ryan Helsley has undergone during his first four weeks with the team.
Helsley coughed a new lead in the eighth inning on Tuesday evening before the Mets recovered for a 6-5 walk-off victory on the Phillies.
“I experienced that and my advice to him is up to your head,” said Díaz, who took the last five outs to win the victory. “We trust him. We know the pitcher he is, he is one of the best shutters in the game. He is now going through a number of bad moments, but we [have] Trust him and we support him. Just stay up with your head and keep going. “
The Mets gained Helsley, a former poet who saved 49 games last season, from the cardinals, while they also traded for relievers Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers prior to the deadline of July 31 to strengthen the back of their bullpen for Díaz.
Helsley rinsed a 5-3 lead on a two-run homer by Harrison Bader in the eighth on Tuesday evening, giving him 10 earned points and an ERA of 10.38 over 8 ²/₃ innings with the Mets.
He has now surrendered four bloated saves in 11 performances, so that some believe that he might tilt pitches.
“We just have to get Helsley well,” said Carlos Mendoza. “Too good for them to take really good swings on fastballs, really good takes on the sliding controllers. We have to look back and see what we miss with him.
“Because for those boys or for teams to have such comfortable percussions, something is going on here that we have to sort out.
Díaz threw at an ERA of 5.59 and was often booed during his first season with the Mets in 2019 after an exchange of the Mariners before setting up as a favorite at Citi Field fan.
The triple All-Star has been fantastic this season, with 24 Saves, a 1.60 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 50 ²/₃ innings over 49 performances.
He spent the first four of the five batters who he came across on Tuesday evening, including Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper who bridged the eighth and ninth before Brandon Nimmo won the game in the bottom half with a basic loaded off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran.
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