Helsley seeks to re-enter Mets’ circle of trust as late-season bid to salvage postseason push
Mets lean on bullpen depth to close out series against the Padres while Ryan Helsley contemplates a path back to trust with a handful of outings left
The Mets faced a near‑must‑win scenario Thursday as they watched their postseason hopes hinge on a late‑inning surge. After their starter departed with a four‑run lead and four innings to cover, manager Carlos Mendoza went to his bullpen A‑team — Tyler Rogers, Brooks Raley, Gregory Soto and Edwin Díaz — and the group delivered four scoreless innings to seal a series victory over the San Diego Padres.
Helsley, who has struggled to recapture his best form, said there is time to prove he belongs back in Mendoza’s circle of trust. Speaking before Game 154, which opened a series with the Washington Nationals at Citi Field, he described the week ahead: "With a week left — three, four, maybe five outings — just trying to get those and get my confidence back," Helsley said. "Just try to go back to being myself and helping the team win." The Mets are navigating a late‑season stretch in a tight wild‑card race as they push toward the end of September.
The Padres series was dominated by late‑inning relief, with Díaz delivering four scoreless innings to complete the series victory. Along with Soto, Rogers and Raley, the Mets leaned on the bullpen to preserve the lead after the starter exited, a formula Mendoza has repeatedly relied on during a period of rotation and lineup shuffles.
Looking ahead, the Mets open a series with the Nationals at Citi Field, with Game 154 beginning a schedule that will test the bullpen’s durability as the club chases a postseason berth. Helsley’s path back into Mendoza’s circle of trust will hinge on results in multiple late‑season appearances, as the right‑hander aims to regain his best command and confidence.
In the aggregate, the Mets are balancing a critical run of games with the need to preserve bullpen integrity. Díaz has been a focal point in late‑inning situations, and Rogers, Raley, and Soto have given Manager Mendoza options to bridge early innings to the closer. Helsley’s candid acknowledgement of the timeline underscores the team’s broader strategy: use depth, protect the bullpen’s core, and hope that a handful of appearances are enough to restore a factor in the stretch run.