Overview

• Since his July 30 trade from the Cardinals, Helsley has posted a 10.38 ERA in 11 outings with 10 earned runs over his last seven, leading manager Carlos Mendoza to seek lower-leverage spots.
• Team staff pinpointed a small change in his arm position when he comes set that differs between his fastball and slider, making his pitches easier to anticipate.
• The problem stood out in a recent appearance against the Phillies, when hitters produced strong swings on fastballs and laid off sliders.
• Helsley is working during catch play to retrain his mechanics and build muscle memory so the tell is eliminated.
• Analytic indicators support the diagnosis, with opponents swinging less at pitches outside the zone with the Mets (34.3%) than they did in St. Louis (37.1%), and the club expects him to return to high-leverage work once corrected.