struggles persist for Ryan Helsley of the Mets as they continue to search for solutions

In the heart of the National League Wild Card race, the New York Mets find themselves grappling with a concerning issue in their pitching rotation. Ryan Helsley, the former St. Louis Cardinals shutdown closer, is currently experiencing struggles in his tenure with the Mets.

Helsley's velocity on his fastball remains towering at the very top of Major League Baseball, suggesting no mechanical issues with his stuff. However, his struggle with elevating his fastball is a cause for concern for Mets manager Carlos Mendoza. This concern is evident as Helsley yielded a three-run home run to Kerry Carpenter in the seventh inning of the Mets' recent loss to the Detroit Tigers.

The homer hit by Carpenter was a low and inside fastball that should have been in the power zone. Helsley feels that hitters are swinging at pitches that should be slower than 100 mph, indicating a potential issue with his pitch location.

Mendoza does not believe Helsley's issues are related to tipping his pitches. Instead, the current pitching coach of the Mets, along with Mendoza, is working diligently to resolve Helsley's issues. The next possible problem could be an inability to locate Helsley's pitches properly.

The Mets, who are currently leading the National League Wild Card race with a four-game lead over the San Francisco Giants and a five-game advantage over the Cincinnati Reds, are heading to Cincinnati to face the Reds in a crucial three-game series starting on Friday. Mendoza and pitching coach Jeremy Hefner are trying to find ways to help Helsley as his struggles continue.

Helsley is trying to return to basics and get back to his best form. In 14 appearances with the Mets, he has allowed 14 runs, resulting in an 11.45 ERA. The Mets will be hoping that Helsley can find a solution to his issues and contribute effectively to their playoff push.

struggles persist for Ryan Helsley of the Mets as they continue to search for solutions