Ryan Helsley

ActiveIL

Baltimore Orioles · Pitcher

Age 316' 2" · 235 lbsThrows Right

FBaseball Overview

At 31 years old, Helsley enters 2026 as Baltimore's closer after back-to-back All-MLB selections, though early returns suggest he's navigating a transition year. His strikeout stuff remains elite—he posted 63 K across 56 innings in 2025—but his ERA and WHIP have both ticked upward, signaling he may be dealing with command issues or age-related decline. For fantasy purposes, he retains significant save upside given his closing role, though managers should temper expectations compared to his dominant 2024 season when he logged 28 saves. The strikeout production should stabilize, but monitor his ERA and WHIP closely as indicators of whether this is a temporary dip or a meaningful regression.

MLB Pitching

Year	Team	G	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2019	St. Louis Cardinals	24	2	0	0	2.95	1.25	32	36.2	12
2020	St. Louis Cardinals	12	1	1	1	5.25	1.33	10	12.0	8
2021	St. Louis Cardinals	51	6	4	1	4.56	1.42	47	47.1	27
2022	St. Louis Cardinals	54	9	1	19	1.25	0.74	94	64.2	20
2023	St. Louis Cardinals	33	3	4	14	2.45	1.06	52	36.2	17
2024	St. Louis Cardinals	65	7	4	49	2.04	1.10	79	66.1	23
2025	2 teams▼	58	3	4	21	4.50	1.54	63	56.0	25
2026	Baltimore Orioles	17	0	4	8	4.11	1.43	21	15.1	9
Career	Totals	314	31	22	113	3.01	1.19	398	335	141

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Minor League Pitching

Year	Team	G	GS	W	L	SV	ERA	WHIP	K	IP	BB
2015	Johnson City Cardinals	11	9	1	1	0	2.01	1.29	35	40.1	19
2016	Peoria Chiefs	17	17	10	2	0	1.61	1.01	109	95.0	19
2017	3 teams▼	24	23	11	3	0	2.72	1.15	137	132.1	48
2018	3 teams▼	13	13	5	3	0	3.97	1.15	82	70.1	32
2019	Memphis Redbirds	17	7	2	3	1	4.58	1.31	41	37.1	20
2023	2 teams▼	5	0	0	0	0	8.31	2.31	4	4.1	2
2026	Norfolk Tides	2	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.50	5	2.0	0
Career	Totals	89	69	29	12	1	2.83	1.16	413	381.2	140

Source: MLB Stats API · Multi-team seasons show combined totals — click to expand

Game Log2026 season

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Pitching Analytics2026 season · via Baseball Savant

Click for year to year changes

FB Velo98.7 mph

Avg Spin2380 rpm

Whiff %37.9%

K %30.9%

BB %13.2%

Hard Hit %47.4%

Barrel %5.3%

xERA2.87

xBA Against0.185

xSLG Against0.296

BA Against0.220

SLG Against0.407

What These Stats Mean

FB Velo — Average fastball velocity. Harder throwers generate more swings and misses, setting up every other pitch in their arsenal. Velocity is the foundation of strikeout upside.

Avg Spin — Average spin rate across all pitches. Higher spin creates more movement and makes pitches harder to square up — elite spinners run better strikeout and batting average against numbers.

Whiff % — Swings-and-misses per swing. The most direct measure of a pitcher's ability to miss bats and the best leading indicator of strikeout rate.

K % — Strikeout rate per batter faced. The core fantasy pitching stat — high K% means reliable strikeout totals that hold up even in shorter starts.

BB % — Walk rate per batter faced. The primary control metric. High BB% tanks ERA and WHIP and keeps baserunners on constantly. Elite starters typically run below 7%.

Hard Hit % — Percentage of batted balls hit 95 mph or harder against. Low hard-hit% means weak contact, protecting both ERA and the defense behind the pitcher.

Barrel % — Percentage of batted balls barreled against. The most direct home run predictor — low barrel% pitchers rarely give up long balls.

xERA — Expected ERA based on contact quality allowed, removing the effect of sequencing, luck, and defense. Better predictor of future ERA than ERA itself.

xBA Against — Expected batting average opponents should hit based on contact quality. A gap between xBA and actual BA indicates unsustainable luck in either direction.

xSLG Against — Expected slugging allowed based on contact quality. High xSLG against predicts future extra-base damage; low xSLG means the pitcher is genuinely suppressing power.

BA Against — Actual batting average opponents are hitting — a key WHIP component. Check xBA to see if the number is sustainable.

SLG Against — Actual slugging allowed. Captures hits, doubles, triples, and home runs — lower means the pitcher is limiting the power damage he gives up.

GB% — Ground ball rate. High GB% pitchers generate double plays, limit home runs, and keep the ball in the park — great for protecting ERA and WHIP ratios.

FB% — Fly ball rate. High FB% pitchers give up more air contact — dangerous when combined with high exit velocity, less so when contact is soft.

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Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2019

St. Louis Cardinals

2.95

1.25

36.2

2020

St. Louis Cardinals

5.25

1.33

12.0

2021

St. Louis Cardinals

4.56

1.42

47.1

2022

St. Louis Cardinals

1.25

0.74

64.2

2023

St. Louis Cardinals

2.45

1.06

36.2

2024

St. Louis Cardinals

2.04

1.10

66.1

2025

2 teams▼

4.50

1.54

56.0

2026

Baltimore Orioles

4.11

1.43

15.1

Career

Totals

314

113

3.01

1.19

398

335

141

Year

Team

ERA

WHIP

2015

Johnson City Cardinals

2.01

1.29

40.1

2016

Peoria Chiefs

1.61

1.01

109

95.0

2017

3 teams▼

2.72

1.15

137

132.1

2018

3 teams▼

3.97

1.15

70.1

2019

Memphis Redbirds

4.58

1.31

37.1

2023

2 teams▼

8.31

2.31

4.1

2026

Norfolk Tides

0.00

0.50

2.0

Career

Totals

2.83

1.16

413

381.2

140