Mets bullpen woes peek again as Helsley blew another save, surrendering two runs in 1/3 inning to the Giants after a late surge. The 4-3 loss underscored a troubling stretch for New York’s relievers, who have been tagged for 24 runs in six games (29 1/3 IP) and a 7.36 ERA. Helsley’s line—nine runs (five earned) allowed in 5 1/3 innings—drives the drama as the Mets seek stability late in games.

Helsley’s former Cardinals closer persona clashes with a current middle-relief role in Brooklyn, while Francisco Lindor’s leadership is repeatedly cited as a steadying force. Brooks Raley’s fortitude and Ryne Stanek’s 1/3-inning hiccup frame the bullpen narrative, with owners watching how the group reorders itself. The Giants provided the test, and the Mets will lean on their stars and veteran arms to rebound.

Fantasy managers should note the Mets’ volatile late innings approach and Rogers-like volatility in the bullpen, as well as Lindor’s intangible impact on clubhouse energy. The Cardinals chapter in Helsley’s career adds historical context, but the immediate question remains: can this unit stabilize enough to support late-game wins in a tight December race?

The Mets sit in a brutal skid, dropping 13 of 15 and blowing nine leads in six games as they tangle with Atlanta. A 4-3 loss to the Braves exposed their bullpen’s fragility even with Kodai Senga delivering length for the first time in a week. Lindor’s hot stretch offers a rare bright spot as he climbs out of a season-long fog, producing a homer and a double in three games since the slump began. The pattern is painful for fantasy managers, but the latest signs hint at a pivot point if NYM can lock down the late innings and sustain offense.

With the offense intermittently producing and starting pitching finally providing length, there’s a path for Mets hitters to regain value. Lindor is barrel-proofing his profile again, going 6-for-11 with a homer and a double, while the rest of the club must manufacture runs and trust the defense. The series-loss streak and the 2-13 run since July 28 loom large, yet a glimmer remains: quality starts, timely hitting, and a bullpen that can close if the pieces settle in. For fantasy players, the window to buy in on a rebound is narrowing but real, especially as Senga looks capable of giving you solid innings with a healthier bullpen backing him.

New York’s bullpen woes continued to sting in a 4-3 loss to Atlanta at Citi Field, as Tyler Rogers faltered in relief and Ryan Helsley blew another save. Albies’ go-ahead double capped a late Braves surge, snapping the Mets’ 13-loss in 15 games run and tightening the National League wild-card picture with Cincinnati looming a half-game back. Francisco Lindor led a bright Mets offensive night with 3-for-4, a solo homer and a stolen base, but the late lapse overshadowed key performances from Nimmo and Alonso.

Code-switching bullpen rebuilds at the deadline—Rogers and Helsley—haven’t yet steadied a shaky relief corps, even as Senga delivered a strong but imperfect start in his return from hamstring trouble. Bryce Elder matched that with a solid line for Atlanta, and Albies, Harris II, and Ozuna supplied the late-inning punch to seal the series. The Braves’ win, their 7-3 mark against NYM this season, deepens the Mets’ skid but leaves their wild-card fate in flux behind Lindor’s resurgence at the plate.

Fantasy angles tilt toward bullpen risk and hot Braves bats in upcoming fixtures. The Mets’ late-game volatility could push managers to prioritize NYM streaming options behind Senga on tougher dates, while Braves stacks look appealing in DFS given the late-inning run potential. With Reds nipping at the Mets’ heels, every bullpen outing becomes pivotal for playoff positioning.

The Cardinals are in rebuilding mode after a hot start left them outside the playoffs, with 19 losses in 30 games and core pieces moved to new varieties of contention. Goldschmidt’s exit to the Yankees and Helsley’s trade to the Mets shift veteran leadership elsewhere, pushing St. Louis toward a chemistry-focused path as they chart next steps beyond 2025.

Yadier Molina returns to the dugout this weekend as part of the major-league coaching staff, a move Marmol says will benefit players, staff, and the fanbase. Molina’s presence is framed as a stabilizing force for a roster recalibrating around younger talents and a changing front office.

The Molina chapter underscores a larger arc: a Hall of Fame resume returning to influence a club that broke from its longtime core. Molina’s World Baseball Classic duties for Team Puerto Rico add another layer to his storied leadership arc. With Marmol’s contract year and Bloom potentially stepping in come 2026, the Cardinals face a pivot that could redefine how fantasy managers view the roster’s upside and risk.

From a fantasy lens, the outflow of Goldschmidt and Helsley tightens the Cardinals’ day-to-day offensive and bullpen certainty, while Molina’s return promises clubhouse stability and improved game-calling. Youth will be asked to rise, and a potential organizational shift could unlock new opportunities for breakout campaigns in 2026.

The Mets stacked early offense with three solo homers, led by Alonso’s milestone, as he tied the club’s all‑time mark with his franchise-record-tying 252nd homer. Soto kept his hot run going with his 28th of the season, part of a breakout stretch that included three straight games with a homer. Yet Milwaukee answered late. Frelick’s seventh-inning RBI groundout tied the game, then Collins knocked one off Mauricio’s glove to push the go-ahead run across, and Contreras finished it with a two‑run blast off Helsley for a 7‑4 win. The Mets’ six-game skid persists as the Brewers continue to pace the league. Montas worked three innings in a bullpen‑type outing, allowing three runs, one earned, before the late surge ended New York’s comeback hopes.