Ryan Helsley isn't the NY Mets reliever the team needs to get right quickest

September has a way of exposing a bullpen. Every matchup is magnified, every mistake feels like it echoes twice as loud, and every reliever either becomes a weapon or a liability. The New York Mets are entering that stage now, with two heavyweight series on deck that will test just how sturdy their late-inning options really are. While a few arms have struggled over the past few weeks, one in particular needs to right the ship fast.

He was brought in to shut down the kind of left-handed bats that can derail games in a single swing. For a stretch, he did exactly that, giving the Mets the late-inning edge they’d been missing. But lately, the cracks have started to show, and suddenly, the next week feels like a referendum. Gregory Soto doesn’t need to be perfect, but he needs to look like the dominant weapon he was when he first arrived in Queens.

The Mets need Gregory Soto to regain his form to shut down the big lefty sticks in the Reds and Phillies lineups.

Soto’s start with the Mets looked like exactly what New York needed. Over his first eight outings, he racked up 8.1 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits, two walks, and striking out seven. In those appearances, he looked locked in, commanding his pitches and keeping left-handed bats from finding any rhythm. For a bullpen that has struggled at times this season, Soto’s early dominance gave the Mets a reliable weapon to deploy in high-leverage spots.

But the past few outings have been a stark contrast. Over his last five appearances, Soto has thrown just 3.1 innings while compiling an 8.10 ERA, surrendering eight hits, two walks, and two hit batters, with five strikeouts. Command has been inconsistent, and mistakes that were once routine outs have started to turn into base runners. While his struggles have been limited to a small sample, the timing is inconvenient with two crucial series looming on the schedule.

The Mets will need Soto at his best to neutralize the big left-handed bats coming up. He’s been lights out against lefties this season, holding them to a .161 average while striking out 27% of the plate appearances. Over the seven games against the Reds and Phillies, Soto will likely face the likes of Schwarber, Harper, Elly De La Cruz (better splits hitting righties), and Noelvi Marte (better splits hitting righties) in key late-inning situations. How he responds in those spots could have a major impact on how smoothly the Mets navigate these next two series.

September is where bullpen reputations are forged, and the Mets’ window for leverage hinges on Soto finding his groove again. If he can recapture the form that dominated early, he becomes more than just a matchup tool — he’s a potential game-changer in tight spots. How he responds in the next week could shape not only these critical series but the trajectory of the Mets’ push deeper into the playoff race.