Ryan Helsley, Cardinals’ All-Star Closer, Will Not Pitch in Tuesday’s Game
In a disappointing turn of events, the St. Louis Cardinals’ standout closer, Ryan Helsley, will not be taking the mound in the All-Star Game on Tuesday evening. Despite being the lone representative for the Cardinals this season, Helsley will not have the opportunity to showcase his impressive pitching skills on the national stage.
St. Louis Cardinals’ Closer Ryan Helsley Will Not Pitch in All-Star Game, Replaced by Kyle Finnegan
Cardinals’ All-Star Streak Ends as Helsley Opts Out of Game for Rest and Health
ARLINGTON, Texas – The St. Louis Cardinals’ lone All-Star representative, flamethrowing closer Ryan Helsley, will not be taking the mound in Tuesday evening’s game. Major League Baseball has officially replaced him on the National League roster with Washington Nationals closer Kyle Finnegan.
According to Baseball Reference, this will be the first time since 2007 that the Cardinals will not have an elected All-Star participate in the Midsummer Classic. That year, only Albert Pujols was named to the NL squad but did not play.
While MLB requires every team to have at least one All-Star selection, players are not obligated to participate in the game. Helsley, who has been quite busy this season with a league-leading 32 saves before the break, has chosen to rest and stay healthy for the second half of the season.
“As active as I’ve been, for me it’s going to be trying to stay healthy and take the four days,” Helsley told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “I’ve been really busy the first half. I want to pitch, but I think the smart thing is to take a few days.”
Despite not pitching, Helsley will still be recognized during pre-game player introductions and will watch the game from the NL dugout or bullpen. He previously had the opportunity to pitch in the All-Star Game in 2022.
The MLB All-Star Game will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, with the pregame show starting at 6 p.m. on FOX 2. The game will also be broadcast on FOX 2. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
