SAN DIEGO — Throwing after four days’ rest allowed Cardinals closer, Ryan Helsleyretook the throne as the man who has thrown the hardest delivery this season.
When Helsley threw a 104.0 mph fastball in Thursday’s 5-4 win over the Padres, according to Statcast, while facing Josh Bell, he left behind the mark of 103.8 mph that his teammate, Jordan Hicks, only on July 7 in Atlanta. Helsley held the title for the season’s fastest delivery earlier in the year, when he threw one at 103.1 mph off the D-backs’ Ketel Marte on May 1. Hicks threw two pitches at 105 mph on May 20, 2018.
Out of work the past four days as the Cardinals’ offense went through a 31-inning scoreless streak, Helsley arrived Thursday rested and ready. He allowed a solo homer to Manny Machado, but the right-hander rebounded by striking out Brandon Drury on three pitches that clocked 101.5 mph, 102.9 mph and 103.2 mph.
Helsley, who last Friday against the Reds pitched the clean third inning in Cardinals history, threw 15 of his 21 pitches in the eighth inning at 100 mph or more. In addition to throwing the fastest pitch of 2022, he also touched 103.4, 103.2 and 102.9 (twice).