Back with Cards, Helsley solid in relief

After missing close to four weeks because of a positive COVID-19 test, Ryan Helsley returned to the Cardinals' bullpen ahead of Tuesday’s 16-2 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

The Cardinals activated the right-handed reliever and optioned lefty Rob Kaminsky, who will stay on the taxi squad on the team’s road trip. To make room for Helsley on the 40-man roster, the Cards designated Jesus Cruz for assignment. They will try to pass the right-hander through waivers so he can remain in the organization and possibly even at the alternate training site to give St. Louis depth there.

Helsley, who emerged last year as a late-inning reliever for the Cardinals, immediately gives the club experience and pitching depth. With a bullpen session and a live batting practice in Springfield, Mo., he said he touched 95-97 mph, which he was pleased about after only throwing off a mound three times in the past month. Helsley's last game appearance was 1 2/3 scoreless innings against the Twins on July 29. In Tuesday's win, he pitched the sixth inning and gave up one run on two hits and one walk with no strikeouts.

“It’s been kind of tough,” Helsley said before the game. “I haven’t pitched in a game in over a month, so just trying to stay in shape the whole time in quarantine. Then been rehabbing in Springfield over the past week and now joining the team, my body’s feeling good. So hopefully [I can] get in there and help the team win.”

Helsley was part of the second wave of Cardinals to contract the coronavirus during their outbreak. He and Lane Thomas -- who returned Monday and started in center field Tuesday -- were roommates throughout the quarantine. Both showed symptoms in the early days of their positive tests. Helsley felt feverish one night and notified the team, and the COVID-19 test came back positive. He said he had chills and shortness of breath for a few days, too.

“The best I can explain it is if you ever go for a run, and it’s cold outside and it kind of burns when you take in a deep breath, I kind of felt that for three or four days,” Helsley said. “But other than that, I didn’t feel too bad from the virus.”

Thomas had chills and a headache the day after his positive test, and he said he also lost his taste and smell for a few days.

“I think I lost it and then I started to kind of feel it back four or five days later,” Thomas said. “It’s completely back now. So it wasn’t too long for me. That was the worst part -- I can’t do anything else, and I can’t even enjoy food.”

Both did what they could to stay ready, even as they quarantined in their St. Louis apartment. Helsley threw into pillows and used exercise bands to stay in shape. Thomas looked at scouting reports that the team had for its opponents like he was about to play in the game, and when he watched the game, he took “dry swings” to try to replicate timing.

“We have a lot of programs on our iPad, and I can see the scouting reports for guys,” Thomas said. “Just trying to stay mentally there. Like nothing has changed, but instead of dressing out, I’m sitting on the couch. Just try to keep track of things like I normally do and not get used to sitting around. Go over the ball-talk stuff we talk about. Look through the pitch selection, maybe look at how he throws against right-handers, just kind of stay in the moment.”

While Helsley slides into the back end of the bullpen, Thomas will rotate in the outfield with Dylan Carlson and Harrison Bader, starting some games and coming off the bench in others. As the calendar turns to September and the Cardinals continue their dense stretch of games while also having an eye on October, production could determine playing time.

“I don’t feel like these guys have to produce in every turn, but there is a component to production that takes place in the big leagues,” manager Mike Shildt said. “We want to see consistent, productive at-bats, and it’s not that we haven’t seen them in some cases with guys, but we want to see the consistency.

“Really as far as marshaling it, we’re going to try to match it up the best we can based on what we see in the competition. We also want ... the guy that seizes that opportunity and has consistent productive at-bats will get more.”