Riley O'Brien - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Blows save, earns win Sunday O'Brien (3-0) blew a save despite not being charged with a run and earned the win in Sunday's 7-5 extra-inning win over the Astros. He allowed one hit and struck out two.

Impact O'Brien entered with two outs and two men on in the eighth inning and allowed a game-tying single before rebounding with a scoreless ninth frame. It goes down as his first blown save of the season, but he has still yet to surrender an earned run in 12 appearances. The 31-year-old is also 6-for-7 in save chances with a 0.41 WHIP and 14:0 K:BB across 12.1 innings.

5 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals top Astros 7-5 in 10 innings to extend win streak to 5 games

Masyn Winn cleared the bases with a double down the third base line, and the St. Louis Cardinals won their fifth straight game, beating the Houston Astros 7-5 in 10 innings

6 HOURS AGO • Associated Press

Earns two-out save O'Brien earned the save in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Astros, striking out one while retiring both batters he faced in the ninth inning.

Impact O'Brien was called upon with one out in the ninth after George Soriano allowed three runs in the frame, and he retired the top two hitters in the Astros' order on seven pitches. The 31-year-old has been outstanding to open the campaign, posting a 12:0 K:BB across 11 innings while allowing just one unearned run and converting all six of his save opportunities.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals slug 3 homers to beat the Astros 7-5 and extend winning streak to 4 games

Masyn Winn hit a two-run homer and José Fermín and Alec Burleson added solo shots to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 win over the Houston Astros Saturday night

1 DAY AGO • Associated Press

Collects save No. 5 O'Brien struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Guardians.

Impact The flame-throwing right-hander topped out at 99.7 mph with his two-seamer as he fanned Angel Martinez and Rhys Hoskins en route to converting his fifth straight save chance to begin the season. The back of the Cardinals' bullpen seemed unsettled to begin the season, but O'Brien has quickly locked down the closing gig while posting a 0.00 ERA, 0.39 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB through his first 10.1 innings.

4 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Walker extends hitting streak to 11 games, Cardinals beat Guardians 5-3

Nathan Church had three hits, Alec Burleson had two RBIs and Jordan Walker extended his hitting streak to 11 games as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cleveland Guardians 5-3

4 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Wetherholt homers twice, Brito error lets Cardinals rally for 6-5, 10-inning win over Guardians

Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt homered twice, second baseman Juan Brito allowed Masyn Winn’s potential game-ending grounder to bounce into right field and St. Louis stopped a three...

5 DAYS AGO • Associated Press

Picks up fourth save O'Brien picked up his fourth save Friday against the Red Sox, striking out one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.

Impact O'Brien entered in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and set the Red Sox down in order on eight pitches, six of which he threw for strikes. After Ryne Stanek opened the season as St. Louis' closer, O'Brien has recorded four straight saves for the Cardinals. He's yet to allow a run and owns a perfect 8:0 K:BB across 8.1 innings.

APRIL 11 • ROTOWIRE

Dustin May throws 6 strong innings, Cardinals beat Red Sox 3-2 in series opener

Dustin May pitched six strong innings, Ramón Urías hit a double and scored twice, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2

APRIL 11 • Associated Press

Secures third save O'Brien allowed an unearned run while striking out two in the 10th inning Tuesday to record his third save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Nationals.

Impact The right-hander couldn't stop the phantom runner from coming around to score on a groundout and a wild pitch, but O'Brien fanned CJ Abrams and Nasim Nunez to lock down the victory. He's now picked up the Cardinals' last three saves and is emerging as the top option in the bullpen, with JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek in setup roles. Through six appearances this season, O'Brien has a 0.00 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB in 6.1 innings, adding a win and two holds to his ledger.

APRIL 8 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals rally against Nationals' struggling bullpen for 7-6 victory in 10 innings

Thomas Saggese hit a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals

APRIL 8 • Associated Press

Locks down 2nd save O'Brien (2) earned the save Sunday against the Tigers, striking out one over a perfect ninth inning.

Impact Entering the ninth with a two-run lead, O'Brien was efficient in closing this one out. The 31-year-old retired the heart of Detroit's order on just 13 pitches to secure his second save of the season. The right-hander has yet to allow a run through his first five appearances (5.1 innings), an encouraging sign after he blew three of nine save opportunities in 2025. Ryne Stanek handled a hitless eighth inning, but it now appears O'Brien has taken control of the main closer role after opening the season still ramping up from his calf injury from the spring.

APRIL 6 • ROTOWIRE

Ramón Urías homers and Cardinals hold Mets to 3 hits in 3-0 shutout

Ramón Urías launched his first home run with St. Louis and Andre Pallante combined with four relievers on a three-hitter as the Cardinals defeated the New York Mets 3-0

APRIL 1 • Associated Press

Sets Mets down in order for save O'Brien picked up his first save of the season in Monday's 3-0 win over the Mets. He didn't allow a hit or a walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

Impact It's notable that manager Oliver Marmol went to O'Brien for the ninth inning after each of the Cardinals' first two save chances of the season were given to Ryne Stanek in the opening series against the Rays. Stanek pitched the seventh inning against the Mets on Monday, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless frame. Stanek's save chances have been a rollercoaster, however, as he walked three on Opening Day and blew the save the following game, only to pick up the win later. O'Brien was effective in the role last season after Ryan Helsley was dealt at the trade deadline. The 31-year-old O'Brien turned in a 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB across 48 innings last regular season and picked up all six of his saves following Helsley's departure. The Cardinals figure to give O'Brien, Stanek and JoJo Romero save opportunities this season.

APRIL 1 • ROTOWIRE

Registers first hold O'Brien yielded two hits in a scoreless frame to pick up his first hold of the season in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Rays.

Impact O'Brien was first out of the bullpen for the Cardinals in the seventh inning, called upon to protect a two-run lead after Michael McGreevy spun six no-hit frames. Junior Caminero broke up the combined no-hit effort by singling on the first pitch he saw but was immediately erased with a double play. O'Brien then yielded an infield single but finished off the inning with a groundout. The 31-year-old O'Brien has now registered a win and a hold in his first two appearances, but the first two save chances for the Cardinals have gone to Ryne Stanek.

MARCH 29 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt hits walk-off single to beat Rays 6-5 in 10th inning

St. Louis rookie JJ Wetherholt lined a two-run, 10th-inning single after Michael McGreevy tossed six hitless innings to help the Cardinals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5

MARCH 28 • Associated Press

Alec Burleson's 2-run HR leads Cardinals' 9-7 rally over Rays

Alec Burleson hit a two-run homer to cap off an eight-run outburst in the sixth inning as the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 9-7 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday

MARCH 26 • Associated Press

Scoreless frame in spring debut O'Brien (calf) worked around a walk and a base hit to deliver a scoreless inning of relief Saturday in the Cardinals' 3-2 loss to the Mets in Grapefruit League play.

Impact A mild right calf strain suffered early in camp was enough to prevent O'Brien from pitching for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, but after delivering a scoreless inning in his spring debut Saturday, the 31-year-old righty looks like he'll be ready to go for the start of the regular season. After the Cardinals dealt away Ryan Helsley last July, O'Brien moved into a higher-leverage role and collected four of the team's final five save chances of the 2025 campaign. With St. Louis making no major additions to its bullpen over the winter, O'Brien could head into Opening Day as the Cardinals' top option to close games, though manager Oliver Marmol may prefer to take a committee approach to the ninth inning.

MARCH 8 • ROTOWIRE

Aiming for spring outing Saturday O'Brien (calf) will throw another live batting practice session Thursday and hopes to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch repo...

Impact O'Brien got through a live batting practice session Monday healthy, though he had trouble with his footing due to a wet mound. He'll face hitters in a shorter live BP session Thursday before progressing to game action. O'Brien has been battling a minor calf strain but is expected to have enough time to prep for Opening Day, barring setbacks. He is in the mix to serve as closer for the Cardinals this season.

MARCH 5 • ROTOWIRE

On track for spring debut Friday O'Brien (calf) is tentatively scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Orioles, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact The right-hander has been slowed in Cardinals camp by a mild right calf strain. O'Brien got through a live batting practice session Monday with no issues, and as long as he bounces back well, he'll get into game action Friday. The hard-throwing O'Brien is competing to open the season as St. Louis' closer.

MARCH 3 • ROTOWIRE

Bullpen session Tuesday O'Brien (calf) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact It will be the first time O'Brien has thrown from the mound since he went down with a minor right calf strain a week ago. The injury is expected to prevent the reliever from pitching for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, but O'Brien should not have trouble ramping up in time for Opening Day if he can avoid setbacks.

FEBRUARY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Out for WBC with mild calf strain Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Friday that O'Brien will be shut down for a few days due to a mild right calf strain, Brian Murphy of MLB.com reports.

Impact It will take a couple weeks for O'Brien to ramp things back up, so it will be at least the beginning of March before he's ready to pitch in spring training games. O'Brien is also now unlikely to pitch for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, though he will remain in the player pool in case there's a chance he can be added later. The injury could also affect O'Brien's chances at opening the season as the Cardinals' closer. He is in the mix for saves with JoJo Romero and perhaps Matt Svanson.

FEBRUARY 20 • ROTOWIRE

Nursing sore calf O'Brien is managing calf soreness that is being evaluated Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

Impact It's unclear exactly how O'Brien sustained the injury, but it puts his availability in question for Team South Korea for the upcoming World Baseball Classic. After recording six saves and six holds with a 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB over 48 innings last year, the 31-year-old righty is expected to be in the mix for saves to begin the year for St. Louis.

FEBRUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals eliminated from playoff contention following 4-3 loss to Giants

Andrew Knizner hit an RBI triple in the eighth inning, and the San Francisco Giants beat St. Louis 4-3 to eliminate the Cardinals from playoff contention

SEPTEMBER 25, 2025 • Associated Press

Snags save Tuesday O'Brien struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Tuesday's 9-8 win over the Giants.

Impact JoJo Romero faced the minimum three batters in the ninth inning, leaving with two outs and Matt Chapman on second base after a double. O'Brien came in and struck out pinch hitter Wilmer Flores on five pitches to strand the tying runner. This was O'Brien's sixth save of the year, all of which have come since Ryan Helsley was traded to the Mets. For the season, O'Brien has added six holds while maintaining a 1.96 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 43:21 K:BB through 46 innings.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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