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

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.

1 DAY AGO • 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

2 DAYS AGO • 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

3 DAYS AGO • 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

Brewers clinch NL Central despite 5-1 loss to Herrera and the Cardinals

Iván Herrera hit a two-run homer, José Fermín drove in three runs and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-1 on Sunday

SEPTEMBER 21, 2025 • Associated Press

Notches save No. 5 O'Brien picked up the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win against the Reds, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Impact With JoJo Romero handling the eighth against the bottom of Cincy's order, O'Brien was entrusted with a three-run lead in the ninth and made quick work of the Reds' 2-3-4 hitters, needing just nine pitches to lock down his fifth save of the year. It marked the right-hander's third save in his last five appearances. The 30-year-old sports a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB across 43.1 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Notches save no. 5 O'Brien picked up the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win against the Reds, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.

Impact With JoJo Romero once again handling the eighth, O'Brien was entrusted with a three-run lead in the ninth and made quick work of the heart of Cincinnati's order, needing just nine pitches to lock down his fifth save of the year. It marked the right-hander's third save in his last five appearances. The 30-year-old now sports a 2.08 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 41:20 K:BB across 43.1 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

McGreevy pitches Cardinals to 3-0 win over Reds

Michael McGreevy pitched seven sharp innings, Thomas Saggese hit a two-run homer and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-0

SEPTEMBER 17, 2025 • Associated Press

Secures fourth save O'Brien picked up the save in Sunday's 3-1 win at Milwaukee, allowing one walk and no hits over a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.

Impact The 30-year-old worked around a two-out walk to collect his second save of the month. O'Brien, who fired 10 of his 16 total pitches for strikes, got the ninth after JoJo Romero pitched a scoreless frame in the eighth against the heart of the Brewers lineup. Although Romero is likely to draw the majority of save opportunities, St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol has shown no hesitation in employing O'Brien when the situation arises. The righty reliever now sports a 2.13 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 40:20 K:BB in 42.1 total innings.

SEPTEMBER 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Cardinals finish frustrating trip by beating Brewers 3-2 to snap five-game skid

José Fermín and Nathan Church hit RBI singles as the St. Louis Cardinals scored all their runs in the second inning of a 3-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 • Associated Press

Pulled from save opportunity O'Brien was charged with three runs and pulled from a save chance before recording an out in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.

Impact The Cardinals turned to O'Brien with a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, and he allowed four straight batters to reach -- the first two via hit-by-pitch -- before being lifted. Kyle Leahy then came on and allowed one of two inherited runners to score, adding another run to O'Brien's ledger. The three earned runs charged to O'Brien match the number he had allowed over his previous 29 appearances. He should remain in the mix for saves for St. Louis down the stretch.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Pulled from save opportunity O'Brien was charged with three runs and pulled from a save chance before recording an out in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Playoff-bound Brewers rally from 5 runs down to beat skidding Cardinals 9-8 in 10 innings

Caleb Durbin hit a tying double in the 10th inning, Andruw Monasterio followed with the winning single and the playoff-bound Milwaukee Brewers rallied from five runs down to defeat...

SEPTEMBER 14, 2025 • Associated Press

Collects seventh save O'Brien earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Giants, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth.

Impact With JoJo Romero being deployed in the eighth inning, the Cardinals turned to O'Brien -- who was credited with the win Saturday -- to close things out in the ninth. O'Brien gave up a single to open the inning, but he got out of the inning unscathed after getting Patrick Bailey to ground out into a double play. O'Brien has not yielded a run in nine of his last 10 outings and sports a 1.60 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 39.1 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Gray takes no-hit bid into 6th as Cards beat Giants 4-3 Sunday

Sonny Gray took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat San Francisco 4-3 to leave the Giants four games back for the last NL wild card

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 • Associated Press

Picks up win in return appearance O'Brien (shoulder) struck out one in a scoreless frame and was credited with a win in Saturday's victory over the Giants.

Impact O'Brien missed more than a week of action with right shoulder discomfort, but he showed no ill effects Saturday, displaying his normal velocity and needing only eight pitches to retire the Giants in order in the top of the ninth. The reliever picked up his third win of the season after the Cardinals rallied for three runs to walk it off in the bottom of the frame. As long as he stays healthy, O'Brien will remain in the late-inning mix for St. Louis.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up win in return appearance O'Brien (3-0) struck out one in a scoreless frame and was credited with a win in Saturday's victory over the Giants.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Could be available this weekend The Cardinals are hopeful O'Brien (shoulder) will be available to pitch Friday against the Giants, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact O'Brien hasn't pitched in a week due to lingering right shoulder soreness, but he played catch earlier this week and could be cleared for game action after the team's off day Thursday. The 30-year-old collected two saves and three holds in August and boasts a 1.69 ERA and 35:17 K:BB over 37.1 innings this season.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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

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

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

Brewers clinch NL Central despite 5-1 loss to Herrera and the Cardinals

McGreevy pitches Cardinals to 3-0 win over Reds

Cardinals finish frustrating trip by beating Brewers 3-2 to snap five-game skid

Playoff-bound Brewers rally from 5 runs down to beat skidding Cardinals 9-8 in 10 innings

Gray takes no-hit bid into 6th as Cards beat Giants 4-3 Sunday