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

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.

3 DAYS AGO • 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.

6 DAYS AGO • 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

Plays catch, could avoid IL O'Brien (shoulder) was cleared to play catch Monday and could avoid the 15-day injured list, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact O'Brien underwent an MRI on Monday due to lingering right shoulder discomfort, but the Cardinals were encouraged by the imaging results and the reliever was allowed to resume throwing. While a stint on the IL has not been ruled out, O'Brien will given a couple days to continue to recover to see if a long-term absence can be avoided. The 30-year-old has emerged as a late-inning bullpen arm for St. Louis this season, collecting a 1.69 ERA and 35:17 K:BB over 37.1 innings while notching two saves.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Plays catch, could avoid IL O'Brien (shoulder) was cleared to play catch Monday and could avoid the 15-day injured list, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact O'Brien underwent an MRI on Monday due to lingering right shoulder discomfort, but the Cardinals were encouraged by the imaging results and the reliever was allowed to resume throwing. While a stint on the IL has not been ruled out, O'Brien will be given a couple days to continue to recover to see if a long-term absence can be avoided. The 30-year-old has emerged as a late-inning bullpen arm for St. Louis this season, collecting a 1.69 ERA and 35:17 K:BB over 37.1 innings while notching two saves.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Shut down from throwing O'Brien will be shut down from throwing after undergoing an MRI on his sore right shoulder Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Cardinals have yet to provide word on the results of the MRI, but a move to the 15-day injured list for O'Brien feels inevitable. O'Brien has been used as a high-leverage reliever for the Cardinals over the last couple months and picked up a pair of saves in August, but now his health status is murky. JoJo Romero is the favorite to close games for the Cardinals in September, with Kyle Leahy also in the mix.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Shut down from throwing O'Brien will be shut down from throwing for the time being after undergoing an MRI on his sore right shoulder Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Impact There's no word yet on the results of the MRI, but a move to the 15-day injured list for O'Brien feels inevitable. O'Brien has been used as a high-leverage reliever for the Cardinals over the last couple months and picked up a pair of saves in August, but now his health status is murky. JoJo Romero is the favorite to close games for the Cardinals, with Kyle Leahy also in the mix.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Could require IL stint O'Brien has dealt with fatigue in his right shoulder area in recent days and is set to be examined by a doctor Monday, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Impact According to Goold, the Cardinals are weighing whether to place O'Brien on the injured list, and the results of him upcoming exam will likely be vital in that decision. With the active roster expanding to 28 men Monday, the Cardinals are likely to call up at least one pitcher from the minors, and the team could bring another relief arm aboard if O'Brien heads to the IL in a corresponding move. Since the beginning of June, O'Brien has performed as one of the Cardinals' top relief arms, logging two wins, two saves and five holds while pitching to a 1.04 ERA and 1.07 WHIP over 34.2 innings.

AUGUST 31, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Jordan Walker homers in 3-run 7th inning to help Cardinals beat Pirates 4-1

Thomas Saggese hit a go-ahead RBI double and Jordan Walker homered in a three-run seventh inning to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1

AUGUST 28, 2025 • Associated Press

Blows save but nabs win O'Brien (2-0) blew a save but earned the victory over the Pirates on Monday, allowing one run on one hit and striking out one batter over 1.2 innings.

Impact O'Brien entered with one out in the eighth inning after JoJo Romero allowed a pair of runners to reach base. O'Brien escaped the jam by inducing an inning-ending double play, and he returned for the ninth to try to finish off the save. However, the right-hander was unable to do so, giving up an RBI double after hitting a batter with a pitch. O'Brien did manage to limit the damage to that one run, and he was credited with the victory when Alec Burleson crushed a walk-off homer in the bottom of the frame. Despite the blown save, it's notable that O'Brien cleaned up Romero's small mess, as the pair has been working as co-closers since Ryan Helsley was dealt to the Mets at the trade deadline.

AUGUST 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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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

Jordan Walker homers in 3-run 7th inning to help Cardinals beat Pirates 4-1