Riley O'Brien - Page 6 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

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

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.

AUGUST 26, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Burleson hits a game-ending homer as the Cardinals beat the Pirates 7-6

Alec Burleson hit a game-ending solo homer with two out in the ninth inning, lifting the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-6 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates

AUGUST 26, 2025 • Associated Press

Shuts door on Marlins O'Brien earned the save in a 7-4 win over the Marlins on Tuesday. He did not allow a hit but walked two and also struck out two in a scoreless inning.

Impact O'Brien was called upon for the save chance after Jojo Romero pitched against the heart of the Marlins order in the eighth. Things did not begin well for O'Brien, who walked consecutive batters to open up the frame, but he rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts before getting a groundout to end the game. O'Brien now has two saves since the All-Star break to Romero's three as the two have formed a true closer committee following the departure of Ryan Helsley at the deadline. O'Brien has found his footing this season, posting a 1.56 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 34:17 K:BB in 34.2 innings.

AUGUST 20, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Michael McGreevy pitches 6 scoreless innings to help Cardinals blank Cubs 5-0

Michael McGreevy tossed six scoreless innings, Jordan Walker homered and drove in a pair of runs and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-0

AUGUST 9, 2025 • Associated Press

Ohtani homers for 1,000th hit and strikes out 8, but Cardinals rally past Dodgers 5-3

Shohei Ohtani homered for his 1,000th career hit and struck out a season-high eight in four innings on the mound, but the St. Louis Cardinals rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodger...

AUGUST 6, 2025 • Associated Press

Locks down first save O'Brien earned the save in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers, issuing one walk over 1.1 scoreless innings.

Impact After Freddie Freeman singled with two outs in the eighth inning, O'Brien was called upon to set down Teoscar Hernandez to end the frame. The right-hander would come back out for the ninth, where he'd work around a two-out walk to earn his first major-league save. After allowing 10 earned runs in eight innings last season, O'Brien has emerged as one of the Cardinals' top bullpen options this year, posting a 1.84 ERA with a 1.19 WHIP and 29:14 K:BB across 29.1 innings. O'Brien should be in line for additional save chances down the stretch following the departures of Ryan Helsley and Phil Maton at the trade deadline.

AUGUST 6, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Excelling out of St. Louis bullpen O'Brien has permitted just one run and boasts a 20:8 K:BB over 16 innings covering his last 12 appearances.

Impact O'Brien has had trouble staying healthy and producing at the major-league level, but the stuff has always been there and he seems to finally be finding his footing. The 30-year-old netted his second hold of the season in Sunday's win over Atlanta and could continue to be elevated in the Cardinals' bullpen hierarchy.

JULY 14, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back with big club The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

Impact O'Brien was sent down to Triple-A on Saturday but is back with the Cardinals ahead of their series opener against Toronto. O'Brien boasts a 6.23 ERA and 3:2 K:BB across 4.1 innings of work out of the St. Louis bullpen this season.

JUNE 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back with big club The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Monday.

JUNE 9, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back to minors after doubleheader The Cardinals optioned O'Brien to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Impact O'Brien was up as the 27th man during Thursday's doubleheader against the Royals, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings in the first game of the twin bill. The 30-year-old has thrived at Memphis this season with a 2.79 ERA and 32:8 K:BB in 19.1 frames and should get another opportunity with the big club sooner rather than later.

JUNE 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Back to minors after doubleheader The Cardinals optioned O'Brien to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

JUNE 7, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Up as 27th man for doubleheader The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

Impact O'Brien will serve as the 27th man for Thursday's doubleheader against the Royals and will likely be sent back down after the twin bill. The right-handed reliever has made three appearances in the majors this season, allowing three runs with a 2:2 K:BB 2.2 innings.

JUNE 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Up as 27th man for doubleheader The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.

JUNE 5, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Cardinals optioned O'Brien to Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Impact He's being replaced by a fresh relief arm after throwing 34 pitches over 1.2 frames Thursday versus the Reds. O'Brien will get another opportunity later this season.

MAY 2, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

In brief outing, Riley O'Brien creates moment he'll look to build upon: Cardinals Extra Following his promotion the majors Friday, Cardinals reliever Riley O'Brien made his first big league relief appearance of the year and help...

APRIL 27, 2025 • STLTODAY.COM

Cardinals option RHP Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis and recall RHP O'Brien

The St. Louis Cardinals optioned right-handed pitcher Ryan Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis and recalled right-hander Riley O’Brien before Friday’s game against Milwaukee

APRIL 25, 2025 • Associated Press

Brought up from minors The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Impact It's unclear what the corresponding roster move will be. O'Brien has yielded three earned runs while striking out 14 over seven innings with Memphis this season. He'll look to help out a struggling St. Louis bullpen.

APRIL 25, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Optioned to Triple-A The Cardinals optioned O'Brien to Triple-A Memphis on Saturday.

Impact O'Brien made his return Friday from an elbow issue that held him out for two weeks, but he'll now head back to Memphis to begin the 2025 campaign. The 30-year-old righty owns a 10.45 ERA over 10.1 career MLB innings, though St. Louis may be willing to give him another shot if he can replicate his 1.35 ERA in Triple-A from last year.

MARCH 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from elbow issue O'Brien tossed a scoreless inning Friday versus the Mets after being unavailable for more than two weeks due to right elbow soreness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch r...

Impact O'Brien said his elbow "flared up" after his second spring outing on Feb. 26, but he did not go for tests because the elbow responded immediately to rest and treatment. While the reliever was unconcerned about the issue, it should be noted that he missed much of the 2024 campaign with a flexor strain. The Cardinals will wait to see how O'Brien's elbow bounces back from Friday's appearance before scheduling his next outing. O'Brien is in the running for one of the final spots in the St. Louis bullpen.

MARCH 15, 2025 • ROTOWIRE

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

Burleson hits a game-ending homer as the Cardinals beat the Pirates 7-6

Michael McGreevy pitches 6 scoreless innings to help Cardinals blank Cubs 5-0

Ohtani homers for 1,000th hit and strikes out 8, but Cardinals rally past Dodgers 5-3

Cardinals option RHP Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis and recall RHP O'Brien