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O'Brien allowed an unearned run on a hit and two intentional walks while failing to log a strikeout over one inning, taking a blown save in Monday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Giants.
O'Brien has blown two of his four save chances in September. It's part of a longer stretch of shaky pitching in which he's allowed 11 runs (nine earned) over his last six innings. The closer now has a 4.03 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 57:26 K:BB through 58 innings while converting 36 of 43 save chances on the year.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Secures 36th save of season
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O'Brien earned the save in Friday's 7-6 win over the Rockies after allowing one hit while striking out two without a walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
A three-run go-ahead home run from Ivan Herrera allowed O'Brien the opportunity to earn the save in the bottom of the ninth, and the star closer got the job done on 12 pitches (10 strikes). O'Brien made things interesting, however, as a throwing error on a pickoff attempt moved the potential tying run into scoring position after a single from TJ Rumfield, O'Brien sealed the win by striking out Cole Carrigg. O'Brien bounced back after being tagged with a blown save Thursday against the Dodgers and has gone 12-for-14 in save chances since the All-Star break despite a 5.60 ERA.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Converts 35th save
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O'Brien allowed an unearned run and struck out one without giving up a hit or a walk over one inning to earn the save in Wednesday's 8-6, extra-inning win over the Dodgers.
O'Brien surrendered the run on a groundout in the 10th inning, which plated the automatic runner. After a bumpy end to August with seven runs allowed over his final 2.2 innings of the month, O'Brien will be looking to stabilize in September and started off the new month well Wednesday. He's 35-for-40 on save chances this season, leading the National League in conversions and trailing only Bryan Baker (39) in the majors. O'Brien has added a 3.88 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 55:23 K:BB across 55.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Rebounds for 34th save
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O'Brien earned the save in Thursday's 7-5 win over the Orioles, allowing a hit while striking out one with no walks in a scoreless ninth inning.
It was a much-needed clean outing for O'Brien, since the closer had taken losses in both of his previous two appearances while allowing seven runs over just 1.2 innings. O'Brien is now 34-for-39 in save chances this season with a 3.95 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 54:23 K:BB across 54.2 innings.
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Implodes versus Phillies
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O'Brien (3-5) took the loss Sunday against the Phillies, allowing six runs on five hits and a walk over two-thirds of an inning.
O'Brien was called in for a non-save situation to protect a 4-0 lead in the ninth inning, but five straight Phillies reached safely with two outs, including a Kyle Schwarber two-run homer that stuck the Cardinals closer with a brutal loss. Coming into Sunday, the 31-year-old O'Brien had turned in 12 straight scoreless appearances, holding opponents to just two hits over 11.1 innings in that span. He's converted 33 saves this season while posting a 3.93 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 53:23 K:BB across 52.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Narrowly escapes with 33rd save
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O'Brien secured the save Thursday against the Reds, allowing no runs on one hit and two walks in one-third of an inning.
O'Brien needed just one out to finish it off for the Cardinals but made things very interesting, allowing two inherited runners to come across before getting Matt McLain to line out sharply to right field. The All-Star right-hander gave up his first hit since Aug. 2 in Toronto, so his grip on the Cardinals' closer role remains strong. Through 52 innings, O'Brien sports a 2.94 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 53:22 K:BB with an NL-leading 33 saves in 38 attempts.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Nails down 32nd save
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O'Brien struck out one in a perfect ninth inning Tuesday to record his 32nd save of the season in a 3-0 win over the Reds.
The big right-hander continued an absolutely dominant stretch that began July 22. Over his last 11 appearances, O'Brien has converted all seven of his save chances without allowing a run and surrendering just one hit, while posting a 12:5 K:BB over 11 innings. While he entered 2026 with just six career saves, O'Brien's 32 this season have him second in the majors behind Bryan Baker's 35.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Dominates for save No. 31
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O'Brien notched a save in the first game of Monday's doubleheader versus the Reds, striking out all three batters he faced in the ninth inning.
O'Brien had little trouble protecting a one-run lead, throwing 11 of 14 pitches for strikes en route to punching out all three batters he faced. The All-Star closer leads the NL with 31 saves on the season, and only Tampa Bay's Bryan Baker (35) has more saves in either league. O'Brien's last blown save came July 20 against the Angels -- since then, he's a perfect six-for-six in save chances and has pitched 10 consecutive scoreless outings, yielding just one hit while posting an 11:5 K:BB across 10 innings during that span.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Reaches 30-save mark
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O'Brien earned the save in Tuesday's 2-0 win over the Phillies, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
O'Brien was summoned to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and did so on just eight pitches. The 31-year-old has now held opponents scoreless in nine of 10 appearances since the All-Star break, securing six of seven save chances during that stretch. On the year, he's 30-for-35 in save opportunities to go along with a 3.14 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 49:20 K across 48.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Cruises to 29th save
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O'Brien recorded his 29th save Sunday against the Rockies, tossing a perfect ninth inning.
O'Brien was called upon to protect a three-run lead in the ninth inning and made quick work of Colorado, retiring the side in order on just eight pitches. The right-hander has now delivered seven consecutive scoreless appearances while allowing only one hit during that stretch. Across 48 appearances this season, O'Brien owns a 3-4 record and 29 saves with a 3.21 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 48:29 K:BB over 47.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Earns save No. 28
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O'Brien earned the save in Friday's 3-2 win against the Rockies, allowing no hits and one walk in a scoreless ninth inning.
O'Brien was called in to protect a 3-2 lead in the ninth inning and worked around a leadoff walk to produce a scoreless frame. The 31-year-old has now recorded six consecutive scoreless appearances. On the campaign, the right-hander owns a 3-4 record, 3.28 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 48:20 K:BB and 28 saves through 46.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Back from illness
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O'Brien (illness) tossed a scoreless frame in Wednesday's extra-inning victory over the Cubs.
O'Brien had been unavailable for a few days while battling an illness, but he was able to pitch around a hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday before the Cardinals won it in the 10th. The closer should be available Thursday if a save opportunity should present itself.
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Unavailable Sunday due to illness
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O'Brien was unavailable to pitch in Sunday's 5-3 extra-inning loss to the Reds due to illness, John Denton of Roundtable.io reports.
The illness provides an explanation as to why O'Brien didn't appear in the ninth inning when the game was knotted up. The Cardinals closer should be considered day-to-day. If a save chance arises Monday versus the Cubs and O'Brien remains unavailable, George Soriano or Ryne Stanek could be used.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Collects 26th save
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O'Brien earned the save in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Angels, allowing no hits and two walks with three strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
O'Brien was summoned to protect a one-run lead in the ninth inning and didn't allow a ball in play, working around two walks by striking out the side. It was an encouraging rebound after the 31-year-old melted down Monday (allowing two runs in one-third of an inning during a blown save), and he's now held opponents scoreless in nine of his past 10 appearances. On the year, he's 26-for-31 in save chances to go along with a 3.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 44:17 K:BB across 41.2 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: No command in blown save
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O'Brien (3-4) allowed two runs on two hits, one walk and two hit batsmen while striking out one over one-third of an inning to take the loss and a blown save in Monday's 3-2 loss to the Angels.
O'Brien simply didn't have it Monday, throwing just eight of 21 pitches for strikes. The second plunking ended the game, as he hit Jo Adell with the bases loaded after intentionally walking Josh Lowe. O'Brien is now 25-for-30 in save chances this season while pitching to a 3.76 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 41:15 K:BB through 40.2 innings. Prior to Monday, he had posted an eight-inning scoreless streak, and he hadn't blown a save since May 19 versus the Pirates.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Secures save No. 25
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O'Brien allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one over a scoreless inning to pick up the save Friday against the Diamondbacks.
The 31-year-old produced an eighth straight scoreless appearance and is once again tied with Mason Miller atop the National League with 25 saves. During that scoreless stretch, O'Brien has surrendered just three hits and three walks while recording seven saves, though he hasn't been particularly dominant with seven strikeouts.
O'Brien walked one, hit a batter and struck out one in a scoreless and hitless inning to earn the save in Saturday's 4-1 win over Atlanta.
O'Brien wasn't quite at his best while pitching for the third time in four days, but he got the job done. He's on a seven-inning scoreless streak and has earned six saves with a 6:2 K:BB in that span. The All-Star reliever has converted 24 of 28 save chances this season while pitching to a 3.43 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 39:13 K:BB through 39.1 innings. O'Brien presumably won't be available if a save opportunity surfaces Sunday -- JoJo Romero or Ryne Stanek would be top options to step in for a save chance since George Soriano has also pitched consecutive days.
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