O'Brien struck out the only batter he faced to earn the save in Tuesday's 9-8 win over the Giants.
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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Notches save No. 5
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O'Brien picked up the save in Tuesday's 3-0 win against the Reds, striking out one in a perfect ninth inning.
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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Secures fourth save
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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.
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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Pulled from save opportunity
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O'Brien was charged with three runs and pulled from a save chance without recording an out in Saturday's loss to the Brewers.
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 combined. He should remain in the mix for saves for St. Louis down the stretch.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Collects seventh save
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O'Brien earned the save in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Giants, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth.
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 frame unscathed after getting Patrick Bailey to ground 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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Plays catch, could avoid IL
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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.
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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Shut down from throwing
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O'Brien will be shut down from throwing after undergoing an MRI on his sore right shoulder Monday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Blows save but nabs win
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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.
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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Shuts door on Marlins
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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.
O'Brien was called upon for the save chance after JoJo Romero pitched against the heart of the Miami order in the eighth. Things did not begin well for O'Brien, who walked consecutive batters to open up the inning, but he rebounded with back-to-back strikeouts before getting a groundout to end the game. O'Brien now has two saves to Romero's three since 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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Up as 27th man for doubleheader
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The Cardinals recalled O'Brien from Triple-A Memphis on Thursday.
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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Activated, sent to Triple-A
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The Cardinals activated O'Brien (forearm) from the 60-day injured list Sunday and optioned him to Triple-A Memphis.
O'Brien has been sidelined since he suffered a flexor strain Opening Day against the Dodgers, and he'll head to the minors now that he's healthy. The 29-year-old allowed two earned runs with a 5:4 K:BB over eight innings during his rehab assignment with Memphis.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Set for another live session
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Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said that O'Brien (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session at Double-A Springfield on Wednesday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien will throw approximately 20-to-25 pitches Wednesday, and if all goes well, he could be cleared to begin a rehab assignment with Springfield this weekend. The 29-year-old righty has been on the injured list since late March with a right forearm strain. He's expected to fill a low-leverage role out of the St. Louis bullpen once he's activated from the 60-day injured list.
O'Brien (forearm) will throw a live batting practice session Saturday and will begin a rehab assignment at Double-A Springfield on Tuesday if the live BP session goes well, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien suffered a setback in his recovery June 23, but he's nearing a return to game action, with Saturday's live BP his last checkpoint to clear before starting a rehab assignment. O'Brien has been shelved since March 31 but is on track for a late July return.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Set to throw bullpen
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O'Brien (forearm) will throw a bullpen in the next day or two, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Tuesday.
O'Brien was shut down from throwing June 23 after reporting pain in his forearm, but he's resumed a throwing program and has a bullpen session scheduled. The 29-year-old has been on the IL since March 31 due to a flexor strain in his right forearm.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Shut down after forearm setback
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O'Brien experienced renewed pain in his right forearm following his 20-pitch live batting practice session with Double-A Springfield on June 15 and underwent further testing and and consultation with Dr. Keith Meister, MLB.com reports.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol touched on O'Brien's status Saturday, noting that the right-hander's consultation with Dr. Meister isn't yet complete. A decision on O'Brien next step hasn't yet been decided, but surgery could be in the cards for the 29-year-old if Dr. Meister doesn't recommend rest and rehab as a treatment method. O'Brien won a spot in the Cardinals' Opening Day bullpen coming out of spring training but made just one appearance before landing on the injured list with a right flexor tendon strain.
O'Brien (forearm) will begin a rehab assignment Saturday at Double-A Springfield, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien has been cleared for game action with Springfield after he threw live batting practice for the Cardinals' Double-A affiliate earlier this week. The right-hander has been on the shelf since March 31 with a forearm strain, so he'll presumably require multiple rehab outings in the minors before he's activated from the 60-day injured list.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Transferred to 60-day IL
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O'Brien (forearm) was transferred from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Friday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien's transfer to the 60-day IL makes room on the 40-man roster for Kolton Ingram, who was acquired off waivers. O'Brien was close to starting his throwing program in mid-April, but no updates have been provided since. He'll be eligible for reinstatement May 30, though it seems far from definite that he'll be ready for immediate action.
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Mariners' Riley O'Brien: DFA'd by Mariners
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O'Brien was designated for assignment by the Mariners on Friday.
O'Brien had a brief stint with the major-league club in early May but was sent down after spending just three days with the Mariners. He's posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 10 innings over 10 appearances at Triple-A Tacoma this year but will lose his spot on the 40-man roster as part of a move after Roenis Elias' contract was selected by the Mariners on Friday.
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Mariners' Riley O'Brien: Joins big-league club
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O'Brien was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.
O'Brien was acquired from the Reds in mid-April and will now receive his first look in the big leagues with the Mariners. The right-hander has appeared for five games for Tacoma this season and hasn't allowed a run over 5.2 innings.
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Mariners' Riley O'Brien: Dealt to Mariners
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O'Brien was traded from Cincinnati to Seattle in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations Saturday.
O'Brien was designated for assignment by Cincinnati on Wednesday in order to make room on the 40-man roster for Nick Lodolo. O'Brien pitched primarily out of the rotation for Triple-A Louisville in 2021, posting a 4.55 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP and 121:55 K:BB across 112.2 innings.
