Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Dispatches Nationals for 38th save
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O'Brien threw a clean ninth inning to earn the save Sunday against the Nationals.
The All-Star closer made quick work of Washington, retiring the side on just six pitches (all strikes). O'Brien has had a shaky month of September, converting only four of his last seven save chances, but Sunday's performance was a step in the right direction as he looks to end the campaign on a positive note. He has a 4.08 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 64:29 K:BB over 64 innings, piling up 38 saves in 46 opportunities.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Troubles continue in ninth loss
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O'Brien (3-9) took the loss Wednesday as the Cardinals were downed 6-5 in 10 innings by the Giants, giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk in an inning of work. He failed to strike out a batter.
With the game tied 4-4, O'Brien got the call in the top of the 10th inning but hung a first-pitch slider to Drew Gilbert, who launched it 415 feet to right-center field for a game-winning homer. It's only the fifth long ball of the season O'Brien has served up, but three of them have come since Aug. 23, a 10-inning stretch that's seen him blow three of seven save chances and get tagged for five losses while stumbling to a 10.80 ERA, 2.30 WHIP and 9:7 K:BB. The right-hander's late-season struggles could prompt St. Louis to look for another closing option to begin the 2027 campaign, despite his career-high 37 saves this season.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Escapes trouble for save
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O'Brien allowed a hit and a walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning to earn the save in Monday's 2-1 win over the Giants.
It was another queasy performance for O'Brien, who put two on base and then unleashed a wild pitch that put them both in scoring position. He was able to get Christian Koss on a groundout to end the threat. O'Brien has 37 saves on the season, but he's converted just three of his six chances in September while allowing multiple baserunners four times in seven outings this month. Overall, O'Brien has a 4.13 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 62:28 K:BB across 61 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Struggling late in season
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O'Brien (3-8) allowed two runs on a hit and a walk while striking out two over one inning, taking the loss and a blown save in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the White Sox.
O'Brien was tagged for a two-run home run by Randal Grichuk in the ninth inning. With three blown saves over his last five appearances, O'Brien is limping to the finish line in 2026. He's now at a 4.20 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 60:27 K:BB through 60 innings while converting 36 of 44 save chances.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Falters in extras
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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.
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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: 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: 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.
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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.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Converts 24th save
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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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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Secures 23rd save
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O'Brien retired all three batters he faced with two strikeouts to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win against Atlanta.
O'Brien needed just 12 pitches to retire the side in order and convert his 10th consecutive save opportunity. That brings the right-hander up to 23 saves on the season, moving him back into a three-way tie with Mason Miller and Jhoan Duran for the National League lead. While he has not blown a save since mid-May, O'Brien surrendered six runs with a 7:7 K:BB across 10 appearances in June. He finished the month with three straight scoreless outings and has followed up with three more clean appearances to begin July.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Grabs 21st save
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O'Brien earned the save Tuesday against Atlanta, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning.
O'Brien entered the ninth with a two-run lead and worked around a Matt Olson double to lock down his 21st save of the season. The right-hander has now converted all seven of his save opportunities in June, though the results haven't always been clean, as he had allowed six runs over his previous nine innings entering Tuesday. His 21 saves are tied for the National League lead alongside Mason Miller and Jhoan Duran. O'Brien now owns a 3.82 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB across 35.1 innings this season.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Secures 19th save
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O'Brien picked up the save in Monday's 3-2 victory over the Diamondbacks. He did not record a strikeout during a perfect ninth inning.
O'Brien made quick work of the Diamondbacks, retiring the side to secure the victory. The right-hander has had an uneven June, allowing runs in three of eight appearances while recording more walks (seven) than strikeouts (six) across eight innings. Overall, the 31-year-old owns a 4.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 33:11 K:BB while converting 19 of 23 save opportunities. Among National League relievers, only Mason Miller (21) has more saves than O'Brien this season.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Holds on for 17th save
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O'Brien secured the save Sunday against the Reds, allowing no runs on one hit and no walks in the ninth inning. He struck out one.
O'Brien did let the possible tying run get to the plate, but he was able to hang on for the save courtesy of a Blake Dunn flyout. The 31-year-old right-hander has been shaky at times as St. Louis' closer, though he's now collected three saves in a row and ranks second in the National League behind only Mason Miller in saves. Through 29.1 frames, O'Brien has a 3.68 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 31:7 K:BB while converting 17 of his 21 save chances.
