Riley O'Brien

Fantasy News

• Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Aiming for spring outing Saturday

  Rotowire Mar 5, 2026

  O'Brien (calf) will throw another live batting practice session Thursday and hopes to make his Grapefruit League debut Saturday, Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. O'Brien got through a live batting practice session Monday healthy, though he had trouble with his footing due to a wet mound. He'll face hitters in a shorter live BP session Thursday before progressing to game action. O'Brien has been battling a minor calf strain but is expected to have enough time to prep for Opening Day, barring setbacks. He is in the mix to serve as closer for the Cardinals this season.

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• Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: On track for spring debut Friday

  Rotowire Mar 3, 2026

  O'Brien (calf) is tentatively scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut Friday against the Orioles, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. The right-hander has been slowed in Cardinals camp by a mild right calf strain. O'Brien got through a live batting practice session Monday with no issues, and as long as he bounces back well, he'll get into game action Friday. The hard-throwing O'Brien is competing to open the season as St. Louis' closer.

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• Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Bullpen session Tuesday

  Rotowire Feb 24, 2026

  O'Brien (calf) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports. It will be the first time O'Brien has thrown from the mound since he went down with a minor right calf strain a week ago. The injury is expected to prevent the reliever from pitching for Team South Korea in the World Baseball Classic, but O'Brien should not have trouble ramping up in time for Opening Day if he can avoid setbacks.

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• Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Out for WBC with mild calf strain

  Rotowire Feb 20, 2026

  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. 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.

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• Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Snags save Tuesday

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2025

  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: Secures fourth save

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2025

  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

  Rotowire Sep 14, 2025

  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: Plays catch, could avoid IL

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2025

  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

  Rotowire Sep 1, 2025

  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

  Rotowire Aug 26, 2025

  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

  Rotowire Aug 20, 2025

  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

  Rotowire Jun 5, 2025

  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

  Rotowire Aug 11, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Jul 10, 2024

  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.

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• Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Rehab assignment pending

  Rotowire Jul 5, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Jul 2, 2024

  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

  Rotowire Jun 23, 2024

  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.

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• Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Rehab assignment begins Saturday

  Rotowire Jun 13, 2024

  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

  Rotowire May 10, 2024

  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

  Rotowire May 27, 2022

  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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