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O'Brien (3-1) blew the save and took the loss Saturday as the Cardinals fell 11-9 to the Mariners, giving up two runs on four hits and a walk in an inning of work. He struck out one and also hit a batter with a pitch.
There weren't many St. Louis pitchers who had success Saturday, and O'Brien wasn't immune to the malaise. The right-hander entered the game in the eighth inning with one out and runners on second and third to protect a 9-7 lead, but a Connor Joe single tied things up and stuck O'Brien with his second blown save of the year in nine chances. He then came back out for the ninth and loaded the bases before a Leo Rivas single put Seattle in front for good. The earned runs on O'Brien's ledger were his first of 2026, and despite the stumble he still boasts a 1.26 ERA, 0.77 WHIP and 16:1 K:BB through 14.1 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Notches seventh save
Rotowire
O'Brien gave up a hit and struck out one in a scoreless ninth inning Tuesday to record his seventh save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Marlins.
The right-hander topped 100 mph three times in 17 pitches (11 strikes) as he converted his seventh save in eight chances to begin the season. O'Brien also has three wins and two holds in his 13 appearances, but he's seized control of the closer job for the Cardinals with a dominant start to 2026, posting a 0.00 ERA, 0.45 WHIP and 15:0 K:BB over 13.1 innings.
O'Brien (3-0) blew a save despite not being charged with a run and earned the win in Sunday's 7-5 extra-inning victory over the Astros. He allowed one hit and struck out two.
O'Brien entered with two outs and two men on in the eighth inning and allowed a game-tying single before rebounding with a scoreless ninth frame. It goes down as his first blown save of the season, but he has still to be charged with an earned run in 12 appearances. The 31-year-old is also 6-for-7 in save chances with a 0.41 WHIP and 14:0 K:BB across 12.1 innings.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Earns two-out save
Rotowire
O'Brien earned the save in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Astros, striking out one while retiring both batters he faced in the ninth inning.
The right-hander was called upon with one out in the ninth after George Soriano allowed three runs in the frame, and O'Brien retired the top two hitters in the Astros' order on seven pitches. The 31-year-old has been outstanding to open the campaign, posting a 12:0 K:BB across 11 innings while allowing just one unearned run and converting all six of his save opportunities.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Collects save No. 5
Rotowire
O'Brien struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Wednesday to record his fifth save of the season in a 5-3 win over the Guardians.
The flame-throwing right-hander topped out at 99.7 mph with his two-seamer as he fanned Angel Martinez and Rhys Hoskins en route to converting his fifth straight save chance to begin the season. The back of the Cardinals' bullpen seemed unsettled to begin the season, but O'Brien has quickly locked down the closing gig while posting a 0.39 WHIP and 11:0 K:BB with just one unearned run allowed through his first 10.1 innings.
O'Brien picked up his fourth save Friday against the Red Sox, striking out one in a hitless and scoreless ninth inning.
O'Brien entered in the ninth with a 3-2 lead and set the Red Sox down in order on eight pitches, six of which he threw for strikes. After Ryne Stanek opened the season as St. Louis' closer, O'Brien has recorded four straight saves for the Cardinals. He's yet to allow a run and owns a perfect 8:0 K:BB across 8.1 innings.
O'Brien allowed an unearned run while striking out two in the 10th inning Tuesday to record his third save of the season in a 7-6 win over the Nationals.
The right-hander couldn't stop the phantom runner from coming around to score on a groundout and a wild pitch, but O'Brien fanned CJ Abrams and Nasim Nunez to lock down the victory. He's now picked up the Cardinals' last three saves and is emerging as the top option in the bullpen, with JoJo Romero and Ryne Stanek in setup roles. Through six appearances this season, O'Brien has a 0.00 ERA, 0.63 WHIP and 7:0 K:BB in 6.1 innings, adding a win and two holds to his ledger.
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Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Locks down 2nd save
Rotowire
O'Brien (2) earned the save Sunday against the Tigers, striking out one over a perfect ninth inning.
Entering the ninth with a two-run lead, O'Brien was efficient in closing this one out. The 31-year-old retired the heart of Detroit's order on just 13 pitches to secure his second save of the season. The right-hander has yet to allow a run through his first five appearances (5.1 innings), an encouraging sign after he blew three of nine save opportunities in 2025. Ryne Stanek handled a hitless eighth inning, but it now appears O'Brien has taken control of the main closer role after opening the season still ramping up from his calf injury from the spring.
Cardinals' Riley O'Brien: Sets Mets down in order for save
Rotowire
O'Brien picked up his first save of the season in Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Mets. He didn't allow a hit or a walk with no strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
It's notable that manager Oliver Marmol went to O'Brien for the ninth inning after the Cardinals' first two save chances of the season were given to Ryne Stanek in the opening series against the Rays. Stanek pitched the seventh inning against the Mets on Tuesday, walking one and striking out one in a scoreless frame. Stanek's save chances have been a rollercoaster, as he walked three on Opening Day and blew the save the following game, only to pick up the win later. O'Brien was effective in the role last season after Ryan Helsley was dealt at the trade deadline. The 31-year-old O'Brien turned in a 2.06 ERA, 1.15 WHIP and 45:22 K:BB across 48 innings last regular season and picked up all six of his saves following Helsley's departure. The Cardinals figure to give O'Brien, Stanek and JoJo Romero save opportunities this season.
O'Brien yielded two hits in a scoreless frame to pick up his first hold of the season in Saturday's extra-inning win over the Rays.
O'Brien was first out of the bullpen for the Cardinals in the seventh inning, called upon to protect a two-run lead after Michael McGreevy spun six no-hit frames. Junior Caminero broke up the combined no-hit effort by singling on the first pitch he saw but was immediately erased with a double play. O'Brien then yielded an infield single but finished off the inning with a groundout. The 31-year-old has now registered a win and a hold in his first two appearances, but the first two save chances for the Cardinals have gone to Ryne Stanek.
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