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31 articles
STL • Pitcher • #55
1 day ago
The box score won’t tell you that Nick Yorke hit what was nearly a walk-off home run off O’Brien with two outs in the ninth before Nathan Church leapt up to rob it. Watching on hopelessly, O’Brien could not believe his eyes. If that ball wasn’t caught, O’Brien may have blown his third save in his last four tries. It was though and O’Brien’s eight saves trail only Mason Miller and David Bednar so far this season.
STL • Pitcher • #55
6 days ago
O’Brien came in to protect a two-run lead in the eighth inning, but he gave up a two-run single to Connor Joe to blow his second save of the season. He gave up another two runs after exiting the game on a bases-loaded single from Leo Rivas. O’Brien has been outstanding to begin the year — these were the first earned runs he’s allowed this year — but fantasy managers definitely take a hit for his poor performance Saturday. He also threw 39 pitches, so he definitely won’t be available Sunday if a save chance arises.
STL • Pitcher • #55
9 days ago
O’Brien took a blown save Sunday for allowing an inherited run to score, but he still hasn’t given up an earned run of his own this year. The appearance today was his third in four days, so he might need Wednesday off. JoJo Romero would probably close in his place. Ryne Stanek threw 32 pitches in a bad outing tonight, so he’ll likely be down, too.
STL • Pitcher • #55
12 days ago
O’Brien took over from Jojo Romero with two on and two outs in the eighth and gave up a two-run single to Isaac Paredes that tied the game. He then picked off pinch-runner Brice Matthews to end the eighth, and he struck out two in a perfect ninth. He got the win after the Cardinals scored three times in the top of the 10th. The save went to Gordon Graceffo, who got the final out after Justin Bruihl retired two of three batters in the 10th. O"Brien has now pitched two straight days, so Romero or Ryne Stanek might need to close Monday.
STL • Pitcher • #55
12 days ago
O’Brien wasn’t supposed to be a part of this one, but George Soriano gave up three runs in the ninth to make it a 7-5 game. O’Brien took over then and got Jose Altuve to ground out and struck out Yordan Alcarez. He’s still yet to allow a run this season.
STL • Pitcher • #55
16 days ago
O’Brien was great here, throwing 11 of 15 pitches for strikes and securing his fifth save of the season. There was some concern that O’Brien’s role as the best reliever in the Cardinals’ bullpen wouldn’t mean much on a rebuilding team, but the Cardinals are now 10-8 on the season. If they can keep games close, they are likely going to squeak out close victories, which should mean more save opportunities for O’Brien than many anticipated.
STL • Pitcher • #55
20 days ago
O’Brien earned his fourth save of the season for his efforts. The 31-year-old stopper made it look easy in this one, getting Wilyer Abreu on a ground ball to second, Trevor Story on a bouncer to short and Marcelo Mayer on strikes to end it. He has done a terrific job in the ninth inning for the Cardinals so far, firing 8 1/3 scoreless innings with a 0.48 WHIP and an 8/1 K/BB ratio while converting each of his first four save chances. Fantasy managers who gambled on him on draft day have to be thrilled with the early returns.
STL • Pitcher • #55
23 days ago
The Cardinals intended to use O’Brien in a save situation here before they rallied for a few insurance runs in the ninth inning. Nevertheless, he’d already warmed up so they brought him in. Before this appearance he’d earned a save in three of his last four outings and he’s unquestionably the closer in St. Louis at the moment.
STL • Pitcher • #55
24 days ago
The run O’Brien allowed was the one placed on second during extra-inning games. It was a wild pitch from the 31-year-old that allowed the run to score, but outside of that he looked the part with the pair of strikeouts and not allowing a hit. He clearly has a grasp on the closing gig, and while St. Louis isn’t likely to provide the most save chances in 2026, there should be enough for relevance — especially if he keeps pitching like this.
STL • Pitcher • #55
25 days ago
Ryne Stanek set him up with a hitless eighth. It seems clear that the only reason Stanek was the Cardinals’ choice to close initially was that O’Brien was still ramping up after his spring calf injury. O’Brien has two saves now and has yet to allow a run in 5 1/3 innings this season.
CHC • Pitcher • #55
26 days ago
The 28-year-old southpaw will add a fresh arm to the Cubs’ bullpen, taking the place of the injured Cade Horton (forearm) on their active roster. Martin was terrific out of the bullpen at Tripel-A Iowa in 2025, posting a 2.69 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and an 80/35 K/BB ratio over 62 2/3 innings. If he performs like that, he’ll have a permanent home in the Cubs’ bullpen.
CHC • Pitcher • #55
27 days ago
This is likely a corresponding move with Cade Horton (forearm) assuredly heading to the injured list. Martin will have a chance to make his MLB debut as a 28-year-old as a member of the Chicago bullpen.
STL • Pitcher • #55
about 1 month ago
The Cardinals indicated that part of the reason O’Brien opened up in a setup role was that he was behind after his calf injury this spring. The results didn’t really agree with that assessment, but all seems right now anyway. The Cardinals used Ryne Stanek in the seventh and Jojo Romero in the eighth tonight, so they were clearly intending for O’Brien to close. He’s probably not a lock to record all of the team’s save chances, but he is the best bet in their pen and should be picked up wherever he’s available.
STL • Pitcher • #55
about 1 month ago
O’Brien got whiffs on 44 percent of the nine swings he generated and should be regarded as the lead of St. Louis’ closer committee heading into the season. It’s possible he separates himself into an actual closer role at some point, but this wasn’t exactly a sweat-free outing.
STL • Pitcher • #55
about 2 months ago
O’Brien was making just his second spring appearance after missing time with a strained calf, so it’s not a disaster that he lost the strike zone for a bit. Still, he is competing for the closing gig in St. Louis, and the Cardinals will want him to throw strikes. He’s always walked more than most, which is why he spent almost his entire twenties in the minors, but his strong groundball rate helped make him a very effective reliever for the Cardinals last year (2.06 ERA in 48 innings).
STL • Pitcher • #55
about 2 months ago
O’Brien is behind because of a strained calf or else he’d be pitching for Korea in the World Baseball Classic. He still figures to be ready for Opening Day, and he would seem to be the favorite for saves in the Cardinals pen right now.
STL • Pitcher • #55
2 months ago
He’ll remain in the pool of eligible players and could potentially be added if South Korea advances to the championship rounds. As of now, it shouldn’t impact his availability for the start of the regular season, but it’s a situation worth monitoring as the next couple of weeks unfold.
Source: Jeff Jones
STL • Pitcher • #55
2 months ago
The 31-year-old hurler is currently being evaluated by the team. O’Brien is expected to serve as the closer for South Korea in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, but if the calf issue continues to linger he’ll be unable to participate. Look for the club to provide an update on his status as soon as more information becomes available.
Source: Jeff Jones
HOU • Pitcher • #55
4 months ago
A second-round pick of the Rays back in 2013, Unroe, who never has gotten the chance to play in the majors, has hit .246/.345/.353 with 58 homers and 155 steals in 4,219 plate appearances over 12 seasons in the minors. Last year was one of his best efforts, as he finished at .278/.397/.409 in 68 games as a part-timer for Triple-A Toledo. He also ended up with a 0.84 ERA in seven relief appearances, though that’s because eight of the nine runs he allowed were unearned.
STL • Pitcher • #55
7 months ago
JoJo Romero had started the ninth inning, protecting a one-run lead for the Cardinals. He recorded two outs and allowed one baserunner before O’Brien was summoned to record the final out. O’Brien struck out the final batter to record his sixth save of the season.
STL • Pitcher • #55
8 months ago
After JoJo Romero shut the Reds down in the eighth, O’Brien was called on to close things out in the ninth with a three-run lead. He tossed a clean frame, striking out one batter for his fifth save of the season. Expect O’Brien and Romero to operate in a matchup-based committee for save chances.
STL • Pitcher • #55
8 months ago
O’Brien was summoned with a one-run lead to protect in the ninth inning. He struck out Blake Perkins to start the inning and got Danny Jansen on a bounce out to first before issuing a two-out walk to Andruw Monasterio. Not to worry though, as he rallied to strike out Sal Frelick to close it out for the Cardinals. The 30-year-old right-hander now boasts a 2.13 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and a 40/20 K/BB ratio over 42 1/3 innings on the season while converting four of his first seven save opportunitites.
STL • Pitcher • #55
8 months ago
The 30-year-old right-hander came on with a three-run lead to protect and immediately plunked Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio to start the inning. Sal Frelick followed with an RBI double that pulled the Brewers to within two runs and put the tying runs in scoring position. Jackson Chourio followed with an RBI single that made it a one-run game, leading Cardinals’ skipper Oli Marmol to pull O’Brien from the burning building. The Cardinals continue to mix and match in the ninth inning, but this disaster could move O’Brien down in the pecking order for save chances.
STL • Pitcher • #55
8 months ago
Although he was dealing with shoulder tightness earlier this week, O’Brien has been allowed to pitch on back-to-back days. He got the ninth today after JoJo Romero was brought in to face Rafael Devers and the middle of the order in the eighth. Both relievers did their jobs well, as they generally have since Ryan Helsley got traded. Romero would still seem to be the favorite for saves in St. Louis.
STL • Pitcher • #55
8 months ago
O’Brien hasn’t been placed on the injured list, so that’s a positive. Still, that might come based on what the MRI reveals. JoJo Romero is worth using in most leagues with the Cardinals’ primary closing alternative down. Kyle Leahy could also be an option in deeper formats.
Source: John Denton
STL • Pitcher • #55
8 months ago
JoJo Romero was used in the eighth inning but allowed two baserunners, so O’Brien was called on with two runners on and one out in a one-run game. He induced an inning-ending double play and then came back into the game for the ninth inning. That inning didn’t go as well after O’Brien hit a batter and then allowed a game-tying double to blow his third save of the season. A walk-off home run by Alec Burleson allowed O’Brien to pick up the win, and this still appears to be a committe situation in St. Louis.
STL • Pitcher • #55
8 months ago
O’Brien missed out on a save chance last night because the Cardinals increased their lead from two runs to five in the top of the ninth. Tonight, they failed to add on, allowing O’Brien to protect a three-run lead. He seems to be the team’s top choice in the ninth for now. JoJo Romero again had the eighth tonight.
STL • Pitcher • #55
9 months ago
O’Brien walked Max Muncy with two outs, but he then retired Alex Freeland to end the game. JoJo Romero got the win today for striking out Shohei Ohtani to end the seventh and retiring two in the eighth. Kyle Leahy, who was another candidate to close with Ryan Helsley gone, pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings after replacing Matthew Liberatore in the fifth, striking out four along the way. Romero is probably the favorite for saves in St. Louis at the moment, but with the way Leahy is being used, O’Brien might be worth a roster spot in mixed leagues as the top alternative of Romero.
STL • Pitcher • #55
11 months ago
O’Brien has been plenty effective in Triple-A this year, posting a 2.79 ERA and a 32/8 K/BB in 19 1/3 innings out of the Memphis bullpen, but he’s struggled to establish himself in the Cardinals pen. Since debuting last year, he has a 9.20 ERA with five homers allowed in 14 2/3 innings.
STL • Pitcher • #55
12 months ago
O’Brien takes the relatively short flight to Memphis in order to create room on the active roster for a couple of new arms, with Matt Svanson also getting the boot from the active roster. O’Brien is nothing more than an up-and-down arm at this stage of his career.