SEATTLE 鈥 When Seattle native Riley O鈥橞rien and his extended family 鈥 around 30 people 鈥 gathered on the field at T-Mobile Park after a game this week for some photos, his father brought a treasured item that is becoming a family heirloom.
This week was O鈥橞rien鈥檚 first visit home since the death earlier this year of his grandfather, Johnny O鈥橞rien, a significant figure in Seattle sports. O鈥橞rien鈥檚 father brought something to represent Johnny, the standout basketball player and former major leaguer.
His cap he wore as a 51黑料 Cardinal.
It鈥檚 featured in several of the photos.
That, Riley O鈥橞rien said later, was a personal highlight of the visit.
A professional one came Wednesday.
O鈥橞rien鈥檚 prominence in the Cardinals bullpen and potential future role there has grown in recent weeks, ascending Wednesday to pitching two strong innings in extra innings of the Cardinals鈥 4-2 loss. O鈥橞rien allowed a tying run (unearned) in the 11th inning while also striking out two, always pitching with a runner in scoring position and navigating through the middle of the Mariners lineup.
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鈥淭hat was awesome,鈥 manger Oli Marmol said. 鈥淟ook at the opportunities they had across the way with some real firepower in that lineup. For Riley to be able to do it in this atmosphere was pretty electric against a team he was a part of, to shove the way he did was fun to watch. Big pitches in big moments there.鈥
For more than two years, the Cardinals geared their bullpen plans around funneling all leads to All-Star closer Ryan Helsley.
His trade to the New York Mets in July put a vacancy sign on the ninth inning.
In the weeks since, O鈥橞rien and lefty JoJo Romero have emerged as the team鈥檚 go-to closers, with right-handers Matt Svanson and Kyle Leahy swapping appearances as multi-inning setup relievers. What could have been a mad scramble for roles settled swiftly, mostly because of performance but also because 鈥渙ur goal was to situate that as quickly as possible,鈥 Marmol said.
鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a lot of different opportunities of leverage for different guys,鈥 the manager continued. 鈥淲e鈥檝e seen Leahy in high leverage. We鈥檝e seen Svanson in high leverage. We鈥檝e seen Riley in high leverage. We鈥檝e seen JoJo in high leverage. We鈥檝e seen (Gordon) Graceffo in high leverage. Now, you鈥檙e starting to see different guys in those positions and you evaluate accordingly.鈥
O鈥橞rien collected a win and a save in consecutive appearances this past weekend against San Francisco. He did not appear in the Seattle series until the 10th inning Wednesday as the Cardinals tried to hold a 1-1 game with the top of the lineup, including Home Run Derby champion and American League MVP candidate Cal Raleigh, due up with a runner in scoring position.
O鈥橞rien allowed a single and intentionally walked Raleigh before then striking out Julio Rodriguez and Josh Naylor with the bases loaded.
鈥淥ne of the better times I鈥檝e felt this season,鈥 O鈥橞rien said. 鈥淔elt good to just be in the competition, doing everything I can to get hitters out. I feel like being in those situations bring out the best in me. I feel like I was able to rise to the occasion.鈥
The Cardinals struck for a run in the top of the 11th to give O鈥橞rien a chance at a second win in three appearances. Jorge Polanco opened the 11th with an RBI double off O鈥橞rien to tie the game. The 11th got to a similar spot as the 10th with the bases loaded before O鈥橞rien fielded a ground ball back to the mound and started a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning.
O鈥橞rien threw 31 pitches and reached 99.3 mph with his sinker and 92 mph with his slider. He got more swings and misses (eight) than the Mariners put balls in play (six). And with his curveball, O鈥橞rien was able to get five swings and misses on eight attempts.
He has the stuff of late-game strikeouts.
Now, he has the opportunity of late-game moments.
And the Cardinals, much like their view of their lineup and outfield positions, are looking for who emerges in the closing weeks of this season as a candidate to compete for closing opportunities in 2026. The Cardinals see Leahy as a potential starter, but the rest of the relievers 鈥 all of whom are under control for 2026 鈥 are getting innings now to 鈥渟how that they belong at the big leagues in a relief role,鈥 Marmol said鈥 And then, if so, to what degree.鈥
鈥淚 feel like I鈥檝e learned that I can do it,鈥 O鈥橞rien said. 鈥淚鈥檝e had success against some of the best hitters in the league in some pretty high-leverage situations. Along with the work I鈥檝e put in, it just builds more confidence. I feel like I鈥檓 in a good spot right now.鈥
Donovan readies for Milwaukee
Brendan Donovan is positioned to join the Cardinals in Milwaukee ahead of Friday鈥檚 opener of a weekend series against the division-leading Brewers. Donovan played second base for the Cardinals鈥 Class AA affiliate in Springfield, Missouri, as he continued a rehab assignment there. Donovan went 0 for 3 in the S-Cards鈥 5-3 loss to San Antonio.
Donovan has missed a month due to a sprained toe that contributed to a groin injury. He attempted to play through the toe injury for a month, which included representing that Cardinals at the All-Star Game.
The Cardinals planned to make a decision on Donovan鈥檚 return to the starting lineup Friday based on how he recovers from two games with Springfield.
Winn takes an extra day
Although he expressed hope that he would be back in the lineup Wednesday for the series finale against Seattle, shortstop Masyn Winn and the Cardinals opted to pair another day off with Thursday鈥檚 off-day to rest the young infielder鈥檚 aching knee.
Winn intends to play through a slight meniscus tear in his right knee. He will require arthroscopic surgery to address the damage, the team said, but the procedure won鈥檛 intrude on his preparation for 2026. Team medical officials have assured Winn he cannot make the damage worse by playing.
For Winn, he said the decision comes down to pain tolerance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not like he鈥檚 just wildly deciding to play,鈥 Marmol said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 calculated. There has been a lot of conversation with medical in making sure we鈥檙e not taking a risk here. The fact that he wants to continue to play as long as it鈥檚 allowing him to 鈥 I think it鈥檚 awesome. It shows the competitor in him.鈥
Arenado, etc.
Nolan Arenado began his rehab assignment at Class AA Springfield with three at-bats at designated hitter, and he鈥檚 scheduled to play the entire game Thursday at DH. On Friday, the Gold Glove Award winner will make his first start at third base since going on the injured list in late July with a shoulder injury.
Arenado will play at least two games at third with the S-Cards over the weekend and continues to aim for a Monday return to the Cardinals lineup.
- John King struck out two and allowed a solo homer in his inning for Double-A Springfield as he begins his rehab assignment and return from a back injury. King鈥檚 next appearance will be determined based on how he feels the day after his outing.
- Top prospect JJ Wetherholt returned to Class AAA Memphis鈥 lineup after missing several days due to soreness. Wetherholt walked and went 0 for 4 to bring his batting average to a fitting .314 with a .997 on-base plus slugging percentage in Triple-A.
51黑料 columnist Lynn Worth joined Jeff Gordon to discuss Masyn Winn playing through a torn knee meniscus, and Nolan Arenado working his way back to the lineup before season's end.
