Marmol Retained O'Brien as Cardinals Closer
Manager Oliver Marmol confirmed Riley O'Brien remains the closer despite recent struggles on the mound.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Baseball
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St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol has chosen to keep Riley O'Brien in high-leverage relief situations. The decision follows O'Brien's recent performance struggles, including a go-ahead home run allowed to Drew Gilbert.
Why it matters
Marmol intends for O'Brien to gain vital experience and learn from his recent poor outings to improve future performance. The Cardinals aim to stabilize their bullpen as they navigate the final nine games of their season.
Riley O'Brien has secured 37 saves out of 45 opportunities while leading all relief pitchers with nine losses. The Cardinals enter their latest series with a 75-78 record.
The players
Oliver Marmol
He is the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals who is responsible for tactical decisions and bullpen management.
Riley O'Brien
He is a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals currently serving as the team closer.
JJ Wetherholt
He is a player for the St. Louis Cardinals who recently returned from a two-week injury recovery.
Cade Cavalli
He is a pitcher for the Washington Nationals who recently signed a multi-year contract extension.
The details
Despite allowing a two-run home run to Drew Gilbert on Wednesday, O'Brien will remain in the closer role for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, the Cardinals welcomed JJ Wetherholt back to the lineup following a two-week absence due to wrist tendinitis.
Timeline
August 23, 2026: Start of O'Brien's recent 11-game performance window.
September 16, 2026: O'Brien allowed a go-ahead home run.
September 18, 2026: The series between the Cardinals and Nationals began.
Season Trajectory
The Cardinals are prioritizing development for O'Brien during their final nine games to impact next season's competitiveness. This strategy stands in contrast to the Nationals' move to secure Cade Cavalli with a four-year extension worth $47 million.
The decision to keep O'Brien in the closer role guarantees he will remain the primary target for fantasy owners despite his high loss total. Fans should monitor his save volume over the final nine games of the season.
The takeaway
Developing young arms through adversity is a standard late-season priority for teams falling out of playoff contention. Consistency from the closer position remains the primary objective for the Cardinals' coaching staff as they close out the season.
Further reading
For more on roster developments and team news, visit Baseball.
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