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Cardinals Option Struggling Reliever to Triple-A

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jacob Webb | Last updated Apr 25, 2025 5:17 PM ET

It has not been an ideal start to the 2025 season for the St. Louis Cardinals. After dropping seven of their last 10 games, the Cardinals’ record now sits at 10-15. A large part of the team’s struggles have been due to the bullpen. Through 25 games, Cardinals relievers have a combined ERA of 5.11, which ranks 25th in all of MLB.

In search of some bullpen help, the Cardinals announced Friday afternoon that they are calling up Riley O’Brien and optioning Ryan Fernandez to Triple-A Memphis.

RHP Riley O'Brien has been recalled from Memphis (AAA).

RHP Ryan Fernandez has been optioned to Memphis. pic.twitter.com/AvYuRSwlGd
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) April 25, 2025

After a 2024 season where Fernandez played a key role in the Cardinals bullpen and finished with an ERA of 3.51, it’s been a disastrous start to 2025.

In 11 appearances and 8.2 innings pitching, Fernandez has a whopping 11.42 ERA and WHIP of 2.31. He most recently gave up a three-run home run in the eighth inning of the Cardinals 4-1 loss to the Braves on Wednesday.

The Cardinals acquired Riley O’Brien from the Mariners in November of 2023 in exchange for cash considerations. O’Brien struggled in his brief stint in St. Louis last year, finishing with an ERA of 11.25 in eight innings pitched.

O’Brien has been very effective in Memphis to start the year, though. With a fastball that consistently sits in the upper 90s, the 30-year-old produces lots of swings and misses and has 14 strikeouts in just seven innings pitched this year.

With the bullpen in desperate need of any help it can get, O’Brien will likely see some innings right away. The Cardinals open a three-game series with the Brewers tonight at 7:15 p.m. in St. Louis.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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