The Cardinals are dealing with another injury blow as they try to salvage what’s left of their season.
Riley O’Brien is experiencing fatigue in his throwing shoulder and will see a doctor for evaluation, with results expected Monday, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The timing couldn’t be worse for St. Louis. They’re sitting at 68-70, five games back of the Mets for the final Wild Card spot, and haven’t sniffed .500 since mid-August.
O’Brien’s been one of their most reliable relievers this year, putting up a 2-0 record with a 1.69 ERA and 1.13 WHIP across 31 appearances. That’s easily the most games he’s pitched in a single season.
The 30-year-old has had a rough go with injuries lately. Last year, his first with the Cardinals, a right flexor strain limited him to just eight games. He’s battled various setbacks over the past couple seasons, making this breakout campaign all the more frustrating if it gets cut short.
What makes this particularly tough is that O’Brien was finally putting it all together. His 35 strikeouts in 37.1 innings represent the best numbers of his four-year big league career.
Now the Cardinals might have to navigate the final month without one of their most productive bullpen arms. With their playoff hopes already hanging by a thread, they can’t afford to lose much more production from a relief corps that’s been keeping them competitive.
The evaluation results should give a clearer picture of how long O’Brien might be sidelined, if at all. But shoulder fatigue for a pitcher is never something to take lightly, especially this late in the season.
