Briles suffered through a hard luck season, going 4-15 despite a relatively modest 3.21 ERA. He was 4-3 with a 3.55 ERA and six saves in when an injury to Bob Gibson (a broken leg suffered at the hands of a Roberto Clemente line drive) forced him into the starting rotation. He lost two of his first three starts, but then won his last nine decisions to end the season at 14-5 with a National League leading .737 winning percentage (the Cardinals also won his two no-decisions during that stretch). His 2.43 ERA was also best on the Cardinals staff.