Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Sitting out first game of day
Rotowire
Donovan is not in the lineup for the first game of Thursday's doubleheader versus the White Sox.
The Cardinals will go with Nolan Gorman at second base in the first game of the twin bill. Donovan should be back in the lineup for the second game of the day.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Four hits Tuesday
Rotowire
Donovan went 4-for-5 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's win over the White Sox.
Donovan paced the Cardinals in hits on a night they put up 12 runs. He's having a breakout campaign on offense and currently leads National League second basemen in numerous hitting categories. For the season, he's slashing .323/.388/.451 with four homers, 27 RBI, 38 runs, three steals and a 22:39 BB:K in 287 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Back in action Sunday
Rotowire
Donovan (toe) will start at second base and bat leadoff Sunday against the Brewers, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Donovan hasn't seen the field since Tuesday due to sprained left big toe, but he's good to go for Sunday's series finale in Milwaukee. He'll wear a carbon-fiber orthotic in his shoe to help manage his return from the injury. Donovan was off to a slow start in June prior to the injury and has a .200/.317/.257 slash line through nine games this month.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Expected back Sunday
Rotowire
Donovan (toe) expects to return to the lineup Sunday versus the Brewers, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Donovan took batting practice and fielded ground balls Saturday and was pain-free afterward. He will wear a carbon-fiber orthotic in his shoe in the short term, but it appears that he will avoid a stint on the injured list after missing the past four games.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Remaining out Saturday
Rotowire
Donovan (toe) isn't in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Brewers.
Saturday marks Donovan's fourth consecutive absence from the starting lineup due to a sprained big toe on his left foot. The Cards are expected to decide Sunday whether he needs to spend time on the injured list, and until he returns, Nolan Gorman will continue to start at second base.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: IL decision likely coming Sunday
Rotowire
The Cardinals are likely to decide Sunday whether Donovan (toe) needs to go on the 10-day injured list, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Donovan has missed three straight games with a sprained left big toe and it sounds like he's a long shot to return to action Saturday. The Cardinals are willing to play a man short through the weekend if it means Donovan can avoid the IL and play Tuesday following Monday's off day, but an IL stint remains a possibility. Nolan Gorman will continue to fill in at second base while Donovan is shelved.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Still out of lineup
Rotowire
Donovan (toe) isn't part of the lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers.
Donovan is absent from the starting nine for a third straight game but appears to be making progress in his recovery from a sprained left big toe. The 28-year-old participated in a light pregame workout Thursday and was said to be feeling "a lot better." Nolan Gorman will bat seventh and play second base in place of Donovan. Per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Donovan is pushing for a return this weekend, but the Cardinals are willing to give him until Tuesday before placing him on the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Goes through light workout
Rotowire
Donovan (toe) went through a light pregame workout Thursday and Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol indicated the second baseman "felt a lot better," Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Donovan exited Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays and didn't play Wednesday or Thursday due to a sprained left big toe. While he appears to be on the mend, the Cardinals do not plan to play shorthanded much longer. A decision on whether Donovan needs a stint on the 10-day injured list is expected to be made soon.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Could avoid IL stint
Rotowire
Donovan told reporters Wednesday that an MRI revealed a sprained capsule in the joint of his left big toe, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.
Donovan added that going on the injured list is a "worst-case [scenario]" and appeared optimistic that an IL stint isn't necessary. Still, his availability for the Cardinals' upcoming four-game road series against the Brewers is in question and would open the door for Nolan Gorman to see more work at the keystone. Donovan has gone 7-for-35 (.200) with four runs scored and two RBI since the beginning of June.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Homers in return to lineup
Rotowire
Donovan went 3-for-5 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Orioles.
Donovan looked healthy after missing Tuesday's contest with hip tightness, smacking a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning. While the homer was his first since April 18, the 28-year-old has slashed .337/.413/.467 in May with nine doubles, seven RBI and 15 runs scored. That production mirrors his strong season line of .335/.395/.481, along with four home runs, 24 RBI, 31 runs scored and three steals across 229 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Back in action Wednesday
Rotowire
Donovan (hip) is starting at second base and batting third Wednesday against the Orioles.
The 28-year-old was scratched from the lineup Tuesday due to hip tightness but is back in the starting nine for Wednesday's series finale. Donovan is building a breakout campaign with a .328/.390/.463 slash line through 224 plate appearances this season.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: On base four times in nightcap
Rotowire
Donovan went 3-for-5 with a double, one RBI, one walk and two runs scored in a 14-7 win over the Phillies in the second game of Wednesday's doubleheader.
Donovan entered this game 0-for-11 over his previous three contests, including an 0-for-4 effort in the matinee contest. That's an unusual cold spell for the utility player -- he had hit safely in the 10 games before that brief slump. Donovan has been a reliable hitter this year, batting .313 with an .824 OPS across 42 contests. He's added three home runs, 20 RBI, 23 runs scored, 12 doubles and three stolen bases while seeing the bulk of his playing time at second base.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Getting day off Tuesday
Rotowire
Donovan is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Atlanta, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
It's the first true day off for Donovan this season, as the first time he wasn't in the lineup came in the first game of a doubleheader. Nolan Gorman is handling second base and batting third for the Cardinals on Tuesday.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Perfect at plate in victory
Rotowire
Donovan went 4-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI in Monday's 8-3 win over Houston.
The Astros were unable to get Donovan out Monday, as he reached base in all four of his trips to the plate. It was the fourth time this season that the utility man has gotten at least three hits in a game, and he's off to a hot start with the bat, logging a .391/.420/.563 slash line through 69 plate appearances. Donovan is also in the midst of a 10-game hitting streak, during which he's batted a scorching .513 (20-for-39) with eight RBI.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Slated to hit third in opener
Rotowire
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said Monday that he plans to start Donovan at second base and bat him third in Thursday's opener against the Twins, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Marmol indicated that the Cardinals' lineup for Monday's exhibition game versus Triple-A Memphis -- which features Donovan in the three spot -- is the same setup he is planning for Opening Day. It's a favorable RBI spot for Donovan, who will bat behind Lars Nootbaar and Willson Contreras.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: In line for super utility role
Rotowire
Donovan is expected to assume a super utility role this season for the Cardinals, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.
Had the club been able to trade Nolan Arenado, it was prepared to play Nolan Gorman at third base and give Donovan the lion's share of reps at second base. The keystone might still be where Donovan plays most, but Gorman will also receive starts there, with Donovan seeing plenty of action in left field, as well, particularly on days Lars Nootbaar plays center field. Donovan is also capable of handling third base, first base and shortstop.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Goes deep in win
Rotowire
Donovan went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and two walks in Sunday's win over the Giants.
Donovan opened the game's scoring with a solo shot in the third inning and later added an RBI single in the fifth. It was his second straight multi-hit performance and fifth over his last 11 games. During that span, he posted a 1.045 OPS with five extra-base knocks. Donovan finishes the 2024 campaign with a .278/.342/.417 slash line, 73 RBI and 51 extra-base hits through 153 games.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Drives in two in loss
Rotowire
Donovan went 3-for-5 with a double, two RBI and one run scored in Saturday's 6-5 loss to the Giants.
Donovan was part of a seventh-inning rally for the Cardinals, producing a two-run double before scoring on a Jordan Walker single. With four multi-hit efforts over his last 10 games, Donovan has put together a strong finish to the campaign. The versatile 27-year-old has a .276/.338/.411 slash line with 13 home runs, five stolen bases, 71 RBI, 64 runs scored, 34 doubles and three triples over 152 games.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Homers off bench Thursday
Rotowire
Donovan went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run and a walk in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Reds.
Donovan didn't start this contest, receiving some rest after missing time with a foot infection that kept him out of action over the weekend. He delivered when called upon off the bench, drilling a two-run homer in the seventh inning and walking in the eighth as the Cardinals built up their lead in the late innings. Donovan is up to 12 homers this year, three of which he's swatted over his last 17 games. He's added a .272/.337/.405 slash line with 63 RBI, 60 runs scored, 30 doubles and four stolen bases across 137 contests in 2024.
... See More... See Less
Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Notches three hits in loss
Rotowire
Donovan (foot) went 3-for-4 in Tuesday's 3-0 loss to the Reds.
Donovan missed two games due to an infection in his foot, but he was able to play all nine innings in the field Tuesday, splitting time between second base and left field. This was his third three-hit game in his last 12 contests, a span in which he's batting .354 (17-for-48) with five extra-base hits and five RBI. The 27-year-old is up to a .270/.334/.398 slash line with 11 home runs, four stolen bases, 61 RBI and 59 runs scored over 135 games this season.
