Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Lands on IL with groin strain
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The Cardinals placed Donovan on the 10-day injured list Monday with a left groin strain.
The Cardinals played a man short over the weekend with the hope that Donovan would be ready to return to the lineup early this week. However, he was ultimately not able to show enough improvement to avoid a stint on the IL. Donovan's IL placement is retroactive to Friday, so he will be eligible for activation Aug. 25. Thomas Saggese should continue to see the bulk of the playing time at second base in Donovan's stead.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Will be held out again Monday
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The Cardinals intend to hold Donovan (toe) out of the lineup for a fourth straight contest Monday in Miami, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Donovan has been dealing with a nagging toe injury, which the team believes has contributed to foot and groin issues. Manager Oliver Marmol said Sunday that Donovan isn't expected to require a stint on the 10-day injured list, and the second baseman could be back in action as soon as Tuesday.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Scratched with injury
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Donovan was scratched from the lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Yankees due to a foot injury, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Donovan missed a few games earlier in the week due to groin soreness, which reportedly was a direct result of his injured foot. Manager Oliver Marmol said there's a chance the 28-year-old's foot ends up keeping him sidelined for multiple days, but he doesn't seem ticketed for the injured list at the moment.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Delivers clutch hit off bench
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Donovan (groin) recorded a two-RBI double in a pinch-hit appearance Monday against the Rockies.
Donovan was called upon in the bottom of the eighth inning and put his club ahead with a clutch double. The 28-year-old hadn't taken an at-bat since Friday due to a left groin injury, but if he emerges from Monday's matchup feeling healthy, there's a chance he could return to the starting lineup Tuesday.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Returns to Cardinals' lineup
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Donovan (personal) will start at second base and bat leadoff in Monday's game versus the Dodgers.
Donovan had to be scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Padres due to a family emergency, but he has rejoined the Cardinals and is ready to go for Monday's series opener in Los Angeles. The All-Star has been scuffling at the plate lately, going 2-for-26 over his last 30 plate appearances.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Late scratch Sunday
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Donovan was scratched from the lineup for Sunday's game against the Padres due to a family emergency, John Denton of MLB.com reports.
Donovan was penciled in atop the lineup for the series finale in San Diego, but he'll instead be unavailable while he address a personal matter. It's unclear if the situation will affect his availability beyond Sunday's contest.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Getting rest Tuesday
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Donovan is absent from the lineup for Tuesday's contest against the Marlins.
Donovan is in a mini slump, having gone hitless over his last four games, so he'll receive a day off to regroup. Thomas Saggese will cover second base and bat seventh for the Cardinals.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Leads off game with long ball
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Donovan went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, two walks, two total runs and two total RBI in Saturday's 9-6 victory versus the Guardians.
Donovan set the tone for the high-scoring matchup when he led off the contest with a 391-foot homer. The versatile veteran added a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning while also drawing multiple free passes for just the third time this season. Donovan has been slumping of late, batting just .158 (6-for-38) over his past 10 games, but he's still hitting a strong .302 on the campaign.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Swats homer in victory
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Donovan went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 8-2 win over the Cubs.
The Cardinals slugged four two-run homers off Chicago starter Ben Brown, with Donovan's coming in the fifth frame. It was a rare show of power by the utility man, as he had gone 17 games without hitting a long ball and has just five homers on the campaign. Nonetheless, Donovan has been a key part of the Cardinals' offense this season, slashing .307/.375/.437 with 29 RBI, 42 runs scored and three stolen bases through 71 games.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Sitting out first game of day
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Four hits Tuesday
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Expected back Sunday
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Remaining out Saturday
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: IL decision likely coming Sunday
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Still out of lineup
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Goes through light workout
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Could avoid IL stint
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Homers in return to lineup
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Back in action Wednesday
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: On base four times in nightcap
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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.
