Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Returns to St. Louis lineup
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Donovan (rib) will start at second base and bat third in Friday's game versus the Brewers.
Donovan missed the previous two contests after he had a rib pop out of place, but he's back in there for the start of the series against the Brewers. The 28-year-old will carry a .925 OPS into play Friday.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Getting day off Tuesday
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Perfect at plate in victory
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Homers, drives in three in loss
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Donovan went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's 13-9 loss to the Red Sox.
Donovan launched a solo homer off Walker Buehler in the fifth inning and then added RBI singles in the seventh and ninth frames. The 28-year-old is off to a solid start in 2025, hitting .267 with two home runs, six RBI and four runs scored across 33 plate appearances.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Slated to hit third in opener
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Will see some reps at shortstop
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Donovan will start at shortstop for the Cardinals when Masyn Winn has a day off, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
Winn's off days will be few and far between, but since the Cardinals aren't carrying a traditional backup shortstop on the roster, Donovan is poised for some reps there. Donovan does have some limited experience at shortstop, having made seven starts there in his career but just one over the last two seasons. It opens up the possibility of Donovan gaining additional position eligibility in fantasy. He will enter the season with eligibility at second base and the outfield and could add shortstop and third base to the list.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: In line for super utility role
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Goes deep in win
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Drives in two in loss
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Homers off bench Thursday
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Notches three hits in loss
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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.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Returns to St. Louis lineup
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Donovan (foot) will start at second base and bat leadoff in Tuesday's contest against the Reds.
Donovan was unavailable for the last two games while battling an infection in his foot, but he's feeling well enough to give it a go in the series opener versus Cincinnati. It's the first time in exactly one month that Donovan has batted leadoff, as Masyn Winn is receiving a day off.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Sitting down Saturday
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Donovan isn't in the Cardinals' lineup for Saturday's game versus Seattle, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
An 0-for-4 performance Friday snapped Donovan's seven-game hitting streak, during which he went 10-for-28 with a home run, four RBI and six runs scored. His absence Saturday will put Jose Fermin at the keystone for St. Louis.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Triples in three-hit performance
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Donovan went 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Padres.
Donovan entered Monday just 1-for-18 over his previous five games. He was steady at the plate, though he had few opportunities to help in run production after a poor showing from the heart of the Cardinals' lineup. Donovan has hit .272 (22-for-81) in August and now sports a .266/.331/.393 slash line through 124 contests overall. The utility man has added 10 home runs, 56 RBI, 52 runs scored, 27 doubles, two triples and four stolen bases. Since Nolan Gorman was sent down to Triple-A Memphis, Donovan has been the Cardinals' primary second baseman.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Racks up three hits in win
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Donovan went 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored in Friday's 8-5 win over the Royals.
Donovan has five multi-hit efforts over his last 12 games, batting .326 (14-for-43) in that span. He struggled just after the All-Star break, but he's at least making consistent contact again, though just two of those hits have gone for extra bases. For the season, Donovan is slashing .269/.335/.393 with nine home runs, 53 RBI, 47 runs scored, 24 doubles, one triple and three stolen bases across 110 contests.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Three hits, steal in loss
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Donovan went 3-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 8-3 loss to the Cubs.
Donovan has six multi-hit efforts over 13 games in July, going 18-for-52 (.346) in that span. The steal was his first since June 26 and his third of the campaign. The 27-year-old is up to a .276/.345/.411 slash line with eight home runs, 45 RBI, 43 runs scored, 22 doubles and one triple over 91 contests this season. Donovan has primarily played in left field, though he occasionally spells Nolan Gorman at second base or Nolan Arenado at third.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Nabs second steal
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Donovan went 2-for-4 with one RBI and one stolen base in a 4-1 win over Atlanta in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader.
Donovan's eight-game hitting streak ended in the matinee with an 0-for-2 effort, but he bounced back in the nightcap, which was his eighth multi-hit effort in June. The 27-year-old also picked up his second steal of the campaign on his fifth attempt. Donovan is at a .270/.337/.419 slash line with eight home runs, 40 RBI and 35 runs scored across 74 contests. He's seen a majority of his playing time in left field but has also featured at second base, third base, right field and designated hitter as he continues to show some utility skills.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Racks up three hits in win
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Donovan went 3-for-4 with one RBI in Monday's 4-3 win over Atlanta.
Donovan has been dialed in for much of June. He's hit safely in 17 of his last 18 games, going 26-for-71 (.366) with seven extra-base hits and 14 RBI in that span. The 27-year-old is up to a .269/.333/.420 slash line with eight home runs, 39 RBI, 35 runs scored, 17 doubles, one triple and one stolen base over 72 contests. While he's mostly lost out on leadoff opportunities to Masyn Winn, Donovan is still hitting well deeper in the lineup.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Hits go-ahead home run
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Donovan went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's 4-3 win versus the Pirates.
The 27-year-old took Mitch Keller deep in the sixth inning for what turned out to be the game-deciding run. Donovan extended his hitting streak to eight contests and snapped a streak of 26 games without a homer in the process. He has gone 10-for-30 (.333) during his hitting streak and now carries a .248/.325/.380 slash line with five home runs and 29 RBI for the season.
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Cardinals' Brendan Donovan: Sitting again Sunday
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Donovan (neck) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.
The 27-year-old will be withheld from the starting nine for the third consecutive game due to neck stiffness. According to John Denton of MLB.com, Donovan is expected to take swings in the batting cage Sunday and could be back in action Monday against the Astros. Alec Burleson will start in left field for the series finale while Matt Carpenter receives a turn at designated hitter.
