The St. Louis Cardinals faced a setback on Saturday when All-Star utility player Brendan Donovan was removed from the starting lineup ahead of their game against the Chicago Cubs. The team announced the scratch was due to left groin tightness, citing precautionary reasons for their decision, according to MLB.com’s John Denton.
Precautionary Removal of Donovan Alters Cardinals’ Lineup Against Cubs
Replacing Donovan in the lineup, the Cardinals introduced Thomas Saggese to start at second base, while Lars Nootbaar moved to lead off. This adjustment was shared by John Denton via social media as he reported,
“Cardinals leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan has been scratched from tonight’s starting lineup for precautionary reasons due to left groin tightness, per the club.”
Denton also provided the updated batting order, stating,
“Here is the Cardinals’ new lineup with Brendan Donovan (left groin tightness) scratched from the starting lineup. Lars Nootbaar leads off and Thomas Saggese starts at second base.”
Donovan’s Impact and Current Season Performance
Brendan Donovan has been a key contributor to the Cardinals during this season, stepping up into a leadership role following the departure of Paul Goldschmidt to the New York Yankees via free agency. Over 107 games, Donovan has posted impressive numbers, batting .278 with a .349 on-base percentage and a .402 slugging percentage. His offensive production includes nine home runs, 43 RBIs, and 24 doubles, marking the best season of his career so far.
Known as a driving force in St. Louis’ offense, Donovan’s absence, even if temporary, is significant given his influence on the team’s overall performance. The Cardinals’ choice to remove him from action for now is likely a cautious approach to avoid aggravating the injury.
What the Scratch Could Mean for Donovan and the Cardinals
Although the Cardinals have not provided detailed updates beyond citing precautionary reasons, the expectation is that this will not be a long-term issue. The organization appears hopeful Donovan will recover quickly and return to the lineup to continue fueling their offense through what has been an inconsistent season.
As more information becomes available, further injury updates on Brendan Donovan will be shared to keep fans informed. His presence is seen as crucial to the Cardinals’ competitiveness moving forward, especially as they aim to maintain momentum in the upcoming games.