Cardinals update on Donovan

The Cardinals place Brendan Donovan on the 10-day injured list with a left groin strain.

Brendan Donovan Placed on Injured List

The Cardinals placed Brendan Donovan on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 15 due to a left groin strain. Jose Fermin was recalled from Triple-A Memphis to provide infield depth while Donovan is sidelined. IL stints can be backdated by a maximum of three days, and St. Louis chose to sideline the 28-year-old to add a healthy infield option on the roster.

Donovan is slashing .279/.348/.402 with nine homers and 25 doubles in 476 plate appearances this season. He has moved from the three hole to the top of the lineup at times this season. Lars Nootbaar is now operating as the leadoff hitter against right-handed pitching, while Thomas Saggese is drawing into the lineup at second base as needed. The Cardinals were swept by the Yankees and have dropped five in a row, sitting 5.5 games back in the wild card race. With Nolan Arenado uncertain to return this season, Nolan Gorman has been getting everyday third-base reps and Saggese, a rookie, has not hit for much of the season.

The injury adds to a thin infield and tests the team’s depth as the season winds down. It also accelerates a look at younger players and might steer the roster toward development over short term results. The shift gives Saggese and Gorman more everyday reps, and it may determine how the organization values its farm system in the final six weeks.

Beyond the lineup, the Cardinals face a broader choice about how to balance next season’s plans with this season’s push. The coming weeks could define how much the club leans on prospects versus veterans as it chases a postseason spot, a decision that will echo into the winter trades and roster building.

Highlights

The coming weeks will show how the Cardinals adapt with a thinner infield.