According to John Denton of MLB.com, the St. Louis Cardinals and infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan could not come to a long-term agreement before Thursday's arbitration deadline. Earlier this week, it was reported that both sides were inching towards a long-term deal but were unable to finalize it. The 27-year-old has spent his entire three-year major league career in St. Louis. Last season, he held a .278/.342/.417 line with 14 home runs and five stolen bases. He showed an elite eye at the plate with a stellar 12.4% K rate and a 15.1% whiff rate. Fantasy managers should expect Donovan to operate as the team's starting second baseman in 2025 but could also see time in the outfield. In addition, he may eventually be shifted to the hot corner with Nolan Arenado's name on the trade block.
Nolan Arenado, Brendan Donovan Absent Against Rockies
St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado and infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan will both retreat to the bench for Thursday's series finale at Coors Field against the Colorado Rockies. Jose Fermin is handling the hot corner and batting eighth, while rookie Thomas Saggese starts at second base and is hitting sixth against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. Neither Fermin nor Saggese have ever faced Freeland in their careers. Donovan will get the day off after starting in each of the team's last 12 games. Fermin has done little at the plate in 63 at-bats this year, going 9-for-63 (.143) with no homers, three RBI and two stolen bases. Saggese, meanwhile, was recently called up for the first time and has gone 8-for-38 (.211) with a homer, two doubles and four RBI in his first 14 major-league games for the Red Birds.
St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (foot) is starting at second base and is batting leadoff on Tuesday at Busch Stadium against the division-rival Cincinnati Reds and rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder. Donovan will return to the top of the Red Birds' batting order against the Reds after missing the previous two games due to a foot infection. There was some worry that the 27-year-old utility man might need a stint on the injured list, but he appears fine for now and will have some DFS appeal as a low-cost sleeper on Tuesday at the top of the lineup. Shortstop Masyn Winn is getting a day off, which has allowed Donovan to hit leadoff for the first time in a month. The left-handed-hitting German lacks notable speed or pop, but he's gone 7-for-20 (.350) with two doubles in five games so far in the month of September.
Brendan Donovan Stays Hot With Two Hits And Three RBI
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Brendan Donovan went 2-for-5 with a home run, a single, and three RBI in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday evening to lead the Cardinals to a victory. The 27-year-old launched a solo shot in the fifth inning and then knocked a two-run single in the ninth to score Alec Burleson and Willson Contreras. After going 0-for-4 in the opening game of the doubleheader, Donovan got himself right back on track in the nightcap. The South Alabama Product has been swinging a hot bat since the start of July with an excellent .346/.414/.423 line. Donovan has been used as a utility defender and should always have a spot in the starting nine due to his defensive flexibility.
Brendan Donovan Stays Red Hot, Homers Again On Saturday
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 9-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday. He blasted a solo shot off Giants relieve Luke Jackson in the bottom of the seventh inning to put the Cardinals up 8-4. His home run traveled 422 feet with an exit velocity of 107.4 mph. The 27-year-old has now homered in three of his last four games. He is hitting .458 (11-for-24) with three home runs, eight RBI, and three runs scored over his previous five games. Donovan is slashing .262/.329/.415 with eight home runs, 37 RBI, and 34 runs scored in 70 games. Fantasy managers should continue to start Donovan in all league formats while he's on this torrid stretch.
Brendan Donovan Collects Three Hits, Homers On Thursday
St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan had a big game on Thursday, going 3-for-4 with a homer, a run, and three RBI in a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants. Donovan smacked a two-run homer in the first inning to put the Cards in front early, then singled home the game-winning run in the fifth. The 27-year-old has been alright this season, slashing .258/.327/.402 with 33 runs, seven homers, and 36 RBI in 271 ABs. Since he doesn't run much, his utility in category leagues is limited to deeper formats.
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Brendan Donovan (neck) is back in the starting lineup ahead of Monday's game against the Houston Astros. Donovan will make his return after sitting out the entire weekend series due to neck stiffness. On Monday, Donovan will cover left field and bat sixth versus right-hander Justin Verlander. This isn't an ideal streaming situation for Donovan against an elite pitcher such as Verlander. However, fantasy managers in standard formats can go ahead and get Donovan back in their lineup.
St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan (neck) is not in the team's starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Donovan has missed the previous two games due to stiffness in his neck. Alec Burleson will start in left field and bat second for the Cardinals while Matt Carpenter will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth. Donovan is considered day-to-day for now and will have a chance to return for Monday's game against the Houston Astros.
St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder Brendan Donovan (neck) remains out of the starting lineup for a second consecutive day with neck stiffness. As a result, Alec Burleson will play in left field this evening and bat in the six-hole. Donovan, who is typically in the lead-off spot, will cede those duties to young shortstop Masyn Winn, who was riding an incredible 16-game hitting streak through most of May. Donovan should be considered day-to-day for the time being and could return to the lineup on Sunday. Both Burleson and Winn have a difficult matchup in southpaw Ranger Suarez, who enters Saturday with a stellar 1.75 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, and 16:77 BB:K ratio and should be faded in DFS.
St. Louis Cardinals infielder Brendan Donovan (neck) has been scratched from the starting lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The 27-year-old is considered as day-to-day due to neck stiffness. This doesn't sound like the type of issue that would force Donovan onto the injured list. Dylan Carlson will take his place in the lineup and bat eighth versus right-hander Aaron Nola. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups with Donovan sitting out.
Brendan Donovan
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Cardinals
