Cardinals’ All-Star Brendan Donovan Suffering from Groin Tightness
The St. Louis Cardinals got a curveball they didn’t want to see Saturday night. Just before their big matchup with the rival Chicago Cubs, the team announced that All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan was injured and would be scratched from the lineup. And for a club fighting to keep its playoff hopes alive, that’s the last headline they wanted.
MLB.com’s John Denton broke the news on social media, revealing the official reason: “precautionary reasons due to left groin tightness.” That’s right—no catastrophic injury update, just a cautious move from the Cardinals’ staff.
In Donovan’s place, Thomas Saggese got the nod at second base while Lars Nootbaar slid into the leadoff spot. Not exactly the batting order fans expected to see under the bright lights at Busch Stadium.
It’s worth remembering just how important Donovan has been to this year’s squad. After Paul Goldschmidt’s offseason departure to the New York Yankees, Donovan stepped into a leadership role and delivered big at the plate. Through 107 games, he’s slashing .278/.349/.402 with nine homers, 43 RBIs, and a career-high 24 doubles. Whether he’s setting the tone at the top of the order or flashing the leather in the field, Donovan has been one of the main engines keeping the Cardinals’ offense humming.
Injured, but the labeled ‘Precautionary’
The team labeled his absence as “precautionary,” which should at least give fans a little relief. If this is just a case of avoiding a bigger problem down the line, then the Cardinals might get their All-Star back in action sooner rather than later.
Still, with every game mattering this late in the season, losing Donovan for even a short stretch is a gut punch. His steady bat and clubhouse presence have been invaluable during what’s been a roller coaster of a season in St. Louis.
The hope? This is just a speed bump and not a roadblock. Until then, the Cardinals will have to find a way to keep the offense rolling without their injured spark plug at the top.
