When it rains, it pours — and the St. Louis Cardinals felt that in full force during their narrow 10–9 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.
Not only did they come up short on the scoreboard, but they also lost a key piece of their lineup when utility man Brendan Donovan exited late in the game with left toe discomfort, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The severity of Donovan’s injury remains unclear, but his absence could be a major blow for St. Louis. The 28-year-old has been one of the team’s most reliable performers this season.
Ryan Vilade filled in for him in left field, and Yohel Pozo came on as a pinch hitter afterward. Donovan’s condition is expected to be further evaluated Wednesday, according to manager Oli Marmol, who noted that the issue may stem from lingering irritation in the joint of his left big toe.
Exactly how Donovan sustained the injury is uncertain. He was hit earlier by a slow-breaking pitch from Chris Bassitt, but it didn’t appear to strike his foot.
It’s possible the injury was aggravated while rounding third base after his only hit of the night or during his time in the outfield — though nothing clearly stood out during the game.
Donovan’s health is crucial for the Cardinals. He currently leads the team in WAR and has been a consistent force both defensively and offensively.
With St. Louis pushing to keep pace in the NL Central and the Wild Card hunt, losing him for any stretch would be a significant setback.
In 248 at-bats this season, Donovan is hitting .310 with a .379 on-base percentage and .440 slugging percentage, along with four home runs, 26 RBIs, and 20 doubles — tying him for second-most in the National League with Pete Alonso. His impact has been steady and vital, making his status a top storyline as the season unfolds.
