Once he found himself ahead 2-1 in his at-bat against Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller in the sixth inning Thursday, Cardinals utilityman Brendan Donovan had an idea of what might be thrown his way next.
Facing Keller for a third time in the series finale, Donovan knew Keller could challenge him with a cutter in that spot. He saw the righty do that on the first pitch of their duel in the fourth inning, then once again on the third pitch he saw in the sixth inning, which he fouled over the screen behind home plate.
Anticipating he could see the pitch once more, Donovan knew he couldn’t miss it.
He didn’t.
When another Keller cutter was thrown his way, Donovan lifted a fly ball to right field for a leadoff home run that proved to be the deciding run in a 4-3 Cardinals win.
“He came back with it,†Donovan said. “I was just thinking, ‘I got to be a little bit more out in front on it,’ and I caught it good.â€
The home run was Donovan’s fifth of the year and first since providing a go-ahead home run on May 7 against the Mets. It bookended a strong homestand for the 27-year-old.
Across seven games — four against the Colorado Rockies and three against the Pirates — Donovan went 9 for 26 (.346) with two RBIs. He hit safely in all seven games.
“There’s a calmness to him (Donovan),†Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “He’s been working hard at just being hard through the middle. We saw several counts throughout this series where he’s picked his spot and took some aggressive swings. He ran into one today.â€
The seven-game stretch at Busch Stadium lifted Donovan’s batting average from .236 to .248 as ºüÀêÊÓƵ travels for road games against the Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins and a “home game†in Alabama — Donovan’s home state — to play the Giants at Rickwood Field in Birmingham.
Donovan feels the production that peaked through during the seven-game stretch has been present all season but limited by “tough luck.†The third-year player who ranks among MLB’s best in both whiff rate and strikeout rate batted .228 in his first 50 games. That start included a .255 expected batting average, per Statcast.
Donovan explained that he’s been committed to a “crisp†hitting routine and came into Thursday with a .333 average and a 54.1% hard-hit rate in 42 at-bats prior to the series finale.
The process has been “pretty frustrating†and included “little wins†along the way.
“You take little mini-victories and you can stack as many little mini-victories on top of each other and not worry about the results. I feel like the results will be there at the end of the year,†Donovan said.
Arenado OK after bruising pitch
Third baseman Nolan Arenado, who had three consecutive multi-hit games coming into Thursday’s finale, was struck on the right hand by a pitch in the eighth inning. Home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi ruled that Arenado swung through on the pitch and struck out instead of earning the base with a bruise.
Arenado had X-rays taken at the ballpark while the Cardinals secured the 4-3 victory, and they did not reveal any damage, Marmol said. Arenado was diagnosed with a bone bruise. His status for Friday’s series opener at Wrigley Field will be decided once the team sees that day if there’s any swelling or stiffness.
During the homestand, Arenado went 8 for 24 (.333) with three RBIs and a series of defensive plays, including two throws on the run from foul territory, that will be on the 2024 highlight reel.
Parade of pitchers heads to Springfield
Steven Matz’s start Sunday will conclude a weekend of rehab arrivals and appearances at the Cardinals’ Class AA affiliate in Springfield, Missouri.
By the time Matz aims for around 50 pitches Sunday in his next rehab game, two relievers recovering from injury will have pitched in games, and a third will be getting close to games after facing Springfield Cardinals batters in a controlled setting.
Nick Robertson (elbow inflammation) will throw a live batting practice Friday in Springfield. That night, Giovanny Gallegos (shoulder impingement) will continue his rehab assignment with an inning of work — and if he recovers well and pitches well, his next appearance could be in the majors. On Saturday, Riley O’Brien (flexor tendon) will officially begin his rehab assignment with an inning of work for the S-Cardinals.
The start on Sunday for Matz (lower back) is significant because how he recovers from the increase in pitches will determine if he repeats that target or increases it by 15 the next time out. That would put him closer to a baseball decision based on effectiveness.
Contreras, Nootbaar, etc.
Willson Contreras (fractured arm), who has been described as “eager†to push the timetable for his return, took batting practice in the cages adjacent to the Cardinals clubhouse and will advance through a hitting program based on how he recovers. He said he’ll likely workout at Busch Stadium while the team goes to Wrigley Field so that he can get the necessary treatment and workouts with an eye on a rehab assignment on or around June 18.
Lars Nootbaar (oblique strain) could be swinging a bat by this weekend after successfully going through a series of workouts and baseball activities this week that tested the recovery of his torso muscle.
Pirates reliever Hunter Stratton left in the eighth inning after facing one batter with an apparent arm injury. After striking out Arenado on the pitch that hit the third baseman, Stratton pointed to his shoulder and biceps area to call for a trainer. The Pirates did not disclose the specific injury during the game.
Post-Dispatch reporter Derrick Goold contributed to this report.
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The Cardinals’ Brendan Donovan hits a home run off Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller during the sixth inning of a game Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Busch Stadium.