LOS ANGELES — Cardinals infielder and leadoff hitter Brendan Donovan rejoined the team Monday after his sudden departure Sunday to attend to a family emergency, and with him came a peek into the lineup decisions ahead during two months focused on evaluations for the future.
As they opened a three-game series against the defending World Series champions, the Cardinals continued their rotation of outfielders with one member of the group earmarked for everyday playing time while others split-shift some of the other positions. Lars Nootbaar, newly back from the injured list, returned to right field, doing so in place of Jordan Walker against LA’s right-handed starter Tyler Glasnow. Starting in left field Monday was the hitter the Cardinals have riveted into the No. 3 spot and plan to make a daily fixture there: Alec Burleson.
“Burleson has earned the right to be in there every day,†manager Oliver Marmol said Monday afternoon in his office at Dodger Stadium. “Every single day.â€
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The overlaps on the Cardinals roster and emphasis on getting playing time for younger players presents a riddle for Marmol to solve with his daily lineup.
The plan Sunday was to get prospect Thomas Saggese a start at third base with ground-ball-getter Andre Pallante on the mound. Donovan’s departure before the game to be with family forced a rewrite that put Saggese at second and Nolan Gorman at third. Marmol said he went back to the original play for Monday to get Gorman, who returned from IL a week ago, a break. But also to get Saggese more consistent playing time when possible.
“We have to see reps out of him and Gorman over there,†Marmol said. “If he’s here, he has to get some at-bats. If not, then his style of player, age, everything — he needs to be getting some kind of consistent at-bats somewhere.â€
Donovan left the team Sunday and was able to rejoin them Monday in Los Angeles. He and the team asked that the reason be described as a family emergency that surfaced Sunday and was OK by Monday allowing him to be “back and ready,†Marmol said.
All of the lineup machinations in the coming weeks will act like an optometrist’s phoropter — spinning through different players like lens to see which one looks better, which one comes into focus. Lineup A or Lineup B? Lineup A or Lineup B? Or about the same?
Of the younger players, Burleson and Ivan Herrera, who was back at DH on Monday, appear in ink with their positions to be determined by the others cycling through playing time. Nootbaar may see time at center field to allow for him, Burleson and Walker in the same lineup. Third base is in play with Nolan Arenado on the injured list recovering from a shoulder injury. And that allows for Saggese and Gorman to find at-bats there when not available elsewhere.
“At some point, someone runs with it,†Marmol said over the weekend.
Baker claimed by Dodgers
The Cardinals made a series of roster moves involving the waiver wire over the weekend that included making first baseman and Class AAA slugger Luken Baker available to other teams. The Dodgers claimed him Monday.
A member of the Cardinals’ opening day roster after a strong spring training, Baker hit .196 with a .706 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) in 62 games since returning to Triple-A Memphis.
The move with Baker is related to the Cardinals prioritizing new addition Blaze Jordan as their first baseman for the Triple-A Redbirds. The Cardinals acquired Jordan from Boston in exchange for Steven Matz at the trade deadline and assigned him to Memphis, the team closest to where he grew up in north Mississippi.
Baker, 28, spent his entire pro career an 638 minor league games with the Cardinals organization, and for Memphis, he’s hit 96 home runs in 380 games.
The Dodgers assigned him to Class AAA Oklahoma City.
The Cardinals used the open spot on the 40-player roster to pluck lefty Anthony Veneziano off waivers from Miami. The 27-year-old reliever appeared in 24 games for the Marlins this season and struck out 20 in 21 innings while allowing 25 hits. He was designated for assignment by the Marlins this past week.
Since trading Matz and placing John King on the injured list, the Cardinals have had only one lefty, JoJo Romero, in their bullpen.
Veneziano was placed at Class AAA Memphis on Monday.
Edman placed on IL
Former Cardinals Gold Glove winner Tommy Edman was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday by the Dodgers after aggravating an ankle injury. LA made the move before the Cardinals’ visit and used the opening on the active roster to bring Max Muncy back from the IL.
Edman left Sunday’s game in Tampa, Florida, after rounding first base and feeling renewed pain in his sprained right ankle.
Acquired by the Dodgers from the Cardinals in a three-team trade at the deadline in 2024, Edman won the National League Championship Series MVP for his new time and signed a five-year, $59.6 million extension to remain with the Dodgers. This season, Edman is batting .228 with a .281 on-base percentage and a .677 OPS in 86 games. He hit eight of his 12 homers this season before May 1.
In today’s 10 AM “Ten Hochman†video, Ben Hochman discusses history made by Bob Gibson on this day in 1971! Plus, a happy birthday shoutout to Greta Gerwig! And as always, Hochman picks a random Cards card out of the hat!Â