MLB Player News

Donovan will sit Saturday against the Cubs, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

The Cardinals elected to sit several lefties against southpaw Drew Smyly. Donovan has now been on the bench against 10 of the last 11 lefties the Cardinals have faced.

Gorman will sit against lefty Drew Smyly and the Cubs on Saturday, Katie Woo of The Athletic reports.

Gorman will be one of several left-handed hitters who will get the day off against the veteran southpaw. Just 22 of his 284 plate appearances thus far in his rookie season have come against lefties. Tommy Edman will slide over to second base Saturday, with Paul DeJong starting at shortstop.

Rodgers went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Friday against the Reds.

Rodgers returned after a one-game absence caused by a dental issue. After the hitless performance, he has only three hits across 29 at-bats with two RBI and two runs scored through seven games of the team's current road trip. Though the majority of his production has come at home, Rodgers has maintained a .274/.325/.416 line across 514 plate appearances on the season.

McNeil went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored in Friday's 7-3 win over the Nationals.

The 30-year-old continues to punish the baseball. McNeil has racked up three or more hits five times in his last 18 games, and he's slashing .380/.397/.493 over that stretch with eight doubles, three RBI and eight runs scored. The lack of counting-stat production isn't ideal, but McNeil's .319 batting average would be a career high for a full season if he can maintain it over the final weeks.

Drury was removed from Friday's win over the Dodgers due to a head contusion, Annie Heilbrunn of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Drury was hit in the head by a pitch in the top of the sixth inning Friday and initially remained in the game, but he was replaced defensively in the bottom half of the frame. Manager Bob Melvin said after the game that Drury was removed as a proactive measure, but the 30-year-old will undergo testing and be monitored ahead of Saturday's matchup.

Lux was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Padres due to a back injury, Rowan Kavner of Fox Sports reports.

Lux dealt with a neck injury in late August, but his back is bothering him Friday, which resulted in his removal from the lineup. Hanser Alberto is taking his place at shortstop, and Lux should tentatively be considered day-to-day.

Lux was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Padres for an undisclosed reason, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Lux was removed from the lineup several hours before the start of Friday's game, and it's not yet clear whether the scratch was due to an injury. Hanser Alberto will take over at shortstop and bat ninth. Whether Lux is available off the bench remains to be seen.

Rodgers (jaw) is starting at second base and batting second Friday at Cincinnati.

Rodgers was held out of the lineup Thursday after undergoing a root canal, but he's back in action Friday after missing only one game. The 26-year-old went 2-for-17 with a triple, a run and five strikeouts in the four games that preceded the absence.

Rodgers isn't starting Thursday against Atlanta after he underwent a root canal, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Ryan McMahon is starting at second base Thursday, and Rodgers' absence from the lineup apparently stems from his dental procedure. Manager Bud Black said before the game that the team will try to avoid using Rodgers on Thursday, but he'll hit in the cage in case he's needed at some point. The 26-year-old is expected to return to the lineup Friday.

Villar was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Thursday.

Villar was sent down by the Giants in early August but will return to the majors Thursday with rosters expanding to 28 players. The 25-year-old has played in 23 big-league games this season and has a .175/.338/.286 slash line with one home run, seven RBI and eight runs scored.