Donovan went 2-for-3 with a walk, one RBI, a stolen base and one run scored in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Pirates.

EDGE Analysis

Donovan extended his hitting streak to seven games. He's gone 9-for-27 (.333) in that span, but just one of those hits has gone for extra bases. The 27-year-old's steal Wednesday was his first of the season, though he's not much of a speed threat after logging just five thefts in 95 games a year ago. Donovan is up to a .247/.322/.368 slash line with four home runs, 28 RBI, 30 runs scored, 15 doubles and one triple over 270 plate appearances this season. He spent much of the first two months of the season batting leadoff versus right-handed pitchers, but Masyn Winn is now atop the order on a near-everyday basis, having hit there in all but two of 11 games in June. Donovan has hit no higher than sixth over the last week.

Donovan (neck) will start in left field and bat sixth in Monday's game against the Astros.

EDGE Analysis

Donovan is back in action Monday after a stiff neck kept him out of the entirety of the Cardinals' three-game series with the Phillies over the weekend. The 27-year-old had been serving as the Cardinals' leadoff man against right-handed pitching prior to suffering the neck injury, but Donovan may have lost that role to Masyn Winn. The second-year shortstop will bat atop the order in the series opener in Houston while Donovan drops to sixth against Astros righty Justin Verlander.

Donovan (neck) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Phillies.

EDGE Analysis

The 27-year-old will be withheld from the starting nine for the third consecutive game due to neck stiffness. According to John Denton of MLB.com, Donovan is expected to take swings in the batting cage Sunday and could be back in action Monday against the Astros. Alec Burleson will start in left field for the series finale while Matt Carpenter receives a turn at designated hitter.

Donovan (neck) isn't in the Cardinals' lineup Saturday against Philadelphia.

EDGE Analysis

Neck stiffness caused Donovan to be scratched from St. Louis' lineup before Friday's contest, and the issue seems to still be bothering him Saturday. Alec Burleson, Mike Siani and Dylan Carlson will start across the outfield while Donovan sits, allowing Jose Fermin to serve as the designated hitter.

Donovan, who was set to start in left field and bat in the leadoff spot Friday against the Phillies, was scratched from the Cardinals' lineup due to neck stiffness, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

EDGE Analysis

Dylan Carlson will enter the lineup and start in right field, while Alec Burleson shifts to left field and Matt Carpenter moves up to the leadoff spot, per John Denton of MLB.com.

Donovan went 3-for-4 with a double and a hit-by-pitch in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

This was Donovan's third multi-hit effort in the last five games. He's now gone 17-for-49 (.347) over his last 13 contests, though he has zero home runs and six doubles in that span. The 27-year-old is up to a .245/.326/.382 slash line with four homers, 25 RBI, 26 runs scored, 14 doubles, one triple and no stolen bases over 233 plate appearances this season. Donovan's lack of steals and mediocre sprint speed -- in the 42nd percentile, per Statcast -- makes him an odd fit for the leadoff role, but that's where he's hit for most of the campaign. Masyn Winn has also seen time at leadoff versus left-handed pitchers recently, but Donovan remains atop the order versus righties.

Donovan isn't in the Cardinals' lineup for Friday's game against the Brewers, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.

EDGE Analysis

Left-hander Robert Gasser will make his MLB debut Friday as Milwaukee's starting pitcher, meaning the left-handed bat of Donovan will watch the beginning of the game from the Cardinals' dugout. Lars Nootbaar, Mike Siani and Dylan Carlson will start across St. Louis' outfield while Donovan sits.

Donovan is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

With left-hander Jose Quintana toeing the slab for the Mets, the Cardinals have elected to give the left-handed-hitting Donovan a breather. Lars Nootbaar will fill in for Donovan in left field.

Donovan went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-5 loss to the Mets.

EDGE Analysis

A day after being taken out of the leadoff spot, Donovan led off Tuesday's game with a solo home run off Jose Butto for his fourth homer of the year and second career leadoff blast. He now has at least a hit in four straight games with three of those hits going for extra bases. The 27-year-old owns a .223 batting average, though that comes with an unlucky .233 BABIP. For the year, Donovan is slashing .223/.297/.381 with 13 extra-base hits, 19 RBI, 15 runs and an 11:22 BB:K in 158 plate appearances.

Donovan went 2-for-5 with a two-run home run in an 11-6 loss to the Tigers in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader.

EDGE Analysis

Donovan sparked the Cardinals' fifth-inning rally with his homer. The utility man had hit safely in five straight games before going 0-for-4 in the matinee contest. Donovan is slashing .228/.311/.377 with three homers, 16 RBI, 13 runs scored and no stolen bases over 132 plate appearances this season. He remains the Cardinals' preferred leadoff batter and left fielder despite his mediocre hitting so far.