With Brendan Donovan dealing with a toe injury that kept him out Friday, the Cardinals are hoping to avoid a stint on the injured list for their All-Star second baseman, even if that means an extended absence from the starting lineup in the coming days.

“I prefer to be down or play short for three days than have him down for a total of 10,” Cardinals manager Oli Marmol said Saturday.

Donovan, 28, was not in the Cardinals’ starting lineup vs. the Yankees on Saturday as he continues to deal with the toe injury he’s dealt with since at least June. He was scratched from a start in Friday’s series opener at Busch Stadium because of the toe injury and missed games on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 against the Cubs because of left groin tightness, which he experiences as his body became compromised in one a

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