The Seattle Mariners opened their series against the Houston Astros on Friday night without one of their most reliable offensive contributors. Brendan Donovan, who has been a steady presence at the plate, was absent from the starting lineup due to an illness that carried over from the team’s recent road trip.
After returning to T-Mobile Park following a disappointing 1-5 stretch away from home, the Mariners were hoping to spark their struggling offense. However, Donovan’s absence complicated those plans. The third baseman has been one of the few bright spots in Seattle’s lineup, and his unavailability came at a particularly challenging time for the team.
According to manager Dan Wilson, Donovan was feeling unwell and was not in condition to play in the series opener. While the illness is not expected to sideline him for long, the team opted to give him time to recover rather than risk further complications. This decision reflects both caution and the team’s reliance on Donovan’s continued productivity moving forward.
Donovan had only recently returned to action after dealing with minor groin discomfort during the previous weekend in Anaheim. Despite that setback, he quickly resumed his strong form at the plate, making his current illness an unfortunate interruption. His consistent hitting has been a key factor for the Mariners, especially given the broader struggles of the lineup.
In Donovan’s absence, Leo Rivas stepped in at third base and was placed ninth in the batting order. Meanwhile, shortstop J.P. Crawford moved up to the leadoff spot, taking over Donovan’s usual position at the top of the lineup. The reshuffling highlighted the importance of Donovan’s role, as the team had to adjust both defensively and offensively to compensate.
The timing of this development is far from ideal. Outside of Donovan’s contributions, Seattle’s offense has been among the weakest in the league. Entering Friday’s game, the Mariners ranked last in Major League Baseball across all major hitting categories, including batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Their collective numbers—.184/.280/.301, resulting in a .581 OPS—underscore the depth of their struggles.
Despite these offensive issues, Donovan has been a standout performer since joining the Mariners. Over 11 games and 45 plate appearances, he has posted an impressive .316 batting average, along with a .422 on-base percentage and a .605 slugging percentage. His overall 1.027 OPS illustrates just how valuable he has been in an otherwise underperforming lineup.
Defensively, however, Donovan’s transition has not been entirely smooth. After being acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in a three-team trade on February 2, he shifted into a more regular role at third base. While he has shown flashes of capability, there have also been growing pains. Donovan currently leads the team with four errors, and at times his adjustment to the position has appeared less than seamless.
Still, his offensive production has outweighed those defensive inconsistencies, making his temporary absence even more noticeable. As the Mariners look to regroup and find momentum, they will be eager to have Donovan back in the lineup as soon as he is fully recovered.
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