Michael Brantley
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2012Vigilantes522231201260000.1360.2080.364
2013Vigilantes23811126158224151000.3210.3530.543
2014Sasquatches140522531236322110339114130.2360.2820.339
2015Growlers156615881598852015597328460.2590.3290.416
2016Mongels131516551246531010397314260.2400.2960.359
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2018Ark Angels9034856913625011287714100.2610.3220.428
2019Ark Angels143600971725837017516910320.2870.3470.433
2020Ark Angels148609911435544020621121130.2350.3090.406
2021Ark Angels138557651516846016411095430.2710.3210.440
2022Ark Angels97392338744242320691260.2220.2630.316
2023Old Geezers56195204315102426352210.2210.3120.354
MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jan 5 2024Brantley announced his retirement from baseball Friday, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley began his major-league career by playing 10 seasons for Cleveland before joining the Astros ahead of the 2019 campaign. The five-time All-Star put together several productive seasons with his new team, slashing .305/.365/.463 with 42 homers, 215 runs, 192 RBI and seven steals over five years. The 36-year-old missed most of the 2023 campaign while recovering from shoulder surgery that he underwent in August of 2022, but he was available down the stretch. Brantley was a free agent during this offseason and will elect to hang up his cleats following a 15-year career in the majors.
Oct 22 2023Brantley is starting in left field and batting second in Game 6 of the ALCS against the Rangers on Sunday, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger will make just his third start of the series as Houston attempts punch its ticket to the World Series at home. Through six playoffs games this year, Brantley has gone 5-for-20 with a double, a homer, two walks, a stolen base and two RBI.
Oct 20 2023Brantley isn't in the Astros' lineup for Game 5 of the ALCS against Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will start on the bench as Houston rolls out an outfield unit of Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubon and Kyle Tucker for the second consecutive game. The 36-year-old Brantley is 5-for-19 with a homer and two RBI during the postseason.
Oct 19 2023Brantley is not in the lineup Thursday for Game 4 of the ALCS versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley should appear off the bench at some point, but the Astros will start Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubon and Kyle Tucker across the outfield with left-hander Andrew Heaney taking the mound first for Texas. The left-handed-hitting Brantley has posted an .807 OPS across 21 plate appearances this postseason.
Oct 18 2023Brantley is starting in left field and batting second Wednesday in Game 3 of the ALCS at Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The struggling Kyle Tucker has been dropped to the sixth spot in the Astros' lineup for Wednesday's matchup against right-hander Max Scherzer. Alex Bregman, the Astros' usual No. 2 hitter, will bat third in Game 3. Brantley is 18-for-49 (.367) with three homers lifetime versus Scherzer and carries an overall .357/.438/.643 slash line through 16 plate appearances in the 2023 postseason.
Oct 15 2023Brantley is out of the lineup for Game 1 of the ALCS against the Rangers on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 36-year-old will take a seat for the series opener with lefty Jordan Montgomery on the mound for Texas. Mauricio Dubon will start in center field while Chas McCormick moves to left in place of Brantley.
Oct 10 2023Brantley is not in the lineup for Game 3 of the ALDS on Tuesday at Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley takes a seat after going 2-for-7 with two singles, two strikeouts and a walk over the first two games of the best-of-five series. Yainer Diaz will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and Yordan Alvarez is patrolling left field Tuesday versus the Twins and right-hander Sonny Gray.
Oct 6 2023Brantley said Friday that he'll be "100 percent available" and has "no limitations" for the ALDS, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley didn't make his season debut for the Astros until late August following a slow recovery from shoulder surgery and wound up starting just 14 of 29 contests down the stretch while battling nagging issues with the shoulder. Just Thursday, manager Dusty Baker admitted he wasn't sure how much he'd get out of Brantley during the series versus the Twins. However, the 36-year-old contends that he won't have any restrictions heading into the ALDS.
Oct 5 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker admitted Thursday that he's not sure what he'll be able to get out of Brantley during the ALDS versus the Twins, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was in and out of the lineup down the stretch for Houston while battling nagging soreness in his surgically repaired shoulder. He hit well when available in slashing .294/.302/.451 with two homers over 14 games. Brantley will be on the Astros' ALDS roster and the team hopes he'll be healthy enough to play every day, but it's not guaranteed.
Sep 30 2023Brantley will sit Saturday against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley returned in late August after missing more than a year due to shoulder surgery, then missed eight games earlier this month due to soreness in the same shoulder. When available, he's been effective, hitting .294/.302/.451 with a pair of homers through 14 games.
Sep 27 2023Brantley went 4-for-5 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was a powerhouse from the No. 6 spot in the lineup after an eight-game absence. The outfielder contributed an RBI single as the Astros padded their lead with a seventh-inning rally. He's batting .319 over 13 contests this season while adding two homers, seven RBI, seven runs scored and two doubles. The 36-year-old hasn't attempted a stolen base in his limited action.
Sep 26 2023Brantley (shoulder) isn't in the Astros' lineup Tuesday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was available off the bench Monday but never came into the game, and he will continue to sit Tuesday due to shoulder soreness. Yordan Alvarez will start in left field while Yainer Diaz operates as the designated hitter.
Sep 25 2023Brantley (shoulder) will be available off the bench Monday against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran isn't listed in the starting lineup for the series opener, but skipper Dusty Baker stated before the contest that Brantley will be available if called upon. He's been dealing with a shoulder issue since Sept. 17 and hasn't seen any action since.
Sep 24 2023Brantley (shoulder) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hasn't been in the starting lineup since Sept. 17 due to shoulder soreness, and his absence will extend to six games Sunday. Chas McCormick will receive a turn as Houston's designated hitter while Mauricio Dubon starts in center field.
Sep 23 2023Brantley's general soreness, which has kept him out of the lineup for five consecutive games, is mostly concentrated in his shoulder, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley returned in late August after shoulder surgery kept him off the field for over a year, but he only lasted 12 games before health concerns popped up again. Given that the Astros are now acknowledging that his soreness is located in that same surgically repaired shoulder, it's more difficult to see him shaking the issue off and playing a meaningful role over the final week of the regular season.
Sep 22 2023Brantley (soreness) isn't in the Astros' lineup Friday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has now missed four straight starts as he continues to deal with general soreness, though he remains listed as day-to-day. Chas McCormick, Mauricio Dubon and Kyle Tucker will start across the outfield Friday while Yordan Alvarez serves as the Astros' DH.
Sep 20 2023Brantley (general soreness) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Astros are facing righty Kyle Bradish, so Brantley would presumably be in the fold if he were healthy enough. Brantley hasn't played since Sunday due to general soreness. Yainer Diaz gets the start at designated hitter. Houston has an off day Thursday, so perhaps Brantley could be of service this weekend against the Royals after resting the first four days of the week.
Sep 19 2023Manager Dusty Baker said Brantley, who is out of the lineup Tuesday versus the Orioles, is "a little sore" and "ailing some," Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley doesn't appear to be dealing with a specific injury, but the general soreness is keeping him from the lineup Tuesday for the second straight day. The 36-year-old could be held out again Wednesday since Houston has a scheduled day off Thursday, which would give him four full days of rest ahead of Friday's series opener versus Kansas City.
Sep 18 2023Brantley is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has not started against a left-handed pitcher since making his season debut in late August, and that pattern will continue, as he will open on the bench Monday with southpaw John Means toeing the rubber for the opponent. Mauricio Dubon will enter the lineup in Brantley's place.
Sep 8 2023Brantley isn't in the Astros' lineup Friday against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will get a breather Friday after starting his season 6-for-19 with two homers and six RBI since returning from shoulder surgery Aug. 29. Brantley's absence will allow Yainer Diaz to serve as Houston's designated hitter and bat eighth.
Sep 6 2023Brantley went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has three multi-hit efforts through six games since he made his season debut Aug. 29 after a year-long recovery from shoulder surgery. The outfielder has already contributed two homers and six RBI while batting .316 (6-for-19). He should continue to be in the mix for playing time between left field and designated hitter, sharing those spots primarily with Yordan Alvarez and Chas McCormick.
Sep 5 2023Brantley is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley started four of Houston's first five games after being reinstated from the injured list last week, but he finds himself on the bench Tuesday for the second straight contest. The 36-year-old outfielder is off to a solid start, going 4-for-16 with a home run, four RBI and three runs, but he's still likely to see regular days off down the stretch given he was injured the first five months of the season.
Sep 4 2023Brantley is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It looks to be merely a maintenance day as Brantley returns to action following a lengthy absence. He's started four of six games since returning, with both times he's been on the bench coming versus southpaws.
Sep 3 2023Brantley went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder got the Astros on the board in the second inning by hooking a Luis Severino cutter down the right-field line and just over the wall. Brantley has started three of four games since finally making his 2023 season debut after a long recovery from shoulder surgery, going 4-for-13 (.308) with a double, a homer and four RBI, and he should see regular action against right-handed pitching down the stretch while splitting time between DH and left field.
Sep 1 2023Brantley is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will take a seat as the Astros face left-hander Carlos Rodon on the mound Friday. The 36-year-old has gone 2-for-8 with a double, two RBI and a run scored over two contests since being activated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday. Yainer Diaz will take over at designated hitter and bat sixth in the series opener with New York.
Aug 31 2023Brantley went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley made his season debut Tuesday and proceeded to tally his first hit one game later. Sidelined for the entire season while recovering from shoulder surgery, it's unclear how much Brantley will be able to contribute for the rest of the regular season. Even so, the Astros appear to be willing to give him regular playing time, as he's started both games since being activated while hitting sixth.
Aug 29 2023Brantley (shoulder) was reinstated from the 60-day injured list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 36-year-old has yet to see major-league action this season while recovering from the shoulder surgery he underwent last August, but he's now ready for his 2023 debut after a seven-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land. Given the length of his absence, Brantley could initially fill a part-time role for the Astros.
Aug 27 2023Astros general manager Dana Brown said Sunday that Brantley (shoulder) could be cleared to return from the 60-day injured list "hopefully by Tuesday," Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Additionally, manager Dusty Baker told Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest that Brantley will meet the team in Boston ahead of the team's series versus the Red Sox this week, but whether the 36-year-old is activated will likely hinge on him getting the green light from Houston's training staff. Brantley wrapped up a seven-game rehab assignment at Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday and went 8-for-23 with a home run, two doubles and 4:0 BB:K during that stretch. If Brantley is reinstated from the 60-day IL this week, he could be eased into the Houston lineup as a part-time player initially.
Aug 24 2023Brantley (shoulder) will remain on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land at least through this weekend, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Astros had indicated that a return this weekend was a possibility, but manager Dusty Baker said that while Brantley is "champing at the bit," the veteran outfielder is "not physically there yet." Brantley played back-to-back games with Sugar Land on Tuesday and Wednesday and will get some rest Thursday before returning to action Friday. A timetable for his activation is not clear. The 36-year-old hasn't played in a major-league game in over a year because of ongoing shoulder issues.
Aug 23 2023Brantley (shoulder) will serve as the DH on Wednesday with Triple-A Sugar Land after starting in left field Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: These will be Brantley's first back-to-back games since he joined Sugar Land on a rehab assignment last Tuesday. Astros manager Dusty Baker said the team will "make a determination" on the 36-year-old's readiness Thursday, and he could perhaps make his 2023 debut for Houston this weekend in Detroit.
Aug 17 2023Brantley (shoulder) is playing left field in his second rehab game Thursday with Triple-A Sugar Land. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley started in left in his rehab debut Tuesday against the Triple-A affiliate of the Rangers and went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer. He hasn't played in a major-league game since June 26, 2022 because of shoulder trouble, but the 36-year-old is now tracking toward being an option for the Astros by the end of this month. He could even maybe return early next week if he has a productive weekend on the farm.
Aug 15 2023Brantley (shoulder) was assigned to Triple-A Sugar Land to start a rehab assignment Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 36-year-old will be in the lineup for the Space Cowboys on Tuesday, marking the start of his second rehab assignment of the season. Brantley was shut down in early May after a nine-game rehab stint due to inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder, and he'll likely require at least a handful of games in the minors before the Astros activate him from the injured list for his season debut.
Jul 22 2023Brantley (shoulder) took live batting practice Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was his first on-field hitting work since he got shut down again in early July due to renewed discomfort in his surgically-repaired right shoulder. Brantley has been sidelined all season and there is still no timetable for his 2023 debut, but he's at least seems to be trending in a positive direction.
Jul 16 2023Brantley (shoulder) ran the bases before Sunday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was shut down from baseball activities in early July, so it was encouraging to see him do some baserunning Sunday. Since he's dealing with a shoulder injury, the Astros will presumably want to see him doing some hitting and fielding before he's in the mix to return to game action.
Jul 4 2023Brantley has been shut down from baseball activities due to continued issues with his surgically repaired right shoulder, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Astros manager Dusty Baker said Monday that Brantley's recovery had plateaued and now the club has made the decision to shut him down for a while. The 36-year-old had shoulder labrum surgery last August and has experienced numerous setbacks on his road to recovery. His timetable to return is open-ended.
Jul 3 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker said Monday that Brantley's (shoulder) progress has "plateaued somewhat," Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley had been ramping up his activities as he works his way back from a setback with his surgically repaired right shoulder, but he's now encountered another bump in the road. Baker didn't go into specifics regarding how significant Brantley's setback might be, but the 36-year-old at least no longer looks like he'll be an option to return from the 60-day injured list coming out of the All-Star break.
Jun 28 2023Brantley (shoulder) hit in the cage Wednesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley also did some defensive drills in the outfield as he ramps back up again in what has been a setback-plagued recovery from August 2022 shoulder surgery. There remains no timetable for his 2023 debut with the Astros, but the 36-year-old is at least in a better place than he was a month ago. Maybe he could push for a return shortly after the All-Star break.
Jun 23 2023The Astros transferred Brantley (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been on the shelf all season while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder, so this move to the 60-day IL doesn't affect his return date. There is still no timeline in place for Brantley to make his first appearance since June 2022, but he's reportedly been making steady progress since suffering a setback in May. Bligh Madris was selected from Triple-A Sugar Land to fill Brantley's spot on the 40-man roster.
Jun 17 2023Brantley (shoulder) took batting practice on the field prior to Saturday's game against Cincinnati, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hasn't played since June 26 of last year as he recovers from shoulder surgery. He appeared close to a return in early May before suffering a setback, but he's back to making steady progress. The veteran outfielder remains without a clear return date, but the Astros could certainly use him, as they sit a disappointing 19th by team wRC+.
Jun 8 2023Brantley (shoulder) hit in the cage, ran the bases and made throws Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is checking all the boxes as he again pushes toward his 2023 debut. He was shut down in early May due to inflammation in his surgically-repaired right shoulder after going 6-for-24 (.250) in nine rehab games with Triple-A Sugar Land. The 36-year-old could soon begin a new minor-league rehab assignment if his side work continues to go smoothly.
Jun 1 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker said Brantley (shoulder) hit off a tee Thursday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley began taking dry swings last week, but this was the first time he put bat-to-ball since his setback in early May. The veteran has been out all season while recovering from August 2022 shoulder labrum surgery and there remains no timetable for his 2023 debut, but he at least seems to be on the right track again with his rehab.
May 26 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Brantley (shoulder) has been swinging the bat, but hasn't resumed hitting yet, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been shut down since May 12 after it was revealed he was dealing with inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder. Because of the length of absence, it seems plausible the veteran will need another rehab assignment. At this point it would be a surprise if Brantley is back in the lineup for Houston before the start of June.
May 12 2023Brantley has inflammation in his surgically repaired shoulder, and the Astros are shutting him down for an indefinite period, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder was expected to return to the lineup this week, but Brantley was checked out in Houston on Wednesday after he reported continued soreness in his shoulder. There's no timeline for when he will be able to resume baseball activities, and it's possible the Astros will take the next stage of the 36-year-old's recovery with a lot more caution. Brantley has yet to play in 2023 after undergoing surgery on his shoulder last August.
May 10 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker said Wednesday that Brantley (shoulder) returned to Houston for further testing after the veteran outfielder/designated hitter experienced renewed soreness while out on his rehab assignment, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Astros don't seem to think Brantley had a setback with his surgically-repaired right shoulder. Rather, Baker believes Brantley is simply "more sore than usual because he played a lot" during his rehab assignment. A better idea with regard to Brantley's potential return date should come once he gets checked out, but the hope is that he can rejoin the team this weekend. When he's activated could be another matter.
May 9 2023Astros managers Dusty Baker told reporters before Tuesday's game against the Angels that Brantley (shoulder) has stopped hitting, but that it's not a setback, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Baker also told reporters that Brantley is getting "really close" to returning to action, but he still isn't quite ready for a return. The 35-year-old has missed all of the 2023 campaign while recovering from shoulder surgery, and while the words from Baker are encouraging, it's still a curious development for a player that appeared to be closing in on a return this week. Brantley could still return over the weekend, but this latest development could mean there's a change in plans.
May 8 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Brantley (shoulder) is with the team in Los Angeles after coming through his rehab fine, but he isn't quite ready to be activated off the 10-day injured list. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Baker's exact words were that Brantley is "almost ready, but not quite ready." Brantley hasn't been able to play in 2023 while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder he underwent late last summer, but the fact he's been able to play in games with no reported issues is a positive development. If Brantley isn't activated for the series against the Angels, there's a very good chance he's ready to roll for the series against the White Sox in Chicago over the weekend.
May 5 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters before Friday's game against the Mariners that Brantley (shoulder) could return to the lineup early next week against the Angels, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been rule out from returning over the weekend for the three-game set against the Mariners. The veteran outfielder has missed all of the 2023 campaign while recovering from surgery on his right shoulder, and he should see regular playing time as the designated hitter with some stints in left field and first base as soon as he's back.
Apr 29 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that Brantley (shoulder) will play some first base on his minor-league rehab assignment, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Baker added that Brantley will see action at first base here and there once he returns to the active roster, probably around the second week of May. The rehabbing veteran started in left field in his first three games with Triple-A Sugar Land before taking a turn at designated hitter Friday. He's on his way back from surgery last August to repair the labrum in his right shoulder.
Apr 28 2023Manager Dusty Baker told reporters before Friday's game against the Phillies that Brantley (shoulder) doesn't have an at-bat or innings threshold to reach on his rehab assignment before rejoining the Astros, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "We kind of leave that up to Mike a little bit," Baker said when asked about when the veteran outfielder will be ready. Brantley has yet to make his 2023 debut while recovering from right shoulder labrum surgery he underwent in August, and he's played three rehab games thus far for Triple-A Sugar Land. Assuming no setbacks, it seems likely that Brantley is up with the Astros in the early part of May.
Apr 2 2023Brantley (shoulder) left the Astros on Sunday to continue his rehab program at the team's spring facility in Florida, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran slugger joined the club in Houston for Opening Day and took batting practice Friday, but he'll now return to Florida to continue his rehab work. Brantley will be eligible to be activated from the injured list later this week, and the Astros hope he'll be ready for game action sometime in mid-April.
Mar 31 2023Brantley (shoulder) took batting practice Friday at Minute Maid Park, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was placed on the injured list ahead of Opening Day as he completes his recovery from labral repair surgery last August. It's notable -- and probably encouraging -- that he is doing pregame work with the Astros rather than rehabbing at the club's spring training complex in Florida. The 35-year-old looks likely to be activated in mid-April.
Mar 30 2023The Astros placed Brantley (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will be eligible to come off the IL next week, but since he didn't appear in any spring training games while working his way back from right shoulder surgery and remains in rehab mode at Astros camp in Florida, he's not expected to make his 2023 debut until mid-to-late April. His absence could open up more opportunities at designated hitter for Yainer Diaz, who made the Opening Day roster as a backup catcher but is occupying the DH spot in Thursday's season opener versus the White Sox.
Mar 25 2023Brantley (shoulder) will begin the season in West Palm Beach to continue his rehab at the Astros' team facility, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This report confirms the expectation that Brantley will begin the season on the injured list. There's no clear timeline for his return, though he underwent surgery on his shoulder over seven months ago. Brantley figures to occupy a key role in the Houston lineup when he's able to take the field, though the lingering injury isn't a positive way to begin the new campaign.
Mar 13 2023Brantley (shoulder) rejoined the Astros at spring training Monday, but manager Dusty Baker said it "will be close" whether the veteran outfielder is ready to go for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's status for Opening Day was already in question while he continues to recover from the surgery he underwent last August to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, and it didn't help his cause that his rehab program was essentially put on hold when he stepped away from the team just under two weeks ago to tend to a family matter. Now that he's back at camp, Brantley is expected to steadily increase his baseball activities, but he still may have an uphill battle to get fully ramped up by the time Houston opens its season March 30 versus the White Sox. When Brantley is healthy, Baker said that the 35-year-old is expected to serve as the Astros' No. 2 hitter while likely sharing time at designated hitter and in left field with Yordan Alvarez (hand).
Mar 10 2023Brantley (shoulder/personal) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been brought along slowly this spring as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, and he's been away from the team for a week or so while dealing with a family matter. It's not clear when he might return and at this point he's simply running out of time. Brantley still has some fantasy appeal as the projected No. 2 hitter in a strong Astros lineup, but his injury history and mediocre power make him both a risky option, and one with a limited ceiling.
Mar 8 2023Brantley (shoulder) may not be ready to play on Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is recovering from surgery to repair his right labrum and has been progressing slowly. He's currently away from the team due to a personal matter, but prior to that, he had not appeared in any Grapefruit League games. On Wednesday, general manager Dana Brown said Brantley's availability for Opening Day is in doubt, but the team hopes he'll be able to return to the field no later than April 10.
Mar 5 2023Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Brantley (shoulder, personal) will hit second when in the lineup this season, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jeremy Pena hit second for most of last year, but it's worth pointing out that was with Brantley missing a large portion of the season because of shoulder surgery. "If Brantley is in the lineup, Brantley is No. 2 ... I know Pena's been good, but Pena ain't been good as long as Brantley," Baker said. The veteran outfielder is away from the club now to deal with a personal matter, but a chance to hit second in the quality Houston lineup certainly doesn't hurt Brantley's fantasy potential.
Mar 3 2023Brantley (shoulder) is away from Astros camp while dealing with a family matter, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has yet to play in any Grapefruit League games as he takes things slowly following last August's shoulder surgery. This personal matter will halt his rehab, presumably briefly. The hope is that the 35-year-old will be ready in time for Opening Day.
Feb 26 2023Brantley (shoulder) will take batting practice on the field Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's a significant step for the 35-year-old, as it will be his first session of batting practice since he underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder back in August. Brantley still has some work to do in his rehab program before progressing to game action, but barring any setbacks he appears on track to be ready for Opening Day.
Feb 20 2023Brantley (shoulder) could see time at first base in the 2023 season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has taken reps at first base on the backfields of the Astros' spring-training facility. The 35-year-old has never played the position in the majors, but did play it in the minors all the way back in 2007. Jose Abreu should see the overwhelming majority of the reps at first base as long as he's healthy, but this would be a way to get Brantley in the lineup on those days that Abreu sits out.
Feb 16 2023Astros general manager Dana Brown said Brantley's (shoulder) readiness for Opening Day is "going to go down to the wire," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is hitting, fielding, and "not feeling much pain," per Brown, but the Astros still intend to bring him along slowly this spring as he completes his recovery from right shoulder labrum surgery last August. The 35-year-old was re-signed to a one-year, $12 million contract in December and currently projects to serve as Houston's primary DH in 2023. He probably won't play in any Grapefruit League games before mid-March.
Feb 8 2023Brantley (shoulder) said last week that he's hopeful of being ready for Opening Day, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley required surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder last August, and even a minor setback could cause a delay in his availability for the early part of the Astros' regular-season schedule. He's trending in a positive direction at the moment, but this is something to monitor throughout spring training. The veteran outfielder re-upped with Houston in December on a one-year, $12 million contract.
Dec 18 2022Brantley (shoulder) agreed to a one-year, $12 million contract with the Astros on Sunday, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder missed the final three-plus months of 2022 and underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder during August, and he'll return to Houston for at least one more season. Brantley is apparently fully recovered from the procedure, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, and he should split his playing time between left field and designated hitter with Yordan Alvarez.
Sep 29 2022Brantley (shoulder) said Wednesday that he should be ready to resume full baseball activities by spring training, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Brantley is set to become a free agent this winter, is turning 36 years old in May and is working back from August surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, he isn't yet ready to retire. Brantley's power production has trended down in recent seasons and he's probably a better fit at designated hitter than in the corner outfield at this stage of his career, but his elite contact skills should be enough for him to secure a one-year deal on the open market.
Aug 13 2022Brantley (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's move to the 60-day IL is simply procedural since the outfielder recently underwent a season-ending arthroscopic labral repair on his right shoulder. Whether he'll be able to return to the field in time for spring training in 2023 isn't yet clear.
Aug 12 2022Brantley underwent an arthroscopic labral repair on his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the season. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been sidelined with his shoulder injury since late June and received a second medical opinion on his shoulder Wednesday. He'll be unable to return this year following his procedure, and it's not yet clear whether he's expected to return in time for spring training in 2023. He appeared in 64 games this season and slashed .288/.370/.416 with five homers, 28 runs, 26 RBI and a stolen base.
Aug 10 2022Astros bench coach Joe Espada said Wednesday that Brantley is receiving a second medical opinion on his injured right shoulder, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: GM James Click said recently he had no update on Brantley's status but indicated it's possible the veteran outfielder doesn't see the field again this year, though Click said he still hopes Brantley will return to action. The 35-year-old has been sidelined by the injury since late June, and he was shut down in mid-July when his body responded poorly to swinging a bat. At this point, Brantley shouldn't be expected to rejoin the Astros until at least sometime in September, assuming he even sees the field again in 2022.
Aug 7 2022Astros general manager James Click wouldn't commit Sunday to Brantley (shoulder) being able to return from the 10-day injured list before the end of the season, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "We hope [Brantley will return in 2022], but with every passing day, you have to kind of take an honest look at it," Click said. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Click added that he had "no update" on Brantley's status while the 35-year-old hasn't yet been cleared to swing a bat since mid-July, a couple weeks after he initially landed on the IL. Though the end of the regular season is just under two months away, Brantley will likely still need to make some meaningful progress over the next couple of weeks for the Astros to feel more confident about his chances of playing again in 2022. In the meantime, the Astros will lean on a combination of Trey Mancini, Aledmys Diaz, Chas McCormick and Mauricio Dubon to replace Brantley in the everyday lineup.
Aug 5 2022Brantley (shoulder) said Wednesday he hasn't swung a bat since landing on the 10-day injured list June 28 and is without a timeline to resume doing so, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. "I don't want to put a timetable on [swinging a bat] because then I don't know if it's pushing too hard or not pushing hard enough. It's literally day by day," Brantley said. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's lack of meaningful progress in his recovery from the injury may have influenced the Astros' decision to acquire Trey Mancini from the Orioles prior to Tuesday's trade deadline. The fact that Brantley hasn't yet been moved to the 60-day injured list offers some hope that he'll be back in action by the second half of August, but a clearer target date for his return won't be established until he begins to ramp up his baseball activities.
Jul 28 2022Manager Dusty Baker said Thursday that Brantley (shoulder) has yet to resume swinging a bat, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was reported last week that Brantley was close to taking swings, but it appears the veteran outfielder still hasn't been cleared. The 35-year-old's recovery from the shoulder injury, which put him on the injured list in late June, has been slow, and it's unclear when he's expected to retake the field for the Astros.
Jul 22 2022Brantley (shoulder) could begin swinging a bat within the next week, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been sidelined since June 26 and has made limited progress since. He'll take the first step in his return to the field but will need to ramp up his activity and complete a rehab appearance prior to being activated. Brantley could return at some point in early August.
Jul 20 2022Astros manager Dusty Baker said Sunday that Brantley is in the "same spot" with his recovery from right shoulder discomfort since initially landing on the injured list June 28, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. "We just hope for the better. That was the shoulder he got operated on years ago. He's still a little sore," Baker said of Brantley. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Baker indicated that Brantley appeared to take a step forward after he was cleared to hit last Thursday, but the 35-year-old had to be shut back down while he continued to experience discomfort. With that in mind, Brantley doesn't look like he'll be ready to come off the IL following the All-Star break, and a clearer timeline for his return likely won't be available until he resumes baseball activities.
Jul 14 2022Brantley (shoulder) has flown back to Houston to be evaluated further by team doctors, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley landed on the injured list with a shoulder issue in late June and has made slow progress in his recovery over the last few weeks. The 35-year-old took swings afterward but didn't feel good afterward and will have his rehab process slowed as a result. While manager Dusty Baker said that Brantley hasn't encountered a setback, it's not yet clear when the outfielder will be able to return to game action.
Jul 12 2022Astros manager Dusty Baker said over the weekend that Brantley (shoulder) is without a timeline for a return, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley became eligible to come off the 10-day injured list last Friday, but the 35-year-old apparently wasn't close to being activated. Baker has been notoriously evasive when asked about players' injuries this season, but he at least revealed that Brantley's aching right shoulder has been "slow to respond" since he landed on the IL on June 28. Brantley had been spotted running in the outfield Friday, but he has yet to resume any hitting activity, which will be the true barometer for the health of his shoulder. Fantasy managers shouldn't count on Brantley returning before the All-Star break, and more clarity on where he stands in his recovery may not come until the Astros reconvene after the Midsummer Classic.
Jul 2 2022Manager Dusty Baker said Saturday that Brantley (shoulder) hasn't yet resumed hitting, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley landed on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder discomfort Tuesday, and Baker said that the injury has "responded kind of slow" so far. Baker acknowledged that Brantley might not be able to return when first eligible July 7, and the team figures to take a cautious approach to prevent a more significant injury.
Jun 28 2022The Astros placed Brantley (shoulder) on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After exiting Sunday's 6-3 loss to the Yankees with right shoulder discomfort, Brantley apparently didn't show enough improvement following Monday's team off day to avoid a trip to the IL. Houston will call up Chas McCormick to provide reinforcement in the outfield, and the Astros could use a committee of him, Mauricio Dubon, Aledmys Diaz and J.J. Matijevic to fill Brantley's vacated spot in the starting nine. Brantley will be eligible to come off the IL on July 7.
Jun 26 2022Brantley was removed in the top of the eighth inning of Sunday's game against the Yankees with right shoulder discomfort, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. He went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts prior to departing. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was serving as the Astros' designated hitter for the series finale in New York, so his shoulder discomfort must have surfaced at some point during one of his plate appearances earlier in the game. J.J. Matijevic entered the game as a replacement for Brantley, who can be viewed as day-to-day heading into Tuesday's series opener with the Mets.
Jun 23 2022Brantley went 1-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley did all of his damage in the first inning as part of a four-run rally by the Astros. He has at least one hit in 15 of his 16 starts in June, also racking up 10 RBI and 11 runs scored while hitting .381. Brantley continues to be a steady producer, as he now has a very familiar .298/.378/.434 line across 260 plate appearances on the season.
Jun 18 2022Brantley went 2-for-5 with a grand slam and an additional run scored in Friday's victory over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Alex Bregman knocked in Brantley on a home run in the first inning, then Brantley launched one of his own in the sixth. His grand slam sent Yuli Gurriel, Aledmys Diaz and Chas McCormick home and extended Houston's lead to 10-3. The veteran outfielder is on a 12-game hit streak, including seven multi-hit games, all of which have come in June. Brantley has a 1.108 OPS in June and is slashing .302/.384/.439 on the season.
Jun 13 2022Brantley went 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley took advantage of Houston hitters getting on base in front of him, as he drove in both of his runs on groundouts. The performance also extended his hitting streak to eight games, during which Brantley has driven in four and scored five runs. He's maintained a strong .291/.378/.418 line across 226 plate appearances this season.
Jun 11 2022Brantley went 2-for-3 with two walks, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's 7-4 loss to the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He got the Astros on the board by taking Pablo Lopez deep in the bottom of the first inning, but the Marlins were already ahead 2-0 and never relinquished their lead. Brantley is posting his usual numbers in his age-35 season, slashing .293/.380/.426 through 50 games with four homers, one steal, 18 RBI and 19 runs. The home run was Brantley's first since May 17.
Jun 5 2022Brantley is not in Sunday's lineup against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is hitting .229 with zero home runs and one steal over his last 10 games. Mauricio Dubon will start in center field with Chas McCormick moving to left.
Jun 1 2022Brantley is not starting in Wednesday's series finale versus the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will get a breather Wednesday after starting 11 games in a row, notching at least one hit in seven of those contests. Chas McCormick will take over in left field while Mauricio Dubon enters the lineup in center and bats eighth.
May 29 2022Brantley went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a walk in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: At 35 years old, it's no surprise Brantley isn't running as often as he used to -- this was his second attempt and first successful steal of the year. The veteran outfielder hasn't attempted more than five steals since 2018, so any speed contributions are icing on the cake. With the bat, he's hit safely in eight of the last 10 games, going 8-for-31 (.258) in that span. He's posted a steady .280/.367/.408 slash line with three home runs, 16 RBI, 16 runs scored, nine doubles and a triple in 42 contests this season.
May 19 2022Brantley is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley started the past 16 games and will receive a day off after posting an .805 OPS during that stretch. Chas McCormick will shift to left field while Jose Siri starts in center.
May 18 2022Brantley went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run Tuesday against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was one of five Astros hitters to go yard in the second inning, and he launched his third home run of the campaign. The performance extended his hitting streak to seven games, during which he's recorded five RBI and six runs scored while hitting .355. For the campaign, Brantley has maintained a .286/.357/.429 line across 141 plate appearances.
May 12 2022Brantley is out of the lineup for Thursday's regularly scheduled game against the Twins, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 34-year-old finished out the suspended game from Wednesday, going 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs, but he'll take a seat for Thursday's regularly scheduled contest. Chas McCormick will shift to left field in Brantley's place while Jose Siri starts in center.
May 4 2022Brantley went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Wednesday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley singled in his pair of runs in the second inning to put the Astros up 3-0. Two frames later, he hit his fourth double of the season, which was also his first extra-base hit since April 24. Brantley is hitting .282/.330/.400 across his 92 plate appearances this season, though he has only two home runs, eight runs scored and nine RBI.
May 2 2022Brantley went 0-for-4 with a strikeout Sunday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley missed the first two games of Houston's series against Toronto after being placed in the health and safety protocols. He came to bat in the sixth inning with a runner on third base and one out, though he failed to drive in the run by grounding out to shortstop. Brantley has gotten off to a slow start relative to his standards through 80 plate appearances this season, but his .379 xwOBA suggests his skills remain intact.
May 1 2022Brantley (illness) will serve as Houston's designated hitter and No. 2 batter in Sunday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will make his way back to the starting nine after a two-game absence while he dealt with a non-COVID-19-related illness. With the veteran having since cleared all protocols related to the virus, he'll be eased back into the lineup in a non-defensive role. With two home runs, eight runs, seven RBI and no stolen bases through 17 games this season, Brantley has been a modest producer in the counting categories, but his .290 average has been a boon for fantasy managers in a year where batting averages have cratered league-wide.
Apr 30 2022Brantley (health and safety protocols) isn't starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was scratched from Friday's lineup against Toronto due to health and safety protocols, and he'll remain out of the starting nine a day later. The 34-year-old is in the clubhouse prior to Saturday's matchup, so it's possible that he'll be available off the bench if needed.
Apr 26 2022Brantley will sit Tuesday against Texas, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hits the bench for just the second time this season. He's gotten off to a strong start at the plate, hitting .311/.364/.459 with a pair of homers. Chas McCormick will shift to left field in his absence, with Jose Siri starting in center.
Apr 24 2022Brantley went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a double in Sunday's 8-7 win over the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley drilled his second homer of the year in the fourth inning Sunday, knocking Yusei Kikuchi out of the contest in the process. He's 11-for-28 (.393) with two long balls and five RBI over his last seven games. The veteran outfielder is slashing .316/.361/.474 through 62 plate appearances.
Apr 17 2022Brantley went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 7-2 loss to Seattle on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley smacked a two-run homer to right off Seattle starter Matt Brash in the sixth inning to account for both of Houston's runs before tacking on a single in the eighth. In addition to the long ball being Brantley's first, it was his first extra-base hit in five games as he's slashing .273/.333/.424 in the early going. Each mark is on pace to be Brantley's lowest over his last eight seasons.
Apr 10 2022Brantley is not in Sunday's lineup against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Dusty Baker noted that he plans to give his veterans regular days off early in the season, and Brantley's absence from the lineup falls in line with that plan. Jose Siri will start in Brantley's absence while playing in center field and hitting first.
Oct 7 2021Brantley went 2-for-4 with two RBI in Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley delivered a two-run single in the fourth inning with two outs. His knock opened up the game, as it extended Houston's lead from three to five runs. Brantley returned from an 18-day stint on the injured list late in the season, and he collected only three hits across 15 at-bats to close the campaign. However, he managed to record his 13th multi-hit game across 39 career postseason contests.
Oct 1 2021Brantley will sit Friday against Oakland, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hasn't taken the field since Sept. 11 after injuring his knee, but he's played the last two games as a designated hitter. He'll get a full day off Friday, with Chas McCormick starting in that spot. Per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, Brantley will test his knee Friday and could play in the outfielder over the weekend.
Sep 30 2021Brantley served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's 7-0 loss to the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was reinstated off the injured list Wednesday after missing two-plus weeks due to a knee injury. The progress he made while rehabbing slowed, but Brantley is available to DH for now. His return should give a boost to Houston, which has lost five of its last six while scoring just 12 runs in the process.
Sep 29 2021The Astros reinstated Brantley (knee) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Wednesday's game against the Rays, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Reliever Josh James was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land to clear a spot on the active roster for Brantley, who has been on the shelf since Sept. 15 with right knee soreness. Since Houston has essentially locked up the American League West title and is well positioned to finish as the league's No. 2 seed in the playoffs, Brantley may sit out a couple times during the Astros' final five games of the regular season, but he should be ready for a full-time role during the postseason.
Sep 28 2021Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Brantley (knee) could be activated from the 10-day injured list in the next two or three days, but he is unsure if Brantley will be able to play the field when he first returns, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While Baker did not sound overly optimistic about Brantley's recovery from knee soreness, his update suggests that Houston has a good chance of getting the 34-year-old's bat back in the lineup for the postseason. Whether Brantley is able to play left field if and when he returns is another question, as the knee soreness appears to be of most concern when considering his defensive mobility. If Brantley is indeed unable to contribute defensively once activated, he figures to assume the bulk of the starts at designated hitter, which would push Yordan Alvarez to left field on a regular basis.
Sep 23 2021Brantley's progress has slowed as he attempts to return from a knee injury, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was eligible to return from the injured list Wednesday, but he was not ready to be activated. Manager Dusty Baker gave an update Thursday, telling reporters that Brantley had initially progressed rapidly but has recently "hit a lull in the action." Baker went on to state that Brantley's return would take longer than the team had initially hoped, though did not provide any specific timeline.
Sep 22 2021Brantley (knee) is not expected to be activated off the injured list when eligible Wednesday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston manager Dusty Baker said it was unlikely that Brantley will be ready to go Wednesday. He cited the need for Brantley to run the bases again and take more batting practice, although he did participate in a full pregame workout prior to Tuesday's game.
Sep 20 2021Brantley (knee) will hit in the batting cage Monday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley resumed baseball activities over the weekend after landing on the shelf with knee soreness last week, and his quick return to cage work is a good sign for his recovery. The 34-year-old should be eligible to be activated from the injured list Wednesday, though he's not guaranteed to be ready to be reinstated at that point.
Sep 18 2021Brantley (knee) will begin baseball activities Sunday, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has already missed a full week with a sore knee, but the Astros waited several days to place him on the injured list, so he isn't eligible to return until Wednesday. Whether or not he'll have a chance to do so is not yet clear.
Sep 15 2021Brantley was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with right knee soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hasn't seen the field since Saturday due to the knee issue and was already expected to be sidelined until at least Friday, but he's now looking at a longer absence. The move to the injured list should be retroactive, which would make the 34-year-old eligible to be activated next Wednesday, though it's unclear if he's expected to be healthy enough to play at that point.
Sep 14 2021Brantley (knee) isn't expected to return to action until Friday at the earliest, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley sits for his third straight game Tuesday against Texas while he deals with right knee discomfort, and it looks like his streak of absences will stretch to at least five games before he returns to action. The Astros elected not to place him on the injured list, however, which indicates some level of confidence that he'll be back in the next few days. When he eventually returns, he's expected to initially serve as the designated hitter.
Sep 13 2021Brantley (knee) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be on the bench for a second straight day while he contends with right knee discomfort. Jose Siri will pick up the start in left field in place of Brantley.
Sep 12 2021Brantley (knee) is not starting Sunday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Right knee discomfort caused Brantley to exit Saturday's contest after one at-bat and will keep him out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale. It's unclear whether the veteran outfielder is available off the bench. Yordan Alvarez starts in left field and Aledmys Diaz fills in as the designated hitter.
Sep 11 2021Brantley left Saturday's game against the Angels at the end of the third inning with an apparent injury, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley went 0-for-1 to begin Saturday's contest, but he was replaced in left field in the top of the fourth inning. The specifics of the left fielder's injury aren't yet clear.
Sep 7 2021Brantley went 3-for-5 with a double and a run in Tuesday's win versus the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The outfielder singled in the first inning and again in the third inning before coming around to score on an Alex Bregman double. He later doubled in the seventh inning for his third hit of the game. It was the 34-year-old's first extra base hit since Aug. 15 and his first double since Aug. 10. He's batting .316 on the season but hasn't provided much in the slugging department with a .440 SLG, which is his lowest since 2016.
Sep 6 2021Brantley is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley went 0-for-4 at the plate Sunday in San Diego, ending an eight-game hitting streak. Yordan Alvarez (knee) will return to the lineup Monday, starting in Brantley's usual spot in left field, while Aledmys Diaz will serve as the designated hitter.
Aug 31 2021Brantley is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After a 1-for-5 performance Monday, Brantley's hitting .231 with five RBI but no extra-base hits in his last 10 games. Aledmys Diaz is playing left field and batting second Tuesday.
Aug 27 2021Brantley went 3-for-5 with two RBI in Friday's 5-4 win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three of the outfielder's hits were singles, and none was bigger than a game-tying two-run knock in the middle of Houston's five-run rally in the seventh inning. Brantley had just four hits in his last nine games, so his three-hit effort Friday is an encouraging sign for him to get out of his recent slump. The 34-year-old is still slashing .320/.375/.456 with eight home runs, 45 RBI, 65 runs scored and a stolen base through 448 plate appearances this year.
Aug 25 2021Brantley isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Royals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been in a slump recently, as he's gone 0-for-11 with a run, four walks and a strikeout across the last three games. He'll get a chance to reset Wednesday while Aledmys Diaz starts in left field and bats second.
Aug 21 2021Brantley went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Friday's 12-3 win over Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley returned to action after getting a day off Thursday, which presumably was designed to get him out of a hitting funk. The outfielder's fourth-inning single Friday snapped an 0-for-12 skid.
Aug 19 2021Brantley isn't starting Thursday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will get a chance to reset after he went 1-for-11 with an RBI, a walk and a strikeout across the last three games. Aledmys Diaz will shift to left field while Jacob Wilson starts at third base.
Aug 16 2021Brantley went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley clubbed his eighth homer of the season to put Houston up a run in the third inning, but the Astros' dominant lineup was elsewise quieted, going hitless with runners in scoring position. It's been a relatively quiet season for Brantley, who continues to hit with regularity (.332) but has just 39 RBI through 94 games.
Aug 11 2021Brantley went 3-for-5 with two runs scored in Wednesday's 5-1 win over Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three of the outfielder's hits were singles, and he was able to cross the plate in the first and seventh innings. Brantley has posted a trio of three-hit efforts in his last 13 games. He's been highly effective at the plate with a .332 batting average and .865 OPS through 390 plate appearances. The 34-year-old has added seven home runs, 38 RBI, 58 runs scored and a stolen base in 91 games.
Aug 10 2021Astros manager Dusty Baker said Brantley (head) would start in left field Tuesday against the Rockies, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston isn't expected to release its lineup until a few hours prior to Tuesday's 8:10 p.m. ET first pitch, but the starting nine will include Brantley, who was removed from the Astros' last game Sunday against the Twins after taking a hit to the head during a collision on the bases with Minnesota's Andrelton Simmons. Brantley apparently passed all concussion tests, with the Astros later terming his removal as precautionary. The team's plan to deploy Brantley in the outfield rather than as a designated hitter supports the notion that there's no concern about his health.
Aug 8 2021Brantley was removed from Sunday's game against the Twins for precautionary reasons after being struck in the head when he was involved in a collision while running the bases, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The collision occurred with Andrelton Simmons during the opening frame after Brantley worked a walk in his first plate appearance. The veteran outfielder initially remained in the contest but was pulled for a pinch hitter during the third inning. Brantley should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated.
Aug 3 2021Brantley (ankle) is starting in right field and batting second Tuesday against the Dodgers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley exited Sunday's loss to the Giants with an ankle injury, but X-rays came back negative and he won't end up missing any time. The veteran outfielder is hitting .362/.455/.489 with one homer, three doubles, four RBI and 12 runs in 14 games since the All-Star break.
Aug 1 2021Brantley (ankle) underwent X-rays after Sunday's loss to the Giants that came back negative, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was removed from Sunday's game in the bottom of the third inning due to right ankle discomfort, and he doesn't appear to be dealing with any structural damage. Manager Dusty Baker said that he doesn't think the outfielder will require time on the injured list, and he's currently considered day-to-day.
Jul 28 2021Brantley isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will get a rare day off after he went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's win over Seattle. Chas McCormick will start in left field and bat seventh.
Jul 27 2021Brantley went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a walk in Monday's loss against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley wasn't much of a run producer Monday, but he reached base in four of his five plate appearances and continues to be one of the most consistent producers in a stacked Houston lineup. Brantley is hitting a team-best .331 on the year despite posting an average of "only" .297 during the current month (64 at-bats).
Jul 26 2021Brantley went 0-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in Sunday's 3-1 win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was an active runner during the early part of his career, but the mid-30s version has slowed down considerably. Sunday's theft was his first of the season and just the sixth over the last three seasons.
Jul 21 2021Brantley went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Tuesday's 9-3 win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley notched a double in the third, but his biggest hit game during the fifth when he plated two on a single to right field to cap off a six-run inning. Tuesday was his fourth multi-hit effort over his last six games. The 34-year-old drools over right-handed pitching, slashing .376/.424/.556 with five homers, 24 RBI and 28 runs scored in 205 plate appearances. He'll have a prime opportunity for another impactful game Wednesday when Cleveland sends Eli Morgan (7.86 ERA) to the bump.
Jul 16 2021Brantley went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored Friday in a 7-1 victory versus the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's homer in the fifth inning gave Houston a 3-1 lead, and he helped pad that margin by singling and scoring in the seventh. The pair of hits pushed his season batting average up to a robust .329, fourth-best in MLB. Brantley also has six homers, 32 RBI and 44 runs scored on the season.
Jul 6 2021Brantley (side) is back in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Athletics, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was a late scratch from Saturday's lineup because of soreness in his right side. He remained sidelined during Sunday's series finale in Cleveland, but he appears to feel better entering the series against Oakland. He'll hit second as the designated hitter while Yordan Alvarez mans left field against Chris Bassitt.
Jul 4 2021Brantley (side) is not starting Sunday's game against Cleveland and is still considered day-to-day, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Dusty Baker said Brantley will hit in the cage Sunday morning to assess how he's feeling. The skipper added that he's hopeful the veteran slugger will be back in action Tuesday. Before going hitless in his two most recent games, Brantley had hit a ridiculous .421 since returning from the injured list June 8. Taylor Jones gets the start in left field Sunday, with Robel Garcia filling in as the designated hitter.
Jul 3 2021Brantley was scratched from Saturday's lineup against Cleveland due to right side soreness, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley went hitless with a run, a walk and a strikeout in four at-bats in Friday's loss to Cleveland, but he's now dealing with an injury and won't start Saturday. It's not yet clear whether he'll be available off the bench, but Taylor Jones will take over in left field and bat seventh.
Jul 2 2021Brantley went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double in Thursday's win over Cleveland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley launched his fifth homer of the season in the seventh inning off reliever Justin Garza, and the outfielder has been seeing the ball extremely well of late. Brantley is currently riding a four-game hitting streak and has recorded at least one knock in all but one of his previous 12 contests, slashing .385/.418/.558 in that span (55 plate appearances).
Jun 27 2021Brantley is not starting Sunday against the Tigers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The veteran outfielder will rest up during the series finale as Chas McCormick mans left field.
Jun 21 2021Brantley went 3-for-3 with a double, two walks, two RBI and three runs scored during Monday's 10-2 win over the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been on an absolute tear since returning from a right hamstring injury June 8, going 24-for-47 (nine XBH) with 12 RBI, all while striking out just four times. He'll look to take advantage of another favorable matchup Tuesday when Houston goes up against right-hander Jorge Lopez.
Jun 20 2021Brantley went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 7-3 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley smacked a double off Lance Lynn in the fourth inning, scoring Myles Straw. He added a single in the third frame, knocking in Jose Altuve and later scoring himself. The 34-year-old leads the Astros with a .338/.381/.502 slash line and his batting average is the best in the American League. Although he's getting on base at one of the highest rates of his career, his power numbers are down with just four long balls to this point in the season.
Jun 17 2021Brantley went (1-for-4) with a three-run home run in Thursday's 10-2 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All of Brantley's offense came in the first inning to get the Astros up 3-0 on his three-run home run off Dylan Cease. He extended his current streak of reaching base safely to 15 games. The 34-year-old is slashing .342/.386/.548 with four home runs, 24 RBI and 31 runs in 215 plate appearances. His batting average trails just Nick Castellanos (.348) for the best amongst qualifiers in all of baseball.
Jun 13 2021Brantley went 3-for-5 with three doubles, four RBI and two runs scored in Sunday's 14-3 win over Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After seeing his 10-game hitting streak end Saturday, Brantley got right back to it with a massive day at the plate Sunday. He doubled in two runs in the sixth inning and later knocked a two-run single in the seventh. It was his third multi-hit effort in the last four games and sixth in the last 11 games. The star outfielder is now slashing .337/.381/.497 with 23 extra-base hits this season.
Jun 11 2021Brantley went 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI in Friday's 6-4 victory versus Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After getting a day off to rest Thursday, Brantley went right back to his hot-hitting ways Friday, notching his second four-hit game of the campaign. In the process, he upped his season average to .328 and extended his current hit streak to 10 games. Over that stretch, Brantley has batted .413 (19-for-46) with three doubles and six RBI.
Jun 10 2021Brantley isn't in the lineup Thursday against the Red Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley had started each of the last two games after being reinstated from the injured list Tuesday, and he went 4-for-9 with a double, two runs and an RBI during that time. Taylor Jones will start in left field and bat seventh.
Jun 9 2021Brantley went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his second game back from a hamstring injury, Brantley put together a solid performance. He's now 4-for-9 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored in his last two games. For the season, the outfielder has slashed .313/.351/.460 with three home runs, 16 RBI, and 27 runs scored across 188 plate appearances. He served as the designated hitter Wednesday after playing in left field in his return Tuesday -- that may happen at times to keep the 34-year-old fresh.
Jun 8 2021Manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Brantley (hamstring) will be activated from the injured list and start in Tuesday's series opener against the Red Sox, SportsTalk 790 reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Reports last week indicated that Brantley was on track to be reinstated from the 10-day injured list early in Houston's road trip, and it appears that the outfielder will rejoin the lineup Tuesday at Fenway Park. Though Baker has yet to release the starting nine, he did note that Brantley will be batting slightly lower than usual in his return. With that said, the 34-year-old will almost surely work his way back toward the top of the Astros' order as he gets back into the swing of things.
Jun 4 2021Brantley (hamstring) is expected to return during the Astros' upcoming series in Boston, which begins Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is already eligible to return from the injured list, but he'll need at least a few more days before he's ready to go. Chas McCormick has handled left field in his absence, but Brantley should reclaim his everyday role as soon as he's healthy.
Jun 2 2021Brantley (hamstring) could return to the starting lineup "relatively early" during the team's upcoming road trip, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley, who has continued to hit while on the injured list, was scheduled to run the field prior to Tuesday's game. If he comes out of that without a setback, Brantley will presumably not need a rehab assignment. The outfielder was placed on the IL retroactive to May 25, meaning the earliest he could return is Friday, when Houston kicks off its three-city, nine-game road trip in Buffalo against the Blue Jays.
May 28 2021Brantley was placed on the 10-day injured list with right hamstring tightness Friday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was slated to miss a third straight game Friday, so it isn't entirely surprising to see the team place him on the injured list. Chas McCormick and Aledmys Diaz could see increased time in left field in Brantley's absence, while Robel Garcia was called up by the Astros in a corresponding move.
May 26 2021Brantley (leg) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Dodgers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will sit for the second game in a row due to the leg injury, though manager Dusty Baker said the veteran isn't a candidate to land on the injured list as a result of the issue, according to Rome. Aledmys Diaz will pick up a start in left field in place of Brantley, who will get another day of rest Thursday with a team off day before the Astros return to action Friday against the Padres in Houston.
May 25 2021Brantley will sit Tuesday against the Dodgers due to general leg soreness, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's 34-year-old legs are banged up following the Astros' weekend series on the turf at Globe Life Field. He'll get to avoid a tough lefty in Clayton Kershaw but should return to the lineup Wednesday. Chas McCormick starts in left field in his absence.
May 15 2021Brantley is not in Saturday's lineup against the Rangers, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will get a day to rest after being in the lineup for six consecutive days. Aledmys Diaz will bat second and take over in left field as the Astros take on Dane Dunning.
May 8 2021Brantley isn't starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley went 2-for-12 with two runs and a walk in the last three games. Aledmys Diaz will take over in left field and bat second.
May 4 2021Brantley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His shot off Domingo German helped the Astros tie the game at 3-3 in the fourth inning, but the team's offense went cold the rest of the way. Brantley hadn't gone yard since April 12, but he was hardly unproductive during his 17-game homerless drought. On the season, he's hitting .327 with three home runs, seven RBI and 18 runs in 25 contests.
Apr 30 2021Brantley went 4-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI in Friday's 9-2 win over the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All four hits were singles, as Brantley paced a 15-hit attack by the Astros. The veteran outfielder wraps up a strong April hitting .345 with two homers, five RBI and 17 runs through 22 games.
Apr 29 2021Brantley isn't starting Thursday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's six-game hitting streak came to an end Wednesday when he went 0-for-5 with a strikeout in a win over Seattle. Aledmys Diaz will take over in left field and bat fifth.
Apr 25 2021Brantley went 3-for-3 with a walk, three doubles and four runs scored in Saturday's 16-2 rout of the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The two-baggers came off three different pitchers, as Brantley and the Astros offense made quick work of whoever was on the mound for the Angels. Remarkably, it's already the second time this season the veteran outfielder has rapped three doubles in a game. Brantley has five multi-hit performances in the past nine games, boosting his slash line on the season to .338/.377/.600 with 12 of his 22 hits going for extra bases (nine doubles, a triple and two homers).
Apr 21 2021Brantley went 3-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Tuesday's loss to Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston managed only five hits in the contest, and Brantley was responsible for three of them. He picked up his third three-hit game of the campaign while taking his first walk since Opening Day. Brantley has been solid contributor near the top of the lineup this season, slashing .327/.365/.592 across 52 plate appearances.
Apr 18 2021Brantley went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Saturday's 1-0 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley scored the game's lone run in the fourth inning, coming in on a single by Taylor Jones. He's been dropped from second to third in the batting order since Houston placed several regulars, including Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Yordan Alvarez, on the COVID-19 protocols list. With much of the team's offensive firepower unavailable, Brantley's bat is needed more than ever.
Apr 13 2021Brantley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Monday's 6-2 loss to the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley, who launched his second homer of the season in the eighth inning, was one of the few offensive bright spots for the Astros, who were shut down for seven innings by promising young starter Casey Mize. Brantley has gone 3-for-17 in the four games since returning from a wrist injury.
Apr 9 2021Brantley went 1-for-4 in Thursday's 6-2 win over Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Brantley's first appearance since last Saturday when he was hit by a pitch on the wrist. He was back in a familiar spot, batting second between Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.
Apr 8 2021Brantley (wrist) is starting Thursday's game against Oakland, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley sat out the last three games after he was hit by a pitch Saturday, but he'll play left field and bat second for Thursday's series opener against the Athletics. The veteran went 6-for-9 with a home run, four doubles, two RBI and five runs in the first three games of the year.
Apr 6 2021Brantley (wrist) will remain on the bench Tuesday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was hit by a pitch Saturday against Oakland and has yet to return to the field. Previous reports indicated that the Astros were hopeful he could return Tuesday, but the chances of that decreased after he was unable to take batting practice Monday. Brantley still appears in good shape to avoid a trip to the injured list, as manager Dusty Baker said that the veteran may be available off the bench to pinch run and play defense, according to Rome. With an off day coming Wednesday, Brantley will turn his focus to rejoining the lineup Thursday against Oakland.
Apr 4 2021Astros manager Dusty Baker said he expects Brantley (wrist) to avoid the injured list, but the outfielder may not be ready to rejoin the lineup until Tuesday versus the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Baker said that Brantley "dodged a major bullet" when he was struck on the wrist by a pitch in Saturday's win over the Athletics, as the 33-year-old was able to avoid any structural damage. He'll be held out of Sunday's series finale, however, and based on Baker's comments, Brantley doesn't seem likely to make it back Monday for the first of two games versus the Angels. The Astros play only five games during the upcoming week, so fantasy managers may be best off keeping Brantley out of their lineups with the knowledge that he'll likely miss at least one of those contests.
Apr 3 2021Brantley had X-rays come back negative on his right wrist after being hit by a pitch Saturday against the Athletics, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 33-year-old initially stayed in the game after being struck by the pitch, though he was removed for his next at-bat. Brantley appears to have avoided a serious injury, but he could still receive a couple days off depending how his wrist responds to treatment.
Mar 23 2021Brantley went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI in Monday's spring game against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's batting a middling .235 (8-for-34) this spring, but he leads Houston with seven RBI. Since joining the team, Brantley has been a clutch performer, as he's hit .347 (60-for-173) and knocked in 83 runs with runners in scoring position since 2019. Brantley will be Houston's everyday left fielder while batting third or fourth, where RBI opportunities should be plentiful.
Feb 28 2021Brantley will be forced to play more in the outfield this season with Yordan Alvarez back in action, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley spent 26 games in the DH slot last season, as opposed to only 19 games in the field. With Alvarez very unlikely to play in the outfield, the DH slot will be less available to Brantley. The one possible route to DH starts for Brantley would be if Alvarez plays first base, but that would require moving Yuli Gurriel around.
Jan 20 2021Brantley signed a two-year, $32 million contract with the Astros on Wednesday, Mark Berman of Fox 26 reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was pursued by several teams during free agency and was believed to be close to a deal with the Blue Jays earlier Wednesday, but he'll return to Houston on a two-year deal. The 33-year-old should reclaim his role as a top option in left field and at designated hitter after slashing .309/.370/.497 with 27 home runs and 112 RBI over his past two seasons with the Astros.
Oct 15 2020Brantley underwent an X-ray after fouling a ball off his foot Wednesday but is in the lineup Thursday for Game 5 of the ALCS against the Rays, batting second as the designated hitter, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley left Wednesday's game due to the incident, though his removal was evidently precautionary. The veteran is hitting .341/.413/.610 with three homers in 10 games this postseason, so the Astros will certainly be happy to have him available.
Oct 9 2020Brantley went 3-for-5 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored in a win over the A's on Thursday in Game 4 of the ALDS. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley got the Astros on the board with his two-run home run in the fourth inning and added a solo shot in the fifth. He had just five long balls during the regular season. At 33 years old, Brantley can still hit for average with the best of them in Major League Baseball. He's hit .300-plus in three straight regular seasons and is now batting .346 during these playoffs.
Sep 26 2020Brantley isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After starting every game for the past month, Brantley will get a breather ahead of the playoffs. Yuli Gurriel will rest his legs Saturday with Aledmys Diaz starting at first base.
Sep 22 2020Brantley 1-for-4 with a solo home run, an additional run scored, a stolen base and a walk in Tuesday's 6-1 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley got aboard with a fielder's choice in the first inning before scoring on a Kyle Tucker single. In the sixth, Brantley's go-ahead solo shot sparked a five-run rally for the Astros. He also walked in the seventh before stealing third after Alex Bregman's single. The big performance gave Brantley five homers, two steals, 22 RBI and 23 runs scored in 42 games this season.
Sep 21 2020Brantley went 3-for-4 in Monday's 6-1 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All three of Brantley's hits were singles, and Mariners starter Marco Gonzales did well to prevent the outfielder from getting home each time. In 41 games, Brantley is slashing .311/.373/.490 with four homers, 21 RBI, 21 runs scored and a stolen base.
Sep 8 2020Brantley went 5-for-6 with a home run, three doubles, two runs, two RBI and a walk during Tuesday's doubleheader against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Houston combined for only 13 hits between the two games, with Brantley powering the offense with four extra-base knocks. The veteran slugger is 18-for-42 with three homers, six doubles, nine runs and 12 RBI across his past 12 contests.
Sep 3 2020Brantley went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 8-4 win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley gave Houston a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first and later provided a pair of insurance runs with a two-run double in the eighth. The outfielder is enjoying a fantastic stretch at the dish in which he's slugged two homers and three doubles while going 9-for-18 during a five-game hit streak.
Sep 2 2020Brantley went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during Wednesday's win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley got the scoring started with an early two-run homer off Kolby Allard in the first inning. It was his second long ball in as many nights and his third of the season. Through 22 games, the 33-year-old leads the Astros with a .300 batting average.
Sep 1 2020Brantley went 2-for-4 with a home run, a walk and four RBI in a loss to the Rangers on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley put Houston temporarily ahead with a three-run blast in the seventh inning and brought them to within a run with a run-scoring single in the 10th. The four RBI were a season high for Brantley, whose long ball was his first since Opening Day. Still, the veteran has been one of Houston's most effective hitters this season, slashing .299/.379/.494 through 87 plate appearances.
Aug 25 2020Brantley is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Considering he just got back from a quadriceps injury, it was expected that he would sit for at least one of the two games Tuesday. He will be the DH for Game 2 and could return to the field this weekend against the A's, according to Jake Kaplan of The Athletic. Taylor Jones will start at designated hitter and bat sixth.
Aug 24 2020Brantley went 0-for-3 in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley started at designated hitter, his first game action since missing time on the injured list due to a quadriceps injury. His return brings stability to the DH spot, which was filled by four different Astro hitters over the last five games. Kyle Tucker has been playing left field regularly in place of Brantley, and the two are expected to share left field and DH going forward.
Aug 23 2020Brantley (quadriceps) will bat sixth and serve as the Astros' designated hitter Sunday against the Padres, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Brantley was activated from the injured list Saturday, he ultimately went unused in the Astros' 13-2 loss. While Brantley eases back in from the quad issue, Houston may be reluctant to use him in the outfield, but he should still have an everyday role waiting for him at DH, especially with Yordan Alvarez (knee) set to undergo season-ending surgery. Prior to going on the shelf earlier this month, Brantley slashed .286/.375/.446 with a home run, 10 runs and eight RBI across his first 64 plate appearances of the season.
Aug 22 2020Brantley (quadriceps) was activated off the 10-day injured list Saturday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 33-year-old won't be in the lineup for Saturday's contest, but he'll nonetheless rejoin the active roster after recovering from the quad injury. It previously seemed Brantley was still a couple days away from being activated, and it's unclear if he'll be eased into his regular workload or if he's fully good to go. Josh James (hip) was placed on the injured list in a corresponding move.
Aug 21 2020Manager Dusty Baker said Friday that he's "not real optimistic" that Brantley (quadriceps) will be able to return Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley traveled with the Astros on the current road trip, and Saturday is the first day that he'll be eligible to return from the injured list. However, he's still apparently dealing with his quadriceps soreness, casting some doubt on his availability for Saturday. If he's indeed kept on the injured list Saturday, it's unclear whether he'll be able to return for the series finale against San Diego on Sunday.
Aug 19 2020Brantley (quadriceps) traveled with the Astros on their road trip to face the Rockies and Padres, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Quadriceps soreness sent Brantley to the injured list over the weekend, though it sounds like he'll have a chance to make a minimum-length stay. He's eligible to return Saturday in San Diego.
Aug 15 2020Brantley was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with right quadriceps discomfort, Julia Morales of AT&T SportsNet Southwest reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move was backdated to Wednesday, meaning Brantley will be eligible to return next Saturday, though it's not yet clear whether or not he's expected to do so. Kyle Tucker will be the primary left fielder in his absence, with Yordan Alvarez serving as the designated hitter.
Aug 14 2020Brantley is not in the lineup for Friday's game against Seattle, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The return of Yordan Alvarez (undisclosed) will likely have an effect on Brantley's playing time going forward, as he'd been the Astros' primary designated hitter, filling the role in 10 of the season's first 18 games. He'll likely still see playing time in left field going forward, though he'll have to compete with Kyle Tucker, who starts there Friday.
Aug 12 2020Brantley is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Giants, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will head to the bench for Wednesday's series finale following a string of six straight starts during which he went 2-for-24 with a pair of doubles. The Astros are going with an outfield consisting of Kyle Tucker, Myles Straw and Josh Reddick (from left to right) in Brantley's absence.
Aug 11 2020Brantley went 1-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored in Monday's 6-4 win over the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley delivered a two-run, ground-rule double in Houston's four-run third inning, helping to provide the cushion needed to survive the Giants' late rally. Brantley, Houston's cleanup hitter, had gone nine consecutive games without driving in a run.
Aug 6 2020Brantley (quadriceps) is hitting cleanup as Houston's designated hitter Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As expected, Brantley has been cleared to DH after missing the past two games with a quadriceps injury. The veteran outfielder is 14-for-32 with a home run, eight runs scored, six RBI and a stolen base through nine games this season.
Aug 5 2020Manager Dusty Baker said Brantley (quadriceps) will serve as the designated hitter Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Baker indicated earlier in the day the 33-year-old was likely to sit out the series finale as a precaution, but he'll instead rejoin the starting nine after missing the past two games. Brantley is 14-for-32 with a home run, eight runs, six RBI and a stolen base to begin the season, so his return to the lineup will be a welcome sight for the Astros.
Aug 4 2020Brantley isn't in the lineup Tuesday against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After tallying three hits in Sunday's win against the Angels, Brantley will play a bench role for the second time in the past three games. Kyle Tucker will shift to left field with Abraham Toro starting as the designated hitter, batting seventh.
Aug 2 2020Brantley went 3-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While many of the big-name Astros hitters have struggled out of the gate, Brantley is absolutely raking. Through nine games, the 33-year-old outfielder is slashing .438/.514/.656 with five extra-base hits and eight runs scored.
Aug 1 2020Brantley is not in the lineup Saturday against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley sits for the first time this season. Kyle Tucker moves out to left field in his absence, with Abraham Toro serving as the designated hitter.
Jul 27 2020Brantley went 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's 8-5 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley knocked in Alex Bregman with the fifth-inning double and came around to score on Josh Reddick's double to cap a three-run rally. The 33-year-old Brantley has collected six RBI and three multi-hit outings in four games this season. Brantley stole only three bases in 2019, his lowest total since an injury-shortened 2016 campaign. While fantasy managers can't expect much speed from the outfielder, his hitting has more than made up for it to begin 2020.
Jul 24 2020Brantley went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and a walk in Friday's 8-2 win over the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley went deep against Mariners reliever Zac Grotz to complete a five-run surge from the Astros in the fifth inning. The 33-year-old left fielder knocked a career-high 22 homers in 2019 and picked up right where he left off to start the abbreviated 2020 season. Brantley will likely maintain a role in the top half of the Houston lineup.
Mar 22 2020Brantley hit .316 (6-for-19) with a home run, a double, three walks, four RBI and three runs scored over eight Grapefruit League games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The health concerns of 2016 and 2017, when Brantley played a combined 101 games, have been mostly put to rest as he recorded a second straight season of more than 600 plate appearances in 2019. The 32-year-old outfielder picked up this spring where he left off last season, when he hit .311/.372/.503 while launching a career-high 22 home runs. He'll be the Astros' starting left fielder in 2020 while slotting into the top half of the batting order where the potent Houston lineup gives him ample opportunity to score and drive in runs.
Feb 29 2020Brantely went 1-for-2 with a walk, a home run and two runs scored in Friday's game against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was Brantley's second spring appearance, and he's reached base safely in four of five plate appearances. Brantley loved life in the potent Houston lineup last season, and he'll be in a similar environment in 2020. The 32-year-old outfielder batted second Friday but is presumed to be the No. 3 hitter in the regular season, safely tucked in between Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman.
Sep 28 2019Brantley is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will receive another day off as the Astros continue to gear up for the postseason. Josh Reddick, Jake Marisnick and George Springer will start from left to right in the outfield for Houston's penultimate game of the regular season.
Sep 27 2019Brantley went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Friday's 4-0 win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Astros had only four hits in the game, and Brantley's was the biggest of them all, an eighth-inning blast off Angels reliever Luis Garcia. Brantley exited the game in the bottom half of the inning as Jake Marisnick entered as a defensive replacement. Brantley has hit .311/.372/.502 in 147 games this season, adding a career-high 22 homers as well as 89 RBI and 88 runs scored.
Sep 25 2019Brantley is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will head to the bench after starting the previous two contests and has a .167/.243/.258 slash line through 18 games in September. Kyle Tucker is starting in left field Wednesday for the Astros.
Sep 21 2019Brantley is not in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Astros want to keep Kyle Tucker involved to an extent; on Saturday, Tucker's start will come at Brantley's expense. Brantley could probably use another breather anyway, if his numbers so far in September are any indication (.172/.246/.276).
Sep 13 2019Brantley will not start Friday against the Royals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley owns a career-high .899 OPS and a career-best 21 homers. He'll get a rest Friday, with Kyle Tucker starting in left field.
Sep 8 2019Brantley is not in the lineup for Sunday's game versus the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will head to the bench after starting the last six games and going 3-for-26 with one home run and four RBI in that stretch. Kyle Tucker will start in left field and bat sixth Sunday.
Sep 6 2019Brantley went 2-for-6 with a home run and three RBI in Thursday's extra-inning victory over Seattle. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley helped Houston overcome an early seven-run deficit and reach extra innings with a sacrifice fly that knotted the score in the eighth inning, then ended the game with a walkoff two-run homer in the 13th. The 32-year-old has thrived in his first year with the Astros, tying a career high with 20 long balls while slashing .324/.384/.524 in 570 plate appearances.
Aug 31 2019Brantley is not in the lineup Saturday against the Blue Jays, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Aug 25 2019Brantley went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run Saturday in the Astros' 5-2 win over the Angels.
Aug 21 2019Brantley is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers, David Barron of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Aug 15 2019Brantley went 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and another run scored in Thursday's 7-6 loss to the A's.
Aug 13 2019Brantley is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the White Sox, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Aug 11 2019Brantley went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored Sunday against the Orioles.
Aug 4 2019Brantley is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Aug 3 2019Brantley went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and four RBI in Saturday's 9-0 win over the Mariners.
Jul 22 2019Brantley went 3-for-3 with a walk, two home runs and three RBI in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 19 2019Brantley is not starting<\/a> Friday against the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 17 2019Brantley went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and another run scored in Wednesday's 11-2 rout of the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Brantley isn't starting Monday's game against the Angels, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 15 2019Brantley went 2-for-5 with a walk, a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's 12-4 win over Texas.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 7 2019Brantley went 4-for-6 with three runs scored in Sunday's 11-10 win over the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 7 2019Brantley (hamstring) will serve as the Astros' designated hitter and bat cleanup Sunday against the Angels, Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Brantley is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Angels with a sore right hamstring, Brent Zwerneman of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Brantley is out of the lineup<\/a> against the Angels on Saturday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 6 2019Brantley will sit Saturday<\/a> against the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 5 2019Brantley went 4-for-4 with two doubles, a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Angels.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 30 2019Brantley is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Brantley went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 3-2 loss against the Reds on Wednesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Brantley went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Reds.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 9 2019Brantley is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 3 2019Brantley isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 24 2019Brantley is not in the lineup Friday against Boston, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 19 2019Brantley went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 7-3 win over Boston.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 12 2019Brantley went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two additional runs scored in Saturday's 11-4 rout of the Rangers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 9 2019Brantley is not in the lineup Thursday against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 8 2019Brantley went 2-for-3 with two home runs, one walk and three RBI in a 9-0 win over the Royals on Wednesday.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 21 2018Brantley went 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI on Saturday against the Rangers.Brantley was a beneficiary of the Indians' offensive explosion Saturday, scoring each time he reached base and driving in his 57th run of the season on a single in the fifth inning. While his season-long numbers are still excellent, Brantley has slowed at the plate -- especially in terms of power -- hitting just three home runs since June 1.
Jul 16 2018Brantley went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Sunday in the Indians' 5-2 win over the Yankees.Brantley provided the Indians with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning when he took ace reliever Chad Green deep for his 12th long ball of the season. The outfielder came out of the gates hot at the plate when he was activated from the disabled list in early April and has yet to see his pace slow. The 31-year-old has hit above .310 in three of the four months of the season thus far and has already delivered his best fantasy campaign since his peak years of 2014 and 2015.
Jun 14 2018Brantley is not in the starting lineup against the White Sox on Thursday.With southpaw Carlos Rodon on the hill for Chicago, Brantley will head to the bench in favor of Rajai Davis in left field. Brantley has been swinging the bat well this season, hitting .322 with an .894 OPS and 40 RBI in 56 games. Look for him to be back in the lineup against Minnesota on Friday.
Jun 13 2018Brantley went 3-for-5 with a run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the White Sox.Brantley did his part with the trio of singles, though he also struck out and grounded into a game-ending double play with the tying run in scoring position. The 31-year-old remains just about on pace to approach his career highs of 20 home runs and 97 RBI, and is now sporting a .322/.364/.530 slash line.
May 29 2018Brantley was 3-for-4 with two runs, two RBI and a home run in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the White Sox.Brantley continues to power the Indians offense and extended his hitting streak to 18 games. The 31-year-old is now slashing .343/.380/.573 with nine home runs and 36 RBI in 178 at-bats on the season.
May 27 2018Brantley went 2-for-5 with one walk and one RBI in Sunday's win over the Astros.Brantley was part of a four-run ninth inning rally that sent the game into extra innings -- he came through with an RBI single that drove in the tying run. The 31-year-old left fielder is hitting .335 with eight home runs and 34 RBI, and he's in the midst of a 16-game hitting streak. Brantley will look to keep it rolling Monday against the White Sox.
May 19 2018Brantley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's win over the Astros.Brantley's power surge continued Saturday with his fourth homer in eight games. He's now up to seven home runs with a .333/.369/.572 slash line over 34 games and has been excellent batting second in Cleveland's loaded lineup that has been red hot over the last month.
May 16 2018Brantley went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Wednesday's 6-0 win over the Tigers.It's his sixth homer of the season and third in the last six games, as Brantley continues to enjoy a fantastic May. The 31-year-old is now hitting a cool .333 (20-for-60) on the month with four home runs, 18 RBI and 14 runs in 14 games.
May 13 2018Brantley went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run, three RBI and two runs scored Sunday against the Royals.Brantley hit his fifth home run of the season in the seventh inning off Brian Flynn. It was his second home run in three games, but his first against a left-handed pitcher this season. While he is batting a strong .336/.368/.569 in 116 at-bats this season, he has struggled against left-handed pitching, batting .250/.289/.278 in 36 at-bats entering Sunday's contest. He isn't likely to sit against them, however, given the Indians' precarious depth in the outfield and his otherwise strong start to the season.
May 11 2018Brantley went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and a grand slam in Friday's 10-9 loss to the Royals.Brantley hit the grand slam in the fourth inning to give the Indians a 9-4 advantage, but the offense stalled and bullpen was unable to hold the lead. The home run is the 30-year-old's fourth of the season, and he now has a .327/.362/.542 slash line in 107 at-bats.
May 4 2018Brantley is not in the lineup Friday against the Yankees, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley is hitting .348/.368/.562 with three homers in 22 games, striking out just 5.3 percent of the time. Rajai Davis will start in left field in his place.
May 1 2018Brantley went 1-for-6 with a home run and four RBI in Tuesday's loss to the Rangers.With the Indians down to their final out and faced with an 0-2 count, Brantley slugged a Keone Kela curveball into the right field bleachers for a game-tying grand slam in the ninth inning. The Indians went on to lose the game in extras, but fantasy owners will be pleased with Brantley's RBI production. Despite going just 1-for-6 Tuesday, the outfielder is currently hitting .329 with three homers and 14 RBI on the year.
Apr 30 2018Brantley is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.Brantley will head to the bench for a breather after starting each of the previous five games, going 8-for-19 with a homer and two RBI over that stretch. Rajai Davis will hit seventh and start in left field in his stead.
Apr 28 2018Brantley went 3-for-3 with a home run, a triple and two RBI in Friday's win over the Mariners.Brantley finished a double short of the cycle on Friday. He hit a solo shot in the first, a triple in the fifth and a single in the seventh. He also had sacrifice fly on the night. The 30-year-old outfielder has had seven multi-hit games in the last 11 played, bringing his average up to .344 on the season to go along with a .900 OPS through 15 games.
Apr 24 2018Brantley is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Cubs, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley is hitting an impressive .320/.346/.460 through 52 plate appearances this season, but he'll head to the bench after starting each of the previous six games. Rajai Davis will pick up the start in left field in his place, hitting ninth.
Apr 22 2018Brantley was 2-for-5 with a double and a RBI in Sunday's 7-3 win over Baltimore.Brantley's off to a torrid start in 2018, as he's now 12-for-28 (.429) in his last six games, and hitting for a .348 average on the year. The 30-year-old's only swiped one bag in the 11 games he's played in, but the Indians do own the third-highest steal per game rate in the league. Brantley also owns an absurd 95% contact rate, showing an advanced ability to limit strikeouts (only two this year.)
Apr 18 2018Brantley went 3-for-5 with a homer, a double and two RBI in the win over Minnesota on Tuesday.The Cleveland bats fared well in San Juan, as the offense smashed four home runs and three doubles on their way to a 6-1 win. Brantley beat up on Twins starter Jake Odorizzi, tagging him for a double in the fourth, followed by a solo home run in the sixth. Brantley later got an RBI single off of reliever Alan Busenitz in the seventh. The Cleveland outfielder now has three consecutive multihit games, and is overall 9-for-26 with six RBI in seven games. As long as he's healthy, Brantley should see plenty of time in left field.
Apr 13 2018Brantley is out of the lineup against Toronto on Friday.Brantley will retreat to the bench after starting the past three days, going 4-for-10 with a double and two RBI during those contests. The 30-year-old will continue to receive scheduled off days every now and then in order to keep him fresh. In his place, Rajai Davis will get the nod in left field while batting ninth.
Apr 9 2018Brantley is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.The Indians will look to ease Brantley into action as he returns from ankle surgery, so he'll head to the bench for Monday's series opener after starting each of the previous three games. In his place, Rajai Davis will start in left field and hit sixth. The 30-year-old is 2-for-11 with a walk and a pair of RBI since returning from the disabled list last week.
Apr 6 2018Brantley was activated from the 10-day disabled list Friday.Brantley is back on the active roster after missing the Indians' opening six games with an ankle injury. The 30-year-old has produced when healthy, with a .299/.357/.444 line last year which was right in line with his career mark of .292/.349/.423. Unfortunately, he played just 90 games last year and 11 in 2016. If he plays most of the season, he should provide a solid batting average with double-digit homers and steals, but fantasy owners shouldn't count on him remaining injury-free for the rest of the season.
Apr 6 2018Brantley went 1-for-4 with two RBI in Friday's 3-2 win over the Royals.After being activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, Brantley got his campaign off to a quick start with a bases-loaded single in the first inning Friday. Cleveland may elect to ease the 30-year-old back into a starting role, but with right-handers on the mound for Kansas City in the final two games of the weekend series, Brantley could just as easily be in the lineup for both contests.
Apr 4 2018Manager Terry Francona said that the plan is to activate Brantley (ankle) from the 10-day disabled list prior to Friday's game against Kansas City, The Athletic's Zack Meisel reports.Brantley was able to play in a minor-league spring game without experiencing any setbacks Tuesday. The outfielder will likely be eased back into the lineup, as Francona won't rush the 30-year-old into too much playing time this early in the season, especially with the amount of outfield depth on the big-league roster. Brantley has dealt with a myriad of injuries over the past two years, which limited him to 101 games since the start of 2016.
Apr 2 2018Brantley (ankle) could be activated from the DL for Friday's game against the Royals, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.After playing in a minor-league game Tuesday, Brantley's ankle will be reevaluated. If he's in full health, it's possible that he could rejoin the big club for Cleveland's home-opener Friday. However, it wouldn't be a surprise if the Indians were cautious with Brantley, as the 30-year-old had an injury-filled 2017 season and played in just 90 games.
Mar 31 2018Brantley (ankle) is scheduled to play in a couple of minor-league games in Arizona on Monday and Tuesday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.Brantley, who opened the season on the 10-day disabled list, continues to work his way back from October ankle surgery. The Indians will wait to see how Brantley feels following Tuesday's game to determine the next step in his rehab. He's eligible to return from the disabled list April 5, though it's still unclear if he'll be ready to go by then. In the meantime, Tyler Naquin should continue to see starts in the outfield until Brantley is healthy.
Mar 25 2018Indians manager Terry Francona said Sunday that Brantley (ankle) will open the season on the 10-day disabled list, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Francona stressed that Brantley hasn't suffered any setbacks with his surgically repaired right ankle during spring training, but the club isn't confident that the outfielder is ready to handle a "full load" just yet. Brantley will likely remain at extended spring training to pick up extended at-bats in simulated games while the Tribe prepares for the start of the season. With Brantley out of the mix for Opening Day, Tyler Naquin has secured a spot on the 25-man roster.
Mar 21 2018Brantley (ankle) is batting fifth and playing left field in Wednesday's spring game against the Royals, T.J. Zuppe of The Athletic Cleveland reports.As anticipated, Brantley will make his Cactus League debut Wednesday. The oft-injured outfielder underwent ankle surgery in October, and although his status for Opening Day is still in question, it doesn't appear that he'll be out for an extended period of time.
Mar 21 2018Brantley (ankle) was noncommittal when asked about his status for Opening Day, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "We shall see," the outfielder said. "I'm going to take it one day at a time like I always say."Brantley made his Cactus League debut Wednesday, playing five innings in left field and going 1-for-3 at the plate, swatting a solo homer in his first plate appearance of the night. His status for the start of the season should clear up as he continues to ramp things up over the next week. Even if Brantley isn't ready to go by Opening Day, it doesn't sound like he'll be out for an extended period.
Mar 19 2018Brantley (ankle) is expected to make his Cactus League debut Wednesday, T.J. Zuppe of The Athletic Cleveland reports.Brantley is recovering from October ankle surgery. He appeared as a designated hitter in a minor-league game last Wednesday and is set to play in the outfield in another minor-league game Monday. While his Opening Day status remains up in the air, he isn't expected to miss much time, barring setbacks.
Mar 15 2018Brantley (ankle) was the designated hitter in a minor-league game Wednesday but did not run the bases, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Although he has yet to run the bases, it seems like Brantley's rehab program is being fast-tracked a bit. The embattled outfielder partook in outfield drills Thursday and is "doing terrific" according to manager Terry Francona. No timetable for his return was revealed, but things appear to be looking up.
Mar 15 2018Manager Terry Francona announced Thursday that Brantley (ankle) should be able to return sometime around Opening Day, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Francona seemed encouraged about Brantley's progress during his interview Thursday. He said that the outfielder's status for Opening Day is still up in the air, but if he does miss the opener, he won't miss it by much. Based on the skipper's comments, it sounds like Brantley is shaping up to join the Indians' starting lineup a couple of weeks into the season at the latest.
Mar 10 2018Brantley (ankle) returned to camp after dealing with an illness and is expected to start the baserunning portion of his running program in the coming days, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley was sent home due to an illness that went around the team's clubhouse Thursday, but he appears to have recovered from this ailment and is ready to move forward with his return from right ankle surgery. He faced live pitching earlier this week, in addition to ramping up a running program and starting defensive drills over his last couple workouts. Manager Terry Francona has yet to discuss Brantley's availability for Opening Day, so continue to monitor this situation throughout the rest of spring camp.
Mar 8 2018Brantley (ankle) was sent home due to illness Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley took another step forward in his return from ankle surgery in recent days, as he advanced to agility drills and hitting against live pitching for the first time since undergoing a procedure in mid-October. There seems to be some sort of bug going around the Indians' clubhouse as Danny Salazar was also sent home, but they should both be fully recovered from this ailment within the next couple days.
Mar 7 2018Brantley (ankle) will hit against live pitching during Wednesday's workout, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley has continued to ramp up his recovery in recent days, advancing to agility drills Tuesday after beginning to start defensive work last weekend. With Opening Day just a little more than three weeks away, we might begin to see some sort of target date come into focus, but manager Terry Francona has been fairly quiet on when he expects Brantley back in game action.
Mar 6 2018Brantley (ankle) advanced to agility drills in his running program Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.This is another positive step in his rehab program, as he just progressed to defensive drills Friday. His return timetable will still be nip and tuck with Opening Day, but it's encouraging to see progress regardless. A firmer timetable for Brantley's return to game action should emerge as he makes more steps forward in his recovery.
Mar 2 2018Brantley (ankle) will begin defensive drills Friday, Zack Meisel of The Athletic Cleveland reports.Brantley is working his way back from October ankle surgery. He has taken part in hitting, throwing and running drills this spring but hasn't yet done defensive work, which will be a greater test of his lateral mobility. The 30-year-old outfielder is questionable for Opening Day, but if reports are positive following his defensive work he has a decent chance to be ready to go by the start of the season.
Feb 25 2018Brantley (ankle) has shown improvement in the running portion of his injury rehab, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Manager Terry Francona reported Sunday that Brantley had a great workout Saturday and is making strides when it comes to running. The veteran outfielder had been having issues decelerating while running but apparently made some solid progress in that area during his recent workout. This is certainly encouraging news, but Brantley still has a few hurdles to clear before he's deemed healthy and fully ready for live action. He's still targeting a return to the lineup prior to the Indians' Opening Day matchup with Mariners on Mar. 29.
Feb 19 2018Brantley (ankle) took part in batting practice Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley, who underwent ankle surgery in October, is still behind other outfielders as spring camp starts up, but he continues to progress through his rehab with hopes of being ready for the start of the season. For the time being, however, his status for Opening Day remains up in the air, as the Indians are looking to proceed cautiously with the 30-year-old outfielder in an attempt to increase his longevity. Cleveland will continue to evaluate Brantley as he tests out his ankle during camp, so his status will be worth monitoring throughout spring.
Feb 17 2018Brantley (ankle) is behind other outfielders and is questionable for Opening Day, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley, who underwent surgery on his ankle in October, has taken part in loss toss and some limited hitting in the cages, but is limited to straight-ahead jogging for now. The Indians will continue to evaluate Brantley as he tests out the ankle during training camp, so he could still be ready for the start of the season, but president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said the team is taking a longer-view approach, one that gets Cleveland "the best version of Michael Brantley for as much of the season as possible."
Feb 14 2018Brantley (ankle) has been able to begin some partial hitting drills and will start to work in agility drills in the coming weeks, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley is also throwing and doing some straight-line running but hasn't started cutting or sprinting at this point in time. It appears as though he's on schedule to be fully cleared by Opening Day, although more should be known once he's allowed to start more extensive agility drills to test the ankle.
Dec 11 2017The Indians are encouraged by Brantley's (ankle) progress in his rehab from right ankle surgery, Zack Meisel of The Athletic Cleveland reports.Brantley underwent right ankle surgery in the middle of October and was initially given a recovery timetable of 4-5 months, leaving his status for the start spring training up in the air. While he's apparently making solid progress, the Indians won't know more until he's able to resume agility and running drills.
Nov 3 2017Brantley (ankle) will remain with the Indians next year after the team decided to pick up his $12 million option for 2018, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.Brantley recently underwent ankle surgery a couple weeks ago, which could wind up causing him to miss the beginning of spring training, but it appears as though Cleveland isn't too worried about his status. The team elected to retain Brantley's services for another season, which will come after a rough couple of injury-plagued campaigns in 2016 and 2017. But although he only played in 90 regular-season games this past season, he did slash .299/.357/.444 with nine home runs and 52 RBI, giving the team confidence that if he can get healthy, the 30-year-old can be a weapon in 2018.
Oct 19 2017Brantley will miss the next 4-to-5 months after undergoing right ankle surgery Wednesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Although Brantley appeared on the ALDS roster against the Yankees -- and recorded a decent amount of at-bats -- the outfielder needed surgery to stabilize the ligaments in his ankle ahead of next season. This places him on a timetable to optimistically return to full baseball activities right around the start of spring training. Cleveland also needs to decide whether to pick up his $12 million club option for 2018, or buy him out for $1 million, which will have to be decided three days after the World Series concludes.
Oct 11 2017Brantley is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Yankees for Game 5 of the ALDS.With Edwin Encarnacion back in the lineup after missing a couple games due to an ankle injury, Brantley will occupy a spot on the bench as CC Sabathia takes the mound for New York. Brantley may enter the fray at some point during Wednesday's game, but it appears as though he will remain in a reserve role throughout the rest of the playoffs as long as the regulars stay healthy.
Oct 6 2017Brantley is an option to start in left field for Game 3 of the ALDS on Sunday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley is going to partake in a workout during the team's off day Saturday, which will likely determine manager Terry Francona's lineup decision for Game 3 in New York. The outfielder has essentially been out since early August due to an ankle injury, although he was able to see some action during the final weekend of the regular season. Looking forward, there will be an update on his status following Saturday's workout session. He is available off the bench as a pinch hitter in the meantime.
Oct 6 2017Brantley is not in the lineup against the Yankees on Friday.Brantley will remain on the bench for Game 2 of the ALDS while Austin Jackson draws the start in left field. There hasn't been any word on how manager Terry Francona plans to use Brantley, but it appears as though he will be deployed as a pinch hitter for the time being.
Oct 5 2017Brantley is out of the lineup for Thursday's ALDS tilt with the Yankees.Brantley was recently activated from the DL (ankle) on Saturday, and received a little time on the field in the last two regular-season games prior to the beginning of the playoffs. It's clear that the 30-year-old is still recovering from an injury that cost him 52 games dating back to Aug. 9, and is not completely ready to return to the lineup at this point. In his place, Lonnie Chisenhall will patrol left field and bat seventh in the order for Game 1 of the series.
Sep 30 2017Brantley (ankle) was reinstated from the disabled list prior to Saturday's game against the White Sox.Brantley will only have a few days to push for a spot on the ALDS playoff roster, and it remains to be seen whether he will be able to take the field for either one of this weekend's contests, although the team is hoping to get him in there. The outfielder has been out since Aug. 8 while recovering from an ankle injury, and has only played in 88 games this season, to go along with just 11 in 2016. Over the 2017 campaign, Brantley has slashed .299/.358/.445 with nine home runs and 52 RBI.
Sep 30 2017Brantley, who was activated from the DL on Saturday, is not in the lineup against the White Sox.He has been out since Aug. 8 with an ankle injury, but is apparently not quite ready to return to the starting nine. Brantley is presumably available off the bench, while Lonnie Chisenhall gets the start in left field.
Sep 28 2017Brantley (ankle) was out running sprints prior to Cleveland's game against the Twins on Thursday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.The club is still planning on inserting Brantley into one of this weekend's games, but that could be a tad optimistic since he has only tested the ankle a few times in recent days, following a shut down from all running activities on Sept. 20. The fact that he was able to make cuts during his running session is obviously a good sign, but it remains to be seen whether he will be able to take the field this weekend, for the first time since early August.
Sep 27 2017The Indians are aiming to get Brantley (ankle) into a game this weekend, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.This is a bit surprising, as Brantley just resumed light jogging Wednesday following a prolonged shutdown period. Regardless, the team seems to think Brantley can progress enough in the coming days to get back onto the field and make his case for a spot on the ALDS roster. Brantley has battled ankle issues throughout the season after missing nearly all of last year due to shoulder troubles.
Sep 27 2017Brantley (ankle) participated in jogging exercises Wednesday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.A week ago, Brantley was shut down from running. The expectation was that he'd be able to resume activity in 7-to-10 days, so his participation in jogging exercises Wednesday is in line with what his level of activity should be given his status. With a return during the regular season out of the question, Brantley's focus is on being able to return at some point during the postseason, so long as the Indians manage to advance far enough.
Sep 20 2017Brantley (ankle) will remain shut down from all running activity for another 7-to-10 days, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.A recent visit to a foot and ankle specialist yielded a more definitive diagnosis; Brantley has a deltoid ligament sprain in addition to right ankle synovitis. He will be re-evaluated in a week or so. Brantley's not going to be ready in time to help fantasy players, but there's still a chance he could return in the postseason if the Indians make a deep enough run. The 30-year-old fared well when on the field, hitting .299/.358/.445, but he's been limited to just 99 games over the past two seasons due to injuries.
Sep 17 2017Team president Chris Antonetti said there is still no clarity on whether Michael Brantley (ankle) will return this season, The Associated Press reports.Brantley was sidelined on Aug. 9 with a sprained ankle, and recovery has moved slower than expected. Though the injury was initially thought to be minor, it's become apparent the outfielder's ailment is a more serious than what was originally diagnosed. Until Brantley is ready to return, Austin Jackson and Brandon Guyer will continue splitting the extra at-bats.
Sep 2 2017Brantley (ankle) is still not able to run on flat ground, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.He is running on a non-weight bearing treadmill and will be evaluated next week to see what the next step is. Brantley is already throwing and hitting without issue. He has been on the DL twice with the same ankle injury, and should be considered out indefinitely.
Aug 21 2017Brantley (ankle) has yet to begin running since landing on the disabled list.Brantley, who has been on the DL since Aug. 9, has been able to participate in baseball activities, albeit at a limited capacity due to his inability to run. Until he's ready to return, Austin Jackson and Brandon Guyer will likely see time in the Cleveland outfield.
Aug 9 2017Brantley was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained right ankle, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.The All-Star outfielder heads to the the DL with a right ankle injury for the second time in the last two months, though trainers have already deemed the sprain to be a mild one, so he could be back as soon as next weekend's series in Kansas City. Brantley, who suffered the sprain during Tuesday's game against the Rockies, is hitting .282 with 15 RBI since the All-Star break and likely gives way to Brandon Guyer or Abraham Almonte while he remains sidelined. Erik Gonzalez, another outfield option, was recalled from Triple-A to take his spot on the active roster.
Aug 9 2017Manager Terry Francona said Brantley has a mild sprained right ankle and will undergo treatment Wednesday, though a DL stint remains a possibility.Brantley was lifted from Tuesday's game against the Rockies with the injury and a subsequent MRI revealed it wasn't too significant. Nonetheless, the outfielder missed time earlier this season with a similar injury, so trainers will see how it responds to certain medical evaluation before setting forth a firm recovery plan. The Indians have a wide range of options to replace Brantley should he land on the DL, including Brandon Guyer and Abraham Almonte. Cleveland will go with Almonte in left field for the series finale with Colorado on Wednesday.
Aug 8 2017Brantley exited Tuesday's game against the Rockies with a sprained right ankle, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley suffered the ankle sprain while backing up a play in the outfield during Tuesday's contest. The 30-year-old made a trip to the disabled list earlier this season with the same injury, so it's likely that he'll be headed back to the DL. The severity of the sprain will determine how long Brantley will be sidelined, though that information has yet to be revealed. We'll await an official announcement from the Indians with regards to his condition.
Aug 8 2017Brantley avoided an Achilles injury, but he's scheduled for an MRI on his ankle Tuesday night, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley initially thought it was his Achilles that got hurt, but luckily trainers ruled out that serious impediment. Ankle injuries typically require less recovery time, but of course that depends on the severity, and that information should be available Wednesday morning. Brantley landed on the DL with a sprained ankle in mid-June, so Tuesday's mishap certainly could be related to that.
Aug 8 2017Brantley exited Tuesday's game against the Rockies with an apparent lower-body injury, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley appeared to injure himself while jogging in the outfield on a ball hit to center fielder Bradley Zimmer. The veteran outfielder came up gimpy and immediately sat down and called for team trainers. He was able to walk off the field under his own power and was replaced by Abraham Almonte.
Jul 30 2017Brantley is out of the lineup Sunday against the White Sox, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Indians manager Terry Francona decided it was an opportune time to provide Brantley with his first day off since late June with the White Sox bringing southpaw Carlos Rodon to the hill for the series finale. To counter Rodon, lefty masher Brandon Guyer will check into the lineup in right field and bat sixth.
Jul 22 2017Brantley went 2-for-3 with a double and a walk in Saturday's walk-off win over the Blue Jays.Brantley's 19th double of the season helped push his batting average back to .300, a mark it's been at or above for 14 of his last 18 contests. The outfielder's production has dipped recently, though, as he's hitting .267 in eight games since the All-Star break. On the other hand, Brantley has picked up his activity on the bases, stealing three bags during that stretch after swiping eight in his previous 66 contests.
Jul 7 2017Brantley went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and four RBI in Friday's 11-2 win over the Tigers.That's now three straight multi-hit performances for Brantley, who's hitting .368 (14-for-38) with seven runs and eight RBI in 10 games since recovering from an ankle sprain.
Jul 5 2017Brantley was named to the AL All-Star team after being voted on by the players, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Next week's affair in Miami will be Brantley's second All-Star Game, but this one comes with a different narrative. He made his first appearance in 2014, a year in which he won the Silver Slugger Award. This season, the veteran outfielder's numbers are borderline All-Star worthy, but his remarkable comeback from last year's injury-shortened campaign is deserving of the spotlight. Entering Wednesday, Brantley was hitting .297 with five home runs, 31 RBI and eight stolen bases.
Jun 28 2017Brantley (ankle) went 1-for-4 Tuesday against the Rangers in his first game back from his time on the disabled list.Brantley has been out since June 15 due to stints on both the paternity list and disabled list, but was able to hit a single in his return to action anyway. The left fielder's return will provide consistency for Cleveland's outfield, which just recently saw Brandon Guyer (wrist) return from injury while both Abraham Almonte (biceps) and Austin Jackson (quad) remain out.
Jun 27 2017Brantley is back in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Rangers, batting third and playing left field.It will mark Brantley's first game action since June 14, as the All-Star outfielder has been sidelined with an ankle sprain. The lefty is having a productive comeback season, batting .295 with 28 RBI and a .792 OPS over 54 games.
Jun 26 2017Brantley (ankle) isn't included in the lineup Monday against the Rangers.It doesn't appear that Brantley suffered an unexpected setback with his sprained right ankle after being activated from the disabled list earlier Monday. Instead, the Twins are likely just keeping Brantley available off the bench in order to get an extra right-handed bat in the lineup against a tough lefty in the Rangers' Cole Hamels. Brandon Guyer (wrist), who was also activated from the DL on Monday, will fill Brantley's normal spot in left field.
Jun 26 2017Brantley was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list Monday.Brantley hasn't played since June 14 while recovering from a sprained right ankle, but seems good to go after completing some batting and running drills. The veteran outfielder will likely return to the Indians' outfield when they open up a four-game set with the Rangers on Monday, as he looks to improve upon his .296/.360/.432 slash line. Daniel Robertson and Shawn Armstrong were optioned to Triple-A in corresponding moves.
Jun 23 2017Brantley (ankle) took batting practice Thursday and is scheduled to perform running drills Friday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday, but he's on pace to have a brief stint on the sidelines. He's eligible to return Monday, so fantasy players setting weekly lineups should have a clear idea of his availability, which at this time appears nearly certain for early next week.
Jun 19 2017Brantley was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a sprained right ankle.Brantley didn't play in any of the Indians' last five games while he was away from the team following the birth of his child, but the time off wasn't enough to remedy the soreness he was experiencing in his ankle, which he first sprained earlier in the month in Kansas City. It's not believed to be a significant setback for the outfielder, who could rejoin the Tribe when first eligible Sunday if the soreness subsides as expected. In the meantime, Brantley's absence will likely open up some extra at-bats for the likes of Austin Jackson and Daniel Robertson.
Jun 19 2017Brantley is not in the lineup Monday against the Orioles.Although Brantley is expected to be activated from the paternity list ahead of Monday's contest, the Indians will instead keep him out of action for one more day. The veteran outfielder missed the past five games to attend to the birth of his child, but he was playing well before then, batting .311 with nine RBI in the prior 16 games. Austin Jackson will man left field in his stead, but look for Brantley to return to action Tuesday.
Jun 19 2017Brantley is scheduled to rejoin the Indians on Monday after missing the team's weekend series following the birth of his child Thursday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.In Brantley's absence, Jose Ramirez hit from the third spot in the batting order in each game of the weekend series, but comments made by manager Terry Francona suggest that he won't necessarily keep that spot, which typically belongs to Brantley, going forward as the switch-hitting Ramirez offers more protection to Edwin Encarnacion in the clean-up spot.
Jun 16 2017Brantley, who left to be with his wife on Thursday for the birth of their child, might be placed on the paternity list in the next few days, Zach Meisel of Cleveland.com reports.It depends on whether the Indians want to open up a roster spot for a brief window. Brantley should be back Sunday, at the latest, if the club makes the transaction. Daniel Robertson could continue taking on extra at-bats, as he did Thursday.
Jun 16 2017Brantley was placed on the paternity list Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.As anticipated, Brantley's roster spot will be opened up while he attends to the birth of his child. Right-hander Adam Plutko was recalled to fill the void on the roster, although Daniel Robertson seems like the main beneficiary for playing time in the next few days. Look for Brantley to be back in the next few days.
Jun 15 2017Brantley is not in the Indians' lineup Thursday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.It appears to be a mere day of rest. Brantley has restored the reliable floor he established before his injury-plagued 2016 season, hitting .296/.360/.432 with five home runs and seven stolen bases in 228 plate appearances. He'll give way to Daniel Robertson in left field.
Jun 15 2017Brantley is away from the Indians because his wife is delivering their child in the near future, and Zach Meisel of Cleveland.com soon, Zach Meisel of Cleveland.com reports.This explains why he's not in Thursday's lineup. If Brantley has to be placed on the paternity list, Daniel Robertson could see more reps in the outfield over the weekend. Brantley owners should stay tuned to his status before locking him into weekend lineups.
Jun 4 2017Brantley is out of the lineup Sunday against the Royals, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley had started the Indians' previous 21 games, so manager Terry Francona will attempt to take advantage of the Indians' scheduled off day Monday by giving the veteran outfielder extra time to rest up. Austin Jackson will draw into the lineup in place of Brantley, manning right field and batting seventh.
Jun 3 2017Brantley went 3-for-4 with a stolen base in Friday's 4-0 loss to the Royals.He was the only Cleveland hitter to have any kind of success against Jason Vargas in this one. Brantley now has four multi-hit performances in his last seven games to fuel a .414 batting average (12-for-29) over that stretch, but he hasn't had an extra-base hit since May 23 and hit his last homer April 30.
Jun 1 2017Brantley went 1-for-3 with two RBI during Thursday's win over Oakland.The outfielder is now up to 24 RBI and a .301/.370/.439 slash line. While he probably won't repeat his 20-homer campaign from 2014, Brantley is still tilting the scales across all traditional rotisserie categories. His placement in the three-hole of the Cleveland lineup also helps his fantasy floor and ceiling.
May 29 2017Brantley went 3-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base and a run during Sunday's win over Kansas City.Brantley has started 40 of 48 games this season and sports a .304/.375/.456 slash line with five homers, 21 RBI, five stolen bases and 21 runs. After being limited to just 11 games in 2016, the outfielder's five-category production has Brantley back on the radar as a set-and-forget asset in the majority of settings. Hitting in the heart of the dangerous Cleveland lineup is a cushy fantasy setup, too.
May 12 2017Brantley (ankle) is back in the lineup Friday against the Twins.Brantley injured his ankle last weekend but it seems four full days of rest -- with Thursday's team off day -- provided sufficient maintenance. He is slated to return to left field and the three-hole to face right-hander Ervin Santana, and while Brantley has enjoyed limited success against Santana in the past (8-for-33), he is beating up on right-handed pitching to the tune of a .297/348/.547 line this season.
May 10 2017Brantley (ankle) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reports.As expected, Brantley is not starting Wednesday. The Indians have Thursday off, so Brantley will aim to return to action for Friday's outing against Minnesota. With Brantley out, Yandy Diaz will get the nod to start in left field Wednesday.
May 9 2017Brantley (ankle) is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.This comes as no surprise, as Brantley was seen in a walking boot Monday. While manager Terry Francona initially slapped an optimistic "day or two" timeline on the injury, it's looking like a realistic return date for Brantley would be Friday's series opener against the Twins, after the Indians' off day Thursday.
May 9 2017Brantley (ankle) was wearing a protective boot on Monday and likely won't play in the current series against Toronto, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.Manager Terry Francona provided an optimistic "day or two" timeline to open the week, but that's unlikely to hold true. A Friday activation for the weekend series against Minnesota is looking like the best possible outcome for Brantley. Yandy Diaz, who was called up Monday after hitting .395 with Triple-A Columbus, will pick up the available at-bats in the interim.
May 8 2017Brantley (ankle) is not in the lineup Monday against the Blue Jays.This comes as no surprise, as Brantley exited Sunday's contest against the Royals with a sprained ankle and is expected to miss at least a day or two. While the sprain isn't thought to be anything overly serious, the Indians will tread cautiously with the 30-year-old after he only played in 11 games last season due to injuries. With an off day coming up on Thursday, it wouldn't be too surprising to see the Indians hold him out until then to afford him some extra rest. Recently recalled Yandy Diaz will draw the start in left field for the game.
May 8 2017Brantley's manager, Terry Francona, said the outfielder's injury is not considered overly serious, and shouldn't cost him to miss more than "a day or two," Robert Falkoff of MLB.com reports.The collective "Phew!" could be heard across the fantasy world thanks to the skipper's post-game comments. "It's not the dreaded high-ankle sprain," Francona said. "He hit first [base] hard. Hopefully, it's a day or two." Brantley, who played just 11 games last season before injuries shelved him for good, is off to a strong start to 2017. He's hitting .283/.343/.475 with five home runs, 17 RBI and 15 runs through his first 26 games. Owners in weekly formats may want to think about sitting Brantley before rosters lock Monday. Even though Francona mentioned a short timeline, it's not out of the realm of possibility that Brantley gets a few extra days to rest as the club was already -- even before Sunday's injury -- being very cautious with the 30-year-old.
May 7 2017Brantley exited Sunday's game against the Royals early with a sprained right ankle, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley was hitless in his two at-bats before being forced to exit the game in the fifth inning with a sprained ankle. The veteran outfielder has an injury-plagued past, but is off to a healthy, productive start to the 2017 season. It'd be a big blow to the Indians if Brantley ends up on the disabled list, though the severity of the sprain is not yet know. We'll await further details from the Indians on that front.
Apr 28 2017Brantley is not in the lineup Friday against the Mariners.Brantley will head to the bench after his 10-game hitting streak came to an end Thursday against the Astros. Brandon Guyer is batting third and playing left field in his stead.
Apr 26 2017Brantley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's loss to the Astros.Brantley's fourth homer of the season, and second in as many contests, extended his hitting streak to nine games. Since April 13, the outfielder is slashing .368/.429/.737 with all four of his bombs, seven RBI and 10 runs. It's safe to say Brantley is back to being the elite player that he was before 2016's lost campaign.
Apr 26 2017Brantley went 2-for-4 with a double, a run scored and three RBI in Wednesday's 7-6 win over the Astros.He now has a 10-game hitting streak, over which Brantley is batting .381 (16-for-42) with four homers, nine RBI, 11 runs and two steals. After a lost 2016, the 29-year-old looks completely healthy and back in top form.
Apr 23 2017Brantley is out of the lineup Sunday against the White Sox.Brantley has started seven of the last eight games, and with the White Sox bringing left-hander Derek Holland to the hill Sunday, manager Terry Francona decided it was an opportune time to give the veteran outfielder a day off. Brandon Guyer will fill in for Brantley in left field and bat third in the order.
Apr 23 2017Brantley went 2-for-5 with a a two-run home run and two runs during Saturday's win over the White Sox.After a lost 2016 campaign, Brantley is proving the shoulder injury is a thing of the past with a .310/.385/.517 slash line, nine runs, three home runs, 11 RBI and three stolen bases. His cross-category contributions make him a valuable asset and hitting in the heart of a potent lineup helps his fantasy floor.
Apr 17 2017Brantley went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI in Monday's 3-1 win over the Twins.It was Brantley's second home run of the season, and the outfielder is now slashing .268/.348/.463 with four runs, eight RBI and two stolen bases in 46 plate appearances. The Tribe is keeping him rested by sitting him against select left-handed pitchers after he played in just 11 games in 2016 due to a shoulder injury. The good news is that the 29-year-old lefty looks fully healthy, and he should provide solid numbers across the board for fantasy owners that took the plunge on him. After all, he's just three years removed from a .327-20-97 season.
Apr 15 2017Brantley will be used judiciously throughout April and possible longer, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley, who played just 11 games last season due to shoulder problems, is being carefully deployed by manager Terry Francona in the early portion of 2017 in hopes of conserving the outfielder for later in the season. The Indians have been resting Brantley against selected lefties since the start of the year, and Francona says the practice will continue at least through April. Through 33 at-bats, the 29-year-old is slashing .242/.324/.394 with three extra-base hits and 10 strikeouts.
Apr 14 2017Brantley is not in the lineup Friday against the Tigers.Brantley has been a staple in the three-hole this season, but with left-hander Daniel Norris taking the mound for Detroit, manager Terry Francona decided it was a good time for the outfielder's second night off of the season. Brandon Guyer will take over in left field and bat third in his stead.
Apr 13 2017Brantley went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Thursday's loss to the White Sox.It had been 581 days since the embattled outfielder hit his last MLB home run in September of 2015. Brantley extended his RBI streak to four games Thursday while making it his sixth game in eight starts this year with a run driven in. It should be noted that the 29-year-old also struck out twice against the South Siders, raising Brantley's strike out rate to 31 percent through 29 at-bats.
Apr 11 2017Brantley went 1-for-3 with two walks and an RBI double in the 10th inning Tuesday to give the Indians a 2-1 win over the White Sox.Shoulder troubles ruined his 2016, but Brantley has looked fully healthy to begin this season, collecting four RBI through his first six games. The Tribe will continue taking it relatively easy on him, resulting in more frequent days off, but the 29-year-old appears ready to once again contribute the solid five-category production he delivered in 2013-15.
Apr 9 2017Brantley is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley isn't dealing with any sort of injury but will rest for the second time in less than a week with the Indians intent to keep him fresh for the long haul after he was sidelined for most of the 2016 campaign. It's an opportune time anyway for the Tribe to keep the lefty-hitting Brantley on the bench with southpaw Patrick Corbin on the mound, though Brantley doesn't seem to be at much risk of falling into a platoon this season. Brandon Guyer will take Brantley's post in left field and bat third in the order.
Apr 5 2017Brantley went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two strikeouts in Tuesday's contest against the Rangers.After spending a majority of the past year rehabbing from shoulder surgery, Brantley has looked good through the team's first two games of 2017. He's 3-for-9 with a pair of RBI, although he's also gone down on strikes in three at-bats. It wouldn't be a major surprise to see the outfielder left off the lineup card in one of the team's upcoming games as skipper Terry Francona carefully manages his star left fielder's return.
Apr 5 2017Brantley is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers.After an injury-plagued 2016 season, a healthy Brantley has gotten off to a decent start to open the new campaign, going 3-for-9 with two RBI in the team's first two games. Given that he's in the midst of his age-30 season and carries some durability concerns, Brantley figures to be rested more frequently in 2017 than in seasons past, and manager Terry Francona will take advantage of Thursday's off day to give the veteran outfielder an extended breather. Brandon Guyer will fill in for Brantley in left field.
Mar 31 2017Manager Terry Francona says Brantley has made the Indians' 25-man roster, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.The news comes as no surprise, as Brantley is healthy and swinging a hot bat -- slashing .385/.429/.692 through eight games. Assuming he gets the Opening Day start next week, it will be the outfielder's first major league start since May 9 of last season.
Mar 30 2017Brantley is on track to make Cleveland's Opening Day roster, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Manager Terry Francona made it clear that Brantley is in a good spot in terms of health, and his spring performance has done nothing but reinforce that claim. Over seven games he's 9-for-23 (.391) with two home runs and two doubles.
Mar 24 2017Brantley is not in the Indians' Cactus League lineup Friday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.No reason for concern was reported, so Cleveland likely is taking it easy with Brantley, who's 3-for-9 through his first three spring games following his debut earlier in the week. Getting him a bit more rest late in spring training and possibly earlier in the year is prudent management as he returns from his shoulder rehab. It may limit his value early in 2017, but his potential of returning to MVP-candidate-caliber form is increasing his fantasy draft stock.
Mar 21 2017Brantley (shoulder) started in left field and went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in his Cactus League season debut Monday.He left for a pinch-runner in the fifth inning, but Brantley's debut appears to have occurred without setback. The Indians do not have a game Tuesday, but Brantley is expected to be back in the lineup Wednesday against Colorado, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Mar 20 2017Brantley (shoulder) will start in left field in Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Eric Stephen of True Blue LA reports.It will be the Cactus League debut for Brantley, who has been eased along slowly in his return from shoulder surgery. After appearing in minor-league games last week without any apparent issues, Brantley will move up to the big club. He'll likely get in extensive at-bats over the next two weeks as he prepares for the April 3 season opener against the Rangers.
Mar 19 2017Brantley (shoulder) is expected to start in left field Monday against the DodgersComing off of an injury-plagued 2016 campaign, Brantley has spent this year's spring training stint rehabbing his injured shoulder. Monday's return to action will mark Brantley's major league spring training debut and puts him in line to be ready for Opening Day.
Mar 17 2017Brantley (shoulder) will play in a minor league game Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.After two days off, Brantley will test his shoulder out again for five innings. Cleveland is taking it slow with Brantley, but he is on pace to get back into Cactus League action before spring training ends, and as such, unless he suffers a setback, there's a good chance Brantley suits up for Cleveland on Opening Day.
Mar 15 2017Brantley (shoulder) went 1-for-3 with a double and three RBI in his minor league spring debut Wednesday, Paul Hoynes of of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley slowly progressing through his rehab, testing the health of his surgically repaired right shoulder in minor league games before moving on. He said he felt good afterwards, which is good news, but his status for Opening Day remains a question mark. The 29-year-old will appear in another minor league game on Friday, and if all goes well, he could see himself in Cactus League games fairly soon.
Mar 14 2017Indians manager Terry Francona said that Brantley (shoulder) would play in minor-league games Wednesday and Friday, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley was able to take part in simulated games last week without issue, so he's now slated to test out the health of his surgically-repaired right shoulder in non-controlled game settings. The 29-year-old certainly seems to be trending in the right direction, but his status for Opening Day is still something of a question mark. Even if Brantley is able to demonstrate in spring action that he's good to go for the start of the regular season, he's fraught with plenty of risk in fantasy drafts, as the shoulder procedure leaves serious concern that he'll be able to regain the All-Star form he displayed in 2014 and 2015.
Mar 9 2017Brantley (shoulder) feels good Thursday after taking swings Wednesday, and he should participate in a five-inning simulated game Friday, Andre Knott of WTAM 1100 reports.These are small steps of optimism for the former MVP candidate, though his timetable remains undefined. He recently faced live pitching, though, if he can work something close to a week of spring games, his regular-season prognosis would improve dramatically. Though caution is recommended, Brantley can help mixed league fantasy drafters in the late rounds and/or as a fifth outfielder.
Mar 6 2017Brantley (shoulder) is scheduled to face Josh Tomlin in live batting practice Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley continues to move through spring without an estimated timetable for his return, as the Indians are trying to keep him from feeling pressured to rush his rehab. He'll face live pitching for the first time this spring, and if all goes well, will be one step closer to making his Cactus League debut.
Mar 5 2017Brantley (shoulder) took batting practice on back-to-back days for the first time this spring, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley has yet to hit live pitching, but his increased activity is promising. The Indians haven't set an estimated return for Brantley, who played in just 11 games during the 2016 season, as they're aiming to keep him from feeling pressured to rush his rehab. However, the club has remained optimistic that he should be able to play in a Cactus League game at some point this spring.
Feb 27 2017Brantley (shoulder) took batting practice on the field Monday, Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 in Cleveland reports.Brantley took batting practice indoors over the weekend, marking a milestone is his rehab after he'd been previously restricted to playing soft toss. This is another small step in the right direction for Brantley, though his availability for Opening Day still remains in jeopardy.
Feb 24 2017Brantley (shoulder) is taking normal batting practice pitching at an indoor cage Friday after previously being restricted to a soft-toss program, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.The outfielder's timetable remains up in the air, and a need to rehab into the season looks highly possible. Still, the fact he's taking cuts off live pitches offers a step in the right direction. In the waning rounds of a mixed fantasy draft, owners still can take a logical chance on at least a partial season from the 2014 AL MVP candidate.
Feb 23 2017Sources say the Indians have no certainty for when Brantley (shoulder) will debut this season, despite the optimism offered by general manager Mike Chernoff and other officials, Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reports.Heyman suggests 2017 is a lot like 2016, in that Cleveland is hoping Brantley can make significant progress. His complex surgeries and recovery should force fantasy owners to express similar caution, though as his price craters, it'll be hard to pass on the talented bat, for whatever portion of the season he plays.
Feb 21 2017Brantley (shoulder) took part in fielding drills on Tuesday, Tom Withers reports.The good news is that Brantley is increasing his activity level, but the bad news is that his status remains "week to week." Before working in the outfield on Tuesday, he stepped into the batter's box Monday, although he never took a swing as he just worked on tracking pitches. Seeing Brantley up his participation is encouraging, but the outfielder remains a high-risk pick until a timetable for his return is established.
Feb 18 2017Brantley (shoulder) has advanced to the soft-toss stage of his hitting program, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.It's another step in the long recovery journey for Brantley, who still hopes to be ready for Opening Day. The coaching staff is being precautionary with the rehabilitation process and there haven't appeared to be any setbacks at this point in time. However, until there's a firmer timetable in place, it's hard to pinpoint when he'll return to live game action.
Feb 15 2017Brantley (shoulder) won't play in Cleveland's early spring training games but he still hopes to be ready for Opening Day, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.Reports have discussed that the embattled star is ahead of his rehab work, and this tidbit seems to say that the Indians aren't planning on taking any chances in his recovery process. Brantley is expected to progress past tee work relatively soon, so a firmer timetable for his return should be revealed as he progresses past that stage of his rehab program.
Feb 7 2017Brantley (shoulder) is at the "end stages" of his tee work, according to team president Chris Antonetti, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Slowly but surely, Brantley has increased the volume and intensity of his swings off the tee. He seems to be on the verge of taking the next step in his hitting progression, which will presumably be coach-pitch, soft-toss batting practice. The shoulder issues limited Brantley to just 11 games last year and the lost season has driven his cost down considerably, but his price figures to tick up if he looks healthy in spring training.
Jan 28 2017Brantley (shoulder) says he is ahead of schedule in his rehab and is hitting off a tee every day, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.This is more positive news for Brantley on the rehab front. He's currently doing two hitting sessions per day and says he feels better than he did at this time last year. The contingent goal is for Brantley to resume normal baseball activities by the end of spring training, but the outfielder cautions he won't rush anything.
Jan 18 2017Brantley (shoulder) is continuing to progress in his recovery and is now hitting off a tee, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.It appears Brantley is on track to be ready for spring training as he continues the long road back from shoulder surgery. The 29-year-old is still working towards resuming full baseball activities, but this is certainly a positive sign going forward.
Jan 3 2017Brantley (shoulder) began taking non-contact swings over the holiday break, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.A September report shed doubt on Brantley's four-month timetable, suggesting he could miss significant time in 2017, but the Indians have been adamant that Brantley will be ready for spring training. He played in just 11 games last season before being shut back down and ultimately undergoing a second shoulder surgery. Brantley turns 30 in May.
Dec 5 2016Brantley (shoulder) is expected to resume hitting after Christmas and remains on track to be ready for spring training, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.The 2016 season proved to be quite a disappointment for Brantley, who appeared in only 11 games for the Indians after experiencing several setbacks in his return from shoulder surgery. The talented outfielder will make for an intriguing draft day gamble as he possesses the upside to be a potential league-winning player but comes with a fair amount of risk due to his recent injury history.
Nov 4 2016Brantley (shoulder) is expected to resume baseball activities in December, and the team anticipates that he'll be ready for spring training.Some reports cropped up that Brantley might miss some of the 2017 season due to his current shoulder ailment, but the Indians are sticking with the expectation that his injury will be a thing of the past in a month or so. That being said, Brantley's status is one to keep an eye on over the offseason, as the rate at which he recovers could determine his availability in the beginning of the season, as well as his ability to play the outfield during the spring.
Sep 29 2016Brantley, who had shoulder surgery a month ago, could miss significant time next season, Fanrag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.Per Heyman's report, Brantley's shoulder muscle was re-anchored to the bone -- a serious procedure that could cost him more time than initially believed. In response to Heyman's report, Brantley said, "maybe (Heyman) knows something I don't," according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian. The Indians maintain that the expected recovery time is four months, which would mean Brantley would be ready for spring training. This is a murky situation that should continue to develop during the offseason, but those who own Brantley in keeper leagues should be aware that he may not be ready for Opening Day next year.
Aug 16 2016Brantley underwent successful shoulder surgery Tuesday and is expected to make a full recovery in four months, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley was already ruled out for the season, but this report confirms there were no surprises with his surgery. He faces a lengthy recovery timetable, but if things go as planned, he should be ready to take the field when spring training begins in February.
Aug 13 2016Brantley (shoulder) will undergo season-ending surgery Monday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon-Journal reports.Brantley visited with a doctor earlier in the week who confirmed he's dealing with a tear in his biceps. The hope was that rest would be enough to allow Brantley to heal to the point that he could play through the ailment toward the end of the season, but he'll now opt for surgery, ending his 2016 campaign after just 11 major league games. The 29-year-old will turn his attention toward rehabbing in advance of the 2017 season.
Aug 11 2016Brantley's recent consultation with doctors confirmed the diagnosis of biceps tendinitis, MLB.com reports.The Indians plan on having a clearer path on the next steps for Brantley in the coming days but at this point things aren't trending in a positive direction. A return date when rosters expand in September appears to be the best case scenario at this point.
Aug 9 2016Brantley has been diagnosed with a reoccurence of biceps tendinitis, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.The Tribe recently sent Brantley to New York for a follow-up exam after he reportedly hit a wall in his attempt to ramp up his rehab program. Brantley underwent a procedure last month to remove scar tissue from his surgically-repaired shoulder, and it's uncertain how long he'll remain shut down following this setback. At this point, it would be surprise if Brantley made it back before rosters expand, if at all this season.
Aug 8 2016Brantley (shoulder) has again been stalled in his recovery attempts, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley had been making strides in what has been a long road to recovery following labrum surgery. Nonetheless, this new setback will certainly put his chances of returning this season in serious doubt. The 29-year-old has not played since May and remains without a definitive timetable.
Aug 3 2016Brantley (shoulder) continues to be limited to taking swings in the batting cage but has been able to increase his volume of swings, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.The Indians are balancing the fact that they don't want to rush Brantley back versus the fact that the minor league seasons are coming to an end in a few weeks and his ability to head out on a rehab program to see some game action may be jeopardy as a result. He continues to make progress but until he advances further in his rehab it's hard to pinpoint a potential return date.
Jul 29 2016Brantley took some swings from a pitching machine Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.It's a step in the right direction for Brantley who has had a tumultuous return from shoulder discomfort that's sidelined him since early May. There's likely to be an update on the 28-year-old's progress in the coming days after he sees how he feels following the hitting session.
Jul 26 2016Brantley (shoulder) remains without a timetable to return but says he is "very confident" he will return and have an impact this season, Chris Assenheimer of The Chronicle Telegram reports.Brantley had surgery last week to remove scar tissue from the shoulder that's nagged him all season and while he's yet to resume baseball activities, he's optimistic about returning this season. The 29-year-old will likely begin jogging and light-arm exercises in the coming weeks but could be held out all of August as he works his way back to full strength.
Jul 22 2016Brantley (shoulder) underwent a procedure to remove scar tissue from his shoulder, Zach Meisel of Clevelanddotcom reports.Brantley underwent an MRI on Wednesday after feeling additional discomfort in his shoulder which necessitated a procedure to remove scar tissue that had built up. While he's expected to resume baseball activities next week, he's likely due to spend another 3-4 weeks sidelined as he returns to full strength. He projects to return sometime in August as the Indians look to secure a top seed in the American League.
Jul 19 2016Brantley (shoulder) will undergo another MRI on Wednesday after feeling discomfort again in his shoulder while swinging a bat.Brantley will be forced to postpone his ongoing rehab after being unable to play in consecutive games over the weekend during his time in the minors. He recently moved to Double-A Akron for the next phase of his rehab, but only played Friday and Sunday before realizing that he still wasn't making the progress he needed to. There will be more information after Brantley's MRI on Wednesday.
Jul 19 2016Brantley (shoulder) was not able to play in consecutive games over the weekend as planned, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley was able to get into games on Friday and Sunday but didn't play Monday. This likely pushes Brantley's eventual return back a couple of days as the team looks to re-evaluate the rehab program in the coming days.
Jul 15 2016Brantley (shoulder), who will move his rehab to Double-A Akron on Friday, hopes to play in consecutive games soon, MLB.com reports.Brantley could be playing consecutive games by the start of next week as he works his way back. The Indians want Brantley to be able to handle a heavy load upon his return to the lineup so he'll need to prove he can handle consecutive games without incident in his rehab program as a first hurdle.
Jul 13 2016Brantley (shoulder) went 1-for-2 during Monday's rehab contest at Triple-A Columbus, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley said that his shoulder felt good after the game, and will likely compete in a couple more rehab games before returning to the Indians in the near future. He took batting practice Wednesday with Columbus and could return to the club before Cleveland begins their series with Baltimore on July 22.
Jul 10 2016Brantley (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Short-Season-A Mahoning Valley on Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley is expected to play five innings for Mahoning Valley on Monday and if all goes well, he will advance to Low-A Lake County on Wednesday and Double-A Akron by the weekend. The 29-year-old has been out of game action since May 9 as he recovers from shoulder and biceps discomfort but appears to be nearing 100 percent. When the outfielder eventually returns to big league action, he'll resume a .231/.279/.282 slash line through 39 major league at-bats this season.
Jul 8 2016Indians manager Terry Francona said that Brantley (shoulder) has been recovering well in his rehab. He is scheduled to take BP for the third straight day on Saturday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.There is still no definitive date on when Brantley will begin his minor league rehab, but obviously this is a great sign in his progression. If all continues to go well, expect Brantley to rejoin the Indians at some point shortly after the All-Star break.
Jul 7 2016Brantley (shoulder) is scheduled to take another round of batting practice Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley continues to take positive steps as he returns from a shoulder injury as he will now take batting practice for a second consecutive day. Brantley remarked that his Monday batting practice session was "pain-free" and after taking another one Thursday, he appears to be nearing full strength. The Indians are still without a time-table for a rehab assignment but given the 29-year-old's marked progress, it should be just around the corner.
Jul 5 2016Brantley (shoulder) took batting practice Monday for the first time since landing on the DL in mid-May, MLB.com reports. "I feel great. I was able to take BP pain-free, able to swing the bat like I normally do. It's a great feeling," Brantley said following his batting practice session.The Indians will wait and see how Brantley feels the next few days before deciding on their next course of action but he could be cleared for a rehab assignment by the All-Star break if things continue to progress.
Jul 3 2016Brantley (shoulder) is scheduled to take batting practice later this week, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.The Indians moved Brantley to the 60-day DL earlier Sunday, but that was merely a formality, since the outfielder's recovery timetable was always expected to extend beyond that span. There does seem to be growing optimism that Brantley may be able to return soon after when he's first eligible, though, as he's shown evidence of incremental progress over the last few days. He was able to hit off a tee last week and complete a soft-toss program, and batting practice would represent another step in the right direction. He could be ready to head out on a rehab assignment during or soon after the All-Star break.
Jul 3 2016Brantley (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day DL on Sunday, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.The transaction isn't of much consequence for Brantley, as his move to the 60-day DL means he can return no earlier than July 9. The Indians weren't planning to have the center field back until after the All-Star break anyway, so how quickly Brantley progresses through rehab activities with his shoulder will ultimately have more bearing on when he's activated. For the time being, it looks like the Tribe will go with a combination of Tyler Naquin, Rajai Davis and Abraham Almonte in center field.
Jun 30 2016Brantley (shoulder) has progressed to soft toss and the Indians remain optimistic that he'll be able to make an impact in the second half of the season, MLB.com reports.Brantley's working his way back and has only recently resumed swinging a bat after a cortisone shot to help alleviate biceps tendinitis so a return is hardly imminent but he appears to be trending in a positive direction.
Jun 28 2016Brantley (shoulder) was able to hit off a tee for the second consecutive day Tuesday, MLB.com reports. "I think he took 50 or 55 swings and by all accounts really did well," manager Terry Francona said. "We'll let him continue on this path until we get home, and then we'll get our eyes on him and maybe start to set up a little bit of a calendar."Brantley's most certainly out until after the All Star break given his current status and the Indians wanting to avoid another setback but it's his first step forward since receiving a cortisone shot last week for some biceps tendinitis.
Jun 28 2016Brantley (shoulder) resumed hitting drills Monday, Jon Morosi of MLBNetwork reports.After suffering several setbacks in May and June, Brantley appeared to be progressing on the right track until he once again reported more discomfort in his shoulder last week. An examination was subsequently conducted which revealed that he has biceps tendinitis, for which he was given a cortisone shot. A week has elapsed since then and he is just beginning to resume hitting activities. Although it's a positive step, the injury appears to be lingering and Brantley could require another three to four weeks before he's able to return to game action.
Jun 21 2016Brantley (shoulder) received a cortisone shot Tuesday and is dealing with right biceps tendon tendinitis.Brantley has continued to experience discomfort in his shoulder and was re-examined Tuesday, revealing the tendinitis. He still hasn't progressed to taking live batting practice and it appears he's suffered something of a setback, so he'll likely take the next few days slowly after receiving the cortisone shot. The 29-year-old had been able to take soft toss, but it's unclear what the next steps will be once he resumes baseball activities.
Jun 15 2016Brantley (shoulder) continues to take soft toss but hasn't been able to progress to live batting practice, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley's avoided any setbacks recently but appears to be stuck in neutral at the moment as he works his way back from a shoulder injury and remains with a firm timetable on a possible return.
Jun 13 2016Manager Terry Francona said Monday that Brantley (shoulder) is "progressing just like he's supposed to," Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Francona added that Brantley is still in soft-toss phase but this is still positive news in regards to his return. Despite the absence of a timetable, the All-Star seems to be on the right track.
Jun 7 2016Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti said Tuesday that Brantley (shoulder) is without a timetable for a return, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "There's nothing new," Antonetti said. "We've tried to be transparent with it. We don't have a definitive timetable. We need to work off Michael and how he responds to activities. We'll continue to do that."Antonetti echoed manager Terry Francona's sentiment from Monday; basically that Brantley has had no setbacks in his recovery, and the team isn't sure when he'll be back. A Yahoo Sports report from Monday suggested there is "serious concern" within the organization that Brantley could miss significant time. Antonetti said it's not the team's expectation that Brantley will miss a big part of the season. "But we don't have crystal ball," he added.
Jun 6 2016Brantley (shoulder) could miss a significant amount of time, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports.Brantley has been on the 15-day DL since May 14, and the Indians were hoping he could be ready in mid-June, however there seems to be a negative outlook coming from the organization about his status. No specifics regarding his timetable for return have been released but more information should be released soon.
Jun 6 2016Manager Terry Francona was noncommittal when asked about an earlier report that Brantley (shoulder) could miss a significant amount of time, the Indians' official site reports. "We've been really forthright in saying that the timetable is on him getting better," Francona said. "Absolutely there's been no setbacks. Nothing's changed."The Indians have taken a cautious approach with Brantley, who's just recently started to work in some light swinging in his recovery. There's never been a firm timetable for a return, and although it doesn't sound like he's experienced a setback, there's still a lot of uncertainty around his recovery progress.
Jun 6 2016Manager Terry Francona was non-committal when asked about an earlier report that Brantley (shoulder) could miss a significant amount of time, MLB.com reports. "We've been really forthright in saying that the timetable is on him getting better," Francona said. "Absolutely there's been no setbacks. Nothing's changed."The Indians have taken a cautious approach with Brantley and he's just recently started to work in some light swinging in his recovery but there's never been a firm timetable for a return. It doesn't sound like he's experienced a setback but there's still a lot of uncertainty around his recovery progress.
Jun 2 2016Brantley (shoulder) hit off a tee Thursday and hopes to take soft toss Friday, MLB.com reports.The Indians continue to take a cautious approach to Brantley's rehab but he's made some steady, albeit slow, progress in recent days. His ability to handle and respond positively to increased activities will go a long way in determining the next steps in his recovery.
May 30 2016Brantley (shoulder) remains limited to non-contact swings and light hitting off a tee, MLB.com reports.The Indians are taking a cautious approach with Brantley to avoid another setback once he's able to return. He's been sidelined since May 10 and a return doesn't appear imminent.
May 27 2016The Indians are hopeful that Brantley (shoulder) will be able to ramp up his rehab work soon, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "He'll take some dry swings today and might do some tee work depending on how he feels," said manager Terry Francona. "We haven't been real aggressive with this. We wanted to let this anti-inflammatory shot really do its work. Now we'll start to ramp him up. Like we said all along, we want him to get better and stay better. So we've been a little bit cautious the first nine or 10 days back into it."The Indians figure to proceed with caution to make sure Brantley's able to avoid any further setbacks once he's back in the lineup but he doesn't appear to be near an imminent return given his current status.
May 23 2016Brantley (shoulder) will resume hitting activities Tuesday, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.Brantley remains on the 15-day DL with a shoulder injury, but this is a step in the right direction for his recovery. The 29-year-old is hitting .231 and has yet to hit a home run through 11 games this season.
May 18 2016Brantley (shoulder) may not resume swinging a bat until next week and remains without a firm return date, MLB.com reports.Brantley received and anti-inflammatory injection during a checkup Tuesday and the Indians figure to give him 5-7 days to let it calm down before resuming hitting activities which would seem to put his earliest return date of May 26 in serious jeopardy.
May 17 2016Brantley (shoulder) received an anti-inflammatory injection for his subacromial impingement Tuesday. The Indians announced that there is no timetable for his return.The star outfielder was placed on the 15-day disabled list over the weekend after aggravating the same shoulder injury that forced him to start the year on the DL. He met with Dr. Craig Morgan on Tuesday and he received an injection to reduce inflammation in the area, but there is still no word on when Brantley will be able to resume baseball activities. In his absence, Jose Ramirez will likely see most of the playing time in left field for the Indians.
May 17 2016The Indians have not released the results of Brantley's trip to the doctor Tuesday, but manager Terry Francona said that the check-up on Brantley's shoulder was "encouraging," MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.An official and full update on Brantley's status figures to be available soon, but early indications point to the exam going well.
May 16 2016Brantley (shoulder) will meet with the doctor who performed his surgery Tuesday, MLB.com reports.The visit should hopefully shed some light on Brantley's status and next step in his rehab progress as the Indians look to get their arms around a potential timetable for a return.
May 14 2016Brantley (shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day DL on Saturday, WTAM 1100's Nick Camino reports.The move can be backdated to May 10, as Brantley has missed the last three games with the shoulder ailment. This is obviously troubling, as Brantley had labrum surgery on his right shoulder in November, and returned only to play 11 games before being sidelined again with shoulder trouble. The team has not released a timetable for Brantley's return to action. Michael Martinez was called up from Triple-A as a corresponding move. Martinez, 33, offers little fantasy upside, and Jose Ramirez will likely see the bulk of the action in left field while Brantley is out.
May 13 2016Brantley (shoulder) will be reexamined Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.He is out of the lineup again Friday, marking his third straight absence, and the exam will determine whether additional rest is needed or if Brantley can resume hitting. Manager Terry Francona said Friday that talk of a possible DL stint for Brantley is "premature." Brantley has gone 9-for-39 (.231 average) with two extra-base hits since his return late last month.
May 13 2016Brantley (shoulder) remains out of the lineup Friday against the Twins.The Indians were hoping that Brantley could return to the starting lineup after three days of rest, but it appears that his shoulder is still bothering him a bit. With a fourth day off, though, he could return for Saturday's matchup with Minnesota. Jose Ramirez will get the starting nod in left field in his stead.
May 11 2016Brantley (shoulder) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Astros, Zach Meisel of Cleveland.com reports.Brantley is dealing with a minor shoulder injury, and he'll be held out of the lineup Wednesday, as anticipated. The Indians are off Thursday, so Brantley will have an opportunity to get back on the field Friday coming off of three full days of rest.
May 10 2016Brantley is out of the lineup Tuesday against the Astros.Brantley went 0-for-4 Monday, as he's struggled to the tune of a .231/.279/.282 slash line since returning from the disabled list. Jose Ramirez will draw another start in left field in his absence and bat sixth against Houston starter Chris Devenski.
May 10 2016Brantley (shoulder) is out of the lineup Tuesday and is expected to sit Wednesday as well, Zack Meisel of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Per manager Terry Francona, Brantley's shoulder is still not bouncing back in ideal fashion. With a team off day Thursday, it sounds like Brantley will be afforded three full days to rest the shoulder with eye toward returning for this weekend's series against the Twins. Brantley turned in a four-hit game last week but is just 9-for-39 with two extra-base hits (both doubles) in 11 games since his return from the DL.
May 7 2016Brantley is not in the lineup Saturday against the Royals.Jose Ramirez is swinging a hot bat, and the Indians opted to get him in the lineup in left field while providing a day off for Brantley on Saturday. Brantley should be the primary left fielder for the Indians going forward, however.
May 1 2016Brantley isn't in the lineup Sunday against the Phillies, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley had started four games in a row after being activated from the DL on Monday. He's off to a 2-for-17 start to the season, but some rustiness was probably expected after offseason shoulder surgery prevented him from taking part in spring training. This is likely just a day off for maintenance purposes, so look for Brantley to return to the lineup when the Tribe opens up their series Tuesday with the Tigers.
Apr 27 2016Brantley went 1-for-3 with a walk, a steal and a run against the Twins on Wednesday.After an 0-for-4 performance in his first start of the year, Brantley got started on filling the back of his baseball card in this one. If he can stay on the field moving forward, Brantley should be a lock for double-digit homers and steals, with a shot at joining the 20-20 club for the second time.
Apr 25 2016Brantley (shoulder) has been activated from the 15-day DL for Monday's game against Minnesota.He'll take the roster spot of Carlos Carrasco, who was placed on the DL on Monday as he's expected to miss four-to-six weeks with a hamstring strain. Brantley will likely slot back into the heart of the Cleveland order beginning with Monday's game at Target Field, where he initially injured his shoulder in September.
Apr 25 2016Brantley was activated from the DL on Monday, but he's not in the starting lineup against Twins lefty Tommy Milone.Brantley is 2-for-10 in his career against Milone, but it's somewhat surprising that he is not in the lineup upon activation from the DL. The corresponding move for Brantley's return was to play Carlos Carrasco on the 15-day DL, however, so the Indians simply added Brantley as an available bench bat Monday with the plan of starting him Tuesday against Ricky Nolasco.
Apr 24 2016Brantley (shoulder) will travel with the Indians to Minneapolis in advance of Monday's game against the Twins and could be activated from the disabled list in advance of the series, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.It sounds like Brantley will meet with manager Terry Francona and will be evaluated Monday morning by team trainers, who will make the ultimate decision on whether the outfielder returns. Francona noted Sunday that Brantley could still be activated Monday even if he's unfit to resume everyday duties in the outfield right away, suggesting that he could receive a couple days off this week if cleared to play. Brantley's eventual return should result in Jose Ramirez serving more a utility infielder rather than seeing part-time duties in left field.
Apr 22 2016Brantley (shoulder) could rejoin the Indians as soon as Monday if an evaluation Sunday goes well, MLB.com reports.Brantley is scheduled to play the second of consecutive games Saturday before being re-evaluated by the team's medical staff Sunday at which point he could be activated off the DL for Monday.
Apr 20 2016Brantley is scheduled to play back-to-back games Friday and Saturday with Triple-A Columbus.Playing back-to-back games is considered the last hurdle to overcome before returning to the Indians lineup, so given that the Indians felt confident enough to schedule it now is a very good sign. The schedule states that his location on Sunday is TBD, so things should become clearer following the second game of the back-to-back.
Apr 19 2016Brantley (shoulder) worked out with the Indians on Tuesday and will continue his rehab at Double-A Akron on Wednesday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley still needs to get in consecutive games in order to clear the final hurdle in his rehab but that could come shortly if he doesn't suffer any setbacks.
Apr 17 2016The Indians are hopeful that Brantley will be able to play in consecutive games at some point this week which should clear him for a return date soon thereafter, MLB.com reports.Brantley's soonest activation would appear to be around Wednesday of this week but that's far from certain at this point as he's yet to see action in back-to-back days during his rehab thus far.
Apr 15 2016The Indians appear to be committed to having Brantley playing in back-to-back games before activating him from the DL, MLB.com reports. " think the best way to put it is we want to make sure this works. We'd hate to get him back here and then find out that maybe he's not bouncing back, or he's not ready to bounce back," manager Terry Francona said.Brantley is scheduled for game action again Saturday and working out with the Indians on Friday and appears to be a mid-week option at best for the upcoming week.
Apr 14 2016Brantley (shoulder) said after Thursday's minor league game that he is "very happy" with how his shoulder has responded during his rehab assignment, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. He's slated to work out in Cleveland on Friday.Brantley got the day off Wednesday but got back into game action Thursday, going 1-for-2 in a minor league game. He told reporters that he's not sure of the Indians' plan for him moving forward in terms of a timetable, but the fact that he'll be at team facilities Friday is an encouraging sign.
Apr 13 2016Brantley (shoulder), who started his rehab at Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, will transition to Double-A Akron on Thursday and play every other day for about a week, MLB.com reports.If that timetable holds for Brantley he's likely looking at a return date around the end of April as the Indians will most certainly want him to appear in consecutive games before joining the Indians.
Apr 11 2016Brantley (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Columbus.The Indians have kept mum regarding Brantley's rehab assignment, but an official start date has now been announced. It's not clear how many rehab games he will need before joining the big club, but he can spend up to 20 days in the minors, and the Indians figure to give him ample time to get his stamina and swing back after Brantley was limited to just two official spring training games.
Apr 10 2016Branley (shoulder) continues to make progress in his workouts but there still is no firm timetable for the start of his rehab assignment, MLB.com reports. "He's feeling really good, so that's good. There's nothing to announce [about his game schedule]. We'll let the trainers talk to him and see what the next move is," manager Terry Francona said.He's most certainly out for the upcoming week and likely won't return until the end of April as he works his way back from shoulder surgery.
Apr 7 2016Brantley (shoulder) still has no timetable on when he'll head out on a rehab assignment and may not be back with the Indians until the end of April, MLB.com reports.Brantley's headed to Triple-A Columbus this weekend to workout but will not get into any games. Brantley didn't suffer any setbacks this spring but did have some lingering soreness once he tried to ramp things up for the start of the regular season so expect the Indians to tread with some caution here as he works his way back from offseason surgery.
Apr 6 2016Brantley (shoulder) will head to Triple-A Columbus to continue his rehab Friday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.It's unclear when Brantley might see some action in a minor league game but for now he'll shift his rehab to Columbus instead of travelling with the Indians as the head to Chicago for a weekend series.
Apr 3 2016Brantley (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day DL on Sunday, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley experienced some renewed tightness in his shoulder late in spring training, but it doesn't appear the Indians are considering it a major issue. He wasn't expected to be ready for Opening Day after undergoing surgery in November, but with his absence not expected to extend deep into the season, Brantley remains worthy of stashing in just about every format.
Mar 30 2016Brantley (shoulder) will resume his hitting program Friday, MLB.com reports.Brantley hasn't played in an exhibition game since March 21 due to some lingering shoulder soreness but will look to ramp things back up again Friday before being re-evaluated early next week. He's set to open the season on the DL but the Indians remain hopeful that he'll still be able to return earlier than initially expected.
Mar 27 2016Manager Terry Francona confirmed Sunday that Brantley (shoulder) won't begin the season as the Indians' left fielder, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley appears poised to avoid a DL stint once Opening Day arrives on April 4, as Francona said that outfielder will travel with the team. In the short term, though, Brantley has been shut down to give his shoulder a rest, with his last appearance taking place on Monday, March 21. If he indeed misses the first game of the season, Rajai Davis is the leading candidate to start in left field.
Mar 26 2016Brantley (shoulder) will likely start the season on the disabled list, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Manager Terry Francona said Saturday that Brantley will be sidelined for the remaining of spring training due to his shoulder injury. Brantley has been ahead of schedule in his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery, but it's becoming increasingly clear that he won't quite be ready when the Indians open their season. Rajai Davis is the likely candidate to start in left field on Opening Day.
Mar 25 2016Brantley (shoulder) is unlikely to be ready for Opening Day, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley appeared on track to be ready for Opening Day, but his progress has slowed and that seems doubtful. Cleveland has already been floating a plan to limit Brantley to minor league games so he can be placed on the DL retroactively, so he might not have to miss to much time to start the season. In his absence, several outfielders could see time at left field, including Rajai Davis, Joey Butler, and Marlon Byrd.
Mar 24 2016Brantley (shoulder) may be limited to minor-league exhibition games for the remainder of spring training in order to limit his time on the DL if he's not ready for the start of the regular season, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Any appearance in a major league exhibition game from Friday onward would be the date at which point a DL stint could be retroactive to so the Indians may limit him to minor league action to limit his stay on the DL if he starts the season on the disabled list. It's important to note that Brantley could still be ready for the start of the regular season but limiting him to minor league games could have him eligible to return about a week into the season even if he has to start on the 15-day DL.
Mar 23 2016Brantley (shoulder) will be given a few days off from game action after experiencing some problems bouncing back from a pair of games over the last few days, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley made his Cactus League debut Saturday and saw action again Monday and the Indians are simply going to give him some time off to let some residual side effects clear up.
Mar 20 2016Brantley (shoulder) didn't report any lingering soreness following his Cactus League debut Saturday and is expected back in the lineup Monday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley is trending towards a return for Opening Day as his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery continues to go exceedingly well.
Mar 20 2016Brantley (shoulder) went 1-for-3 with a home run in his major league spring training debut in Saturday's win over the Cubs. He also had an outfield assist. "They told me I was going to be ready when I told them I was ready," Brantley told MLB.com.Brantley had played in a minor league spring game Thursday. Brantley has said his goal is to be ready for Opening Day. He underwent labral surgery on his right (non-throwing) shoulder on Nov. 9 and initially it was thought he may miss a month or so of the regular season. It increasingly looks like he'll be ready for Opening Day, but we'll need to see how his shoulder responds to playing spring games.
Mar 18 2016Brantley (shoulder) grounded out in a pair of at-bats in a minor-league game Thursday.Results aren't important at this point for Brantley as he looks to take the next steps in his rehab as Opening Day approaches. Don't be alarmed if he's given a day off Friday after making his exhibition play debut Thursday.
Mar 18 2016Brantley (shoulder) will make his spring debut Saturday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.The 28-year-old grounded out in a pair of at-bats on the minor league side Thursday, but the team saw enough to feel comfortable inserting Brantley into the major league lineup. Brantley will be in left field Saturday and it looks like he still has a shot at Opening Day, though he will be cutting it very close with just over two weeks left in spring training.
Mar 16 2016Brantley (shoulder) will play in a minor league spring game Thursday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley is expected to play four or five innings in the outfield and get "a few" at-bats Thursday in what will be his first game action since November shoulder surgery. While the outfielder is ahead of schedule, he remains without a timetable to make his Cactus League debut.
Mar 15 2016Brantley's (shoulder) first game action figures to come in a minor league game later this month, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.The Indians medical staff still hasn't cleared Brantley for game action and his presence in a minor league won't necessarily put him on track to open the season with the Indians. We'll have a better idea of an eventual return date if he's able to participate in an exhibition game before spring wraps up.
Mar 11 2016Brantley (shoulder) took batting practice Friday for the first time this spring, MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez reports.He continues to progress in his recovery without setbacks, and it remains to be seen what the next step will be. This upcoming week will be a big stretch for his Opening Day chances. It still seems unlikely that he will be ready for the start of the season, but if he can get into game action next week, all bets are off.
Mar 7 2016Brantley (shoulder) was cleared to continue his hitting program after a follow-up examination Sunday, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports.The exam appears to be a planned follow-up, and all signs this spring regarding Brantley's chances of a mid-April return have been encouraging. The Indians' are woefully thin in the outfield, putting added importance on Brantley's return to full health in the coming weeks.
Mar 7 2016Brantley (shoulder) could be taking live batting practice swings by the weekend, MLB.com reports. "It was all according to plan, which is all good," manager Terry Francona said regarding Brantley's examination Sunday. "There's no red flags, nothing. He just got a really good report."Brantley and the Indians still haven't formulated the plans around his Cactus League debut and he's still looking at a mid-April return at this point but it's been nothing but positive news thus far for Brantley in his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery.
Mar 6 2016Brantley (shoulder) had his shoulder examined Sunday in an effort to give the Indians a better idea on the next step in his rehab program, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.It's important to note that the examination wasn't triggered by any sort of setback or discomfort but likely to give the Indians medical staff some clarity as they look to progress Brantley's rehab forward.
Mar 5 2016Brantley (shoulder) tracked live pitching in a batting practice session but has not progressed to taking any swings, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.All signs continue to point towards an earlier than expected return for Brantley but it's important to note that he hasn't taken any swings against live pitching to date. A return for Opening Day still seems out of the picture a mid-April return may be in the cards.
Mar 2 2016Indians manager Terry Francona remains optimistic that Brantley (shoulder) is ahead of the initial late April/early May timetable, although he would not go as far as saying he was optimistic about his star outfielder being ready for Opening Day, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.There is not an adjusted timetable available, but by reading between the lines, it seems like Brantley could return in mid-April. Brantley is not be a lock to reach double-digit homers or double-digit steals if he misses too much time, so it would be a boon for his owners if he only missed a couple weeks. It is unclear how much the shoulder issue will affect him at the plate though, so his value should be slightly discounted in that respect as well.
Feb 29 2016Brantley (shoulder) progressed to hitting soft toss Monday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Before Monday, the outfielder was only able to take swings off of a tee, so it's good to see some solid evidence of his progression through the rehab process. There is no indication that his timetable has changed, so barring any extraneous leaps in his rehab program, Brantley will likely miss Opening Day and return a few weeks after the start of the season.
Feb 25 2016Brantley (shoulder) continues to progress but remains limited to hitting from a tee, MLB.com reports.It's certainly good news that Brantley hasn't suffered any setbacks thus far as he works his way back from offseason shoulder surgery. He's still unlikely to be ready for Opening Day but we'll have a better idea once he's able to take the next step forward in his rehab.
Feb 22 2016Brantley (shoulder) hopes to take some swings against live pitching soon, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "There's a whole schedule laid out and I know we've got to go over it and kind of see how each day lines up. I'm not sure where we're going from here right now, but we should be starting to hit some baseballs here soon," Brantley said Monday.Brantley remains optimistic about his chances of getting ready for Opening Day but the Indians are still preparing to open the season with him on the DL following November shoulder surgery. Taking some swings against live pitching is the next hurdle to clear as he works his way back.
Feb 22 2016Brantley (shoulder) has graduated to hitting off of a tee, and is still targeting Opening Day for his return, Jordan Bastain of MLB.comWhile Brantley may still insist Opening Day is a possibility, WTAM 1100's Nick Camino notes that it's probably not a realistic goal. A breakout star in 2014, Brantley backed that up with another well-rounded 2015 campaign, derailed only by an injuries that limited him to just 137 games. Timetables for Brantley have generally ranged from mid-April to early May, but more clarity on the situation should come as the regular season approaches.
Feb 19 2016Brantley (shoulder) took the day off Thursday after his first day of non-contact swings Thursday, MLB.com reports. "He's doing really well, which is not a surprise. I hate to say he's ahead of schedule, because I don't think that's fair to him. He's got a lot of hurdles," manager Terry Francona said.Brantley's timetable still has a fair amount of uncertainty surrounding it but it's encouraging to see that he's already taking some dry swings. Expect the Indians to take it slow with Brantley in the early weeks of spring training.
Feb 17 2016Brantley (shoulder) took non-contact swings at the team's spring training facility Wednesday, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.This will probably be standard for Brantley over the coming weeks, as he is not expected to return from labrum surgery until late April or early May. That timetable is far from precise, and if he misses too much time, a fourth straight double-double season would be tough to accomplish. That said, he has hit above .284 in four straight seasons, so his reasonable floor is four months of a high average hitter who is hitting near the top of Cleveland's lineup.
Feb 14 2016Brantley (shoulder) is expected to return from labrum surgery sometime in late April or early August, but the projection is admittedly hazy, Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com reports.Hoynes reports that the Indians have been encouraged by Brantley's recovery, but the uncertainty surrounding when he can begin his rehab isn't exactly reassuring. Any extended absence will have to be covered by Rajai Davis and Collin Cowgill in left field. What's also worrying is that Brantley apparently enjoys swinging in the offseason, which could potentially lead to a slow start. "In the off-season people know I love to hit," said Brantley. "I hit a lot. It's just been a change in my timetable."
Feb 14 2016Brantley (shoulder) is expected to return from labrum surgery sometime in late April or early May, but the projection is admittedly hazy, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.Hoynes reports that the Indians have been encouraged by Brantley's recovery, but the uncertainty surrounding when he can begin his rehab isn't exactly reassuring. Any extended absence will have to be covered by Rajai Davis and Collin Cowgill in left field. What's also worrying is that Brantley apparently enjoys swinging in the offseason, which could potentially lead to a slow start. "In the offseason people know I love to hit," said Brantley. "I hit a lot. It's just been a change in my timetable."
Feb 14 2016Brantley (shoulder) is expected to return from labrum surgery sometime in late April or early May, but the projection is admittedly hazy, Paul Hoynes of cleveland.com reports.Hoynes reports that the Indians have been encouraged by Brantley's recovery, but the uncertainty surrounding when he can begin his rehab isn't exactly reassuring. Any extended absence will have to be covered by Rajai Davis and Collin Cowgill in left field. What's also worrying is that Brantley apparently enjoys swinging in the offseason, which could potentially lead to a slow start. "In the off-season people know I love to hit," said Brantley. "I hit a lot. It's just been a change in my timetable."
Feb 2 2016Indians manager Terry Francona acknowledged that it is unlikely Brantley (shoulder) will be ready to rejoin the team's lineup by Opening Day, the Indians' official site reports. "He won't open the season, most likely, with us," Francona said of Brantley. "We'll look at a number of guys. We'll see what fits the best. We'll probably have some platooning going on, especially earlier in the year. There's a number of guys that are coming in [to help]."A report in December suggested that Brantley was behind schedule in his rehab following offseason shoulder surgery, but the Indians quickly released a statement to shoot that down. With Lonnie Chisenhall already expected to see regular time in right field against right-handed starters, there may be an open competition in spring training for the starts on that side of the platoon in left while Brantley goes through the final stages of his recovery in April. Barring the addition of a left-handed hitting veteran to the outfield mix this spring, Tyler Naquin and James Ramsey could emerge as candidates to work in tandem with Rajai Davis, Joey Butler, and Collin Cowgill.
Dec 7 2015The Indians announced Monday that Brantley is on track in his recovery from shoulder surgery and is not facing an absence longer than originally expected.A report came out Monday that suggested Brantley could be out until June, but the Indians reiterated that they expect Brantley to need 5-to-6 months to recover from the early November procedure. There is still a chance Brantley will not be ready for Opening Day, but as long as his recovery continues going as planned, he should be back at 100 percent sometime in April or May.
Dec 7 2015Brantley (shoulder) may be held out of games until June, but the Indians have disputed that report, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.The report of the longer timetable is from a source close to the situation. Nevertheless, Brantley is coming back from a major shoulder procedure (on his front shoulder) and it's reasonable to err on the side of caution in early drafts at least until there are signs of significant progress in his rehab work.
Nov 9 2015Brantley (shoulder) underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder Monday. He's expected to be out for 5-to-6 months.Brantley initially injured the shoulder while diving for a ball back on Sept. 22 against the Twins. Initially, he attempted to rehab without surgery, but after seeking a second opinion, it was recommended that he undergo the procedure. Given the 5-to-6-month timetable, Brantley's Opening Day status is in jeopardy, and he's likely to miss at least a small portion of time at the start of the 2016 season.
Sep 30 2015Brantley (shoulder) will miss the remainder of the regular season after receiving a cortisone shot in his shoulder Wednesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley returned to the lineup for both Sunday and Monday's games, but sat out again Tuesday after suffering a setback with his shoulder issue. He will now miss the remainder of the season, but should be ready for the start of spring training unless something unforeseen prevents it.
Sep 29 2015Brantley (shoulder), who wasn't in the lineup Tuesday before the game was postponed, could be shut down for the rest of the regular season, MLB.com reports.Brantley was scheduled to meet with a team doctor to discuss his persistent shoulder soreness but there's a chance the Indians will decide to play it safe and simply shut him down for the remainder of the season. Don't expect him back in the lineup for Wednesday's double header in all likelihood.
Sep 27 2015Brantley (shoulder) will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Royals, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley has missed four straight games while dealing with this ailment, and although manager Terry Francona was anticipating a Monday return, he'll have his No. 3 hitter back in action for the Sunday afternoon contest. Brantley will return to his regular spot in left field, sending Mike Aviles back to the bench.
Sep 26 2015Brantley (shoulder) could be cleared to play Sunday, but manager Terry Francona said a Monday return is more realistic, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.The team said initially after Brantley was scratched from Friday's lineup that the outfielder did not suffer any sort of setback, but Brantley is sitting again Saturday and it sounds like the odds are against him playing in the series finale against Kansas City. Mike Aviles starts in left field Saturday after Michael Martinez got the nod Friday.
Sep 26 2015Brantley (shoulder) remains out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Royals, Paul Hoynes of the Northeast Ohio Media Group reports.Brantley was a late scratch from Friday's lineup due to a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the previous two contests, and he will skip another contest Saturday. Mike Aviles will start in left field in his place, batting ninth for the Indians.
Sep 25 2015Brantley (shoulder) is improving but still may be held out of the lineup Friday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "He's doing better," manager Terry Francona said. "He hit in the cage today (Thursday). I don't know if he'll play Friday, but I guess the fact that we're even thinking about it means that he's getting closer."Brantley's missed the last two games but looks to be a factor at some point over the weekend as Cleveland tries to get back into the playoff hunt.
Sep 25 2015Brantley was scratched from Friday's lineup.Brantley was initially penciled in to return to the lineup after a two-game absence due to a shoulder injury, but has since been scratched. The Indians announced that Brantley did not suffer any setbacks, but opted to give him an extra day of rest before returning to the lineup, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Sep 25 2015Brantley (shoulder) is back in the lineup Friday against the Royals.After missing the previous two games with a right shoulder injury, Brantley apparently improved enough for manager Terry Francona to slot him back into the lineup. The 28-year-old will man his usual left field duties and bat third.
Sep 24 2015Brantley (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Twins.Brantley will sit out for the second straight day due to the shoulder injury he suffered in Tuesday's game. Mike Aviles will get another start in left field in Brantley's place.
Sep 23 2015Brantley (shoulder) is out of Wednesday's lineup against the Twins.Brantley exited Tuesday's game because of the shoulder issue, and it will cost him Wednesday's contest as well. The team hasn't released an update beyond a left shoulder issue at this time, but the severity should be clarified at some point in the near future.
Sep 22 2015Brantley left Tuesday's game with a right shoulder injury, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes reports.He injured the shoulder on a diving attempt to catch a Aaron Hicks triple in the third inning and was replaced by Michael Martinez. Brantley was 0-for-2 before exiting, and his status will be updated when the team updates the severity of the injury.
Sep 19 2015Brantley recorded three base hits and two RBI in Friday's 12-1 win over the White Sox.The lefty-versus-lefty matchup against Chicago's Chris Sale didn't faze Brantley, which has been a trend throughout the season. Brantley is hitting .305 versus left-handers and has a comparable .323 mark versus righties, though he typically hasn't shown as much power against same-handed pitching.
Sep 13 2015Brantley is out of the lineup for the second game of a doubleheader Sunday against the Tigers.Brantley went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in the first game Sunday, but he'll take a rest for Game 2. Jerry Sands will start in left field in his place, batting sixth for the Indians.
Sep 7 2015Brantley is out of the lineup Sunday against the White Sox, ESPN Chicago reports.Brantley will hit the bench with the Sox bringing a tough lefty to the mound in Chris Sale for Monday's series opener. Jerry Sands will cover left field in Brantley's place.
Aug 29 2015Brantley went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in an 8-3 win over the Angels on Saturday.The power has been a bit down this season for Brantley, but he is still posting elite numbers. In 115 games played, Brantley has posted a .324 average with 11 homers, 72 RBI, and 14 steals. The most impressive part of his season is that he is hitting lefties just as well as he's hitting righties, batting over .300 against both sides.
Aug 25 2015Brantley went 3-for-4 with a pair of homers, three runs, four RBI, a walk and a stolen base Tuesday against the Brewers.It's hard to offer more fantasy production in one night than Brantley produced Tuesday. Predictably Brantley does not appear likely to match his power numbers from his breakout 2014 campaign (even after Tuesday's performance), but his approach has actually improved, as he has 51 walks compared to 42 strikeouts this season.
Aug 19 2015Brantley (shoulder) played catch prior to Wednesday's game but still isn't ready to return to the outfield, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "There's no urgency to rush him back to the outfield," said manager Terry Francona. "We have his bat in the lineup."Brantley's been able to DH the last three games but won't be rushed back into outfield until he's completely healthy.
Aug 19 2015Brantley (shoulder) went 3-for-4 with a double and a run against the Red Sox on Wednesday.Shoulder ailment or no, Brantley's been hitting quite well recently -- over the three games with the Red Sox, he went 6-for-13 with two doubles, a homer, two RBI and three runs. He'll continue DHing until he's fully ready to return to his outfield duties.
Aug 17 2015Brantley (shoulder) is back in the starting lineup as the designated hitter, batting third in Monday's game against the Red Sox, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.Brantley missed the last four games with left shoulder inflammation, but will return to the lineup as the DH for Monday's series opener against the Red Sox. Ryan Raburn will head to the bench to make way for Brantley in the lineup.
Aug 16 2015As expected, Brantley is not in the lineup Sunday against the Twins, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley will continue to receive treatment for a left shoulder injury, with the hope being that he responds well and can return during the upcoming three-game series in Boston. In his absence, manager Terry Francona will turn to an outfield composed of Mike Aviles (left), Abraham Almonte (center) and Jerry Sands (right).
Aug 16 2015Brantley is expected to miss Sunday's series finale against the Twins while he continues to recover from a left shoulder injury, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "He's getting treatment," said manager Terry Francona. "I doubt very much he'll play Sunday. I think the best thing he could do would be swing the bat Sunday because I don't want him to go cold turkey into a game."Though a recent MRI showed that Brantley was dealing with nothing more than inflammation in the shoulder, the resulting soreness has still kept him off the field the last two games. It doesn't sound like Brantley is far away from returning, however, so he could be a candidate to play in Monday's contest in Boston.
Aug 14 2015Brantley is considered day-to-day due to left-shoulder inflammation, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley stayed behind in Cleveland to undergo an MRI, but will join the team in Minnesota at some point Friday night. While it seemed peculiar that he was out of the lineup for the second time in three games, now the reason behind it has been revealed. Mike Aviles will take his place in let field Friday, but Brantley could rejoin the lineup within the next few days if his shoulder swelling decreases.
Aug 14 2015Brantley's (shoulder) MRI on Friday returned clean, and he received a cortisone shot, but will likely miss the weekend series against the Twins, Paul Hoynes of the Northeast Media Group reports.Brantley will join the team in Minnesota on Friday, but probably won't be in the lineup. In his absence, The Indians will likely turn to either Mike Aviles (who's starting Friday) or Ryan Raburn in left field.
Aug 14 2015Brantley is out of the lineup Friday against the Twins, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley will skip his second in three games Friday, but there's no indication that it's an injury-related absence. Mike Aviles will receive the start in his place, batting ninth for the Indians against Trevor May and the Twins.
Aug 12 2015Brantley is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Yankees.He has racked up three hits in each of his last three games, and multiple hits in each of his last six starts, but Brantley will sit Wednesday against lefty CC Sabathia, as he did the last time Cleveland faced a southpaw. While Brantley is batting .299/.364/.420 against left-handed pitching this season, he's just 1-for-11 in his career against Sabathia. Mike Aviles will get the start in left field.
Aug 11 2015Brantley went 3-for-6 with two doubles, a walk, a RBI and a run Tuesday against the Yankees.Brantley scored a run that tied the game at four in the 10th inning, and followed that up with a game-winning single in the 16th. He's absolutely on fire, as he's recorded three hits in each of his last three games, and he's also 15-for-30 over his last seven contests.
Aug 5 2015Brantley is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Angels.Brantley will sit Wednesday with the left-handed Hector Santiago on the mound for the Angels on what is likely a scheduled day off. Mike Aviles will start in left field and bat eighth in his place.
Jul 22 2015Brantley had a huge game Wednesday against the Brewers, going 4-for-5 with a double, a homer, four RBI and two runs.Although Brantley has certainly been a fantasy asset this year, he hasn't lived up to last year's elite numbers -- with seven homers and nine steals, he's still well short of a 20-20 pace, and his average (while very, very good) is still 25 points short of last year's outstanding .327. You may quite not be receiving full value from the draft pick or auction dollars you spent on him, but Brantley's still getting the job done.
Jun 7 2015Brantley is out of the lineup Sunday against the Orioles, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley is 3-for-6 over his career against Orioles starter Bud Norris, but manager Terry Francona decided his star outfielder could benefit from a rest after starting all but one of the Indians' previous 13 games. David Murphy will check in as the left fielder with Brantley on the bench.
Jun 7 2015Brantley was held out of the lineup Sunday against the Orioles to rest his stiff back, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.It appears to be little more than a maintenance day for Brantley, who will be able to take advantage of two days of rest with the Indians off the schedule Monday. He's expected to be ready to play again Tuesday, when the Indians open up a series with the Mariners.
Jun 3 2015Brantley is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals.Brantley has not had a day off in a while and went just 3-for-17 over his last four games, so manager Terry Francona decided to hold him out Wednesday with left-hander Jason Vargas on the mound for the Royals. Ryan Raburn will get the start in left field in Brantley's place.
May 23 2015Brantley is out of the lineup Saturday.Brantley is slashing .319/.397/.511 and is one of the game's best outfielders in both fantasy and reality, so this is just a rare day for him to get some rest. David Murphy will get the start in left field and is hitting third Saturday.
May 8 2015Brantley was 1-for-4 with a solo home run in a losing effort against the Twins on Friday night.He has hit well pretty much all season - now sporting a .337 average - but he suffered through a power drought with no April home runs. That said, since the calendar flipped over to May, he has popped three long ones and appears primed to post another big year following up on his monster 2014.
May 3 2015Brantley went 1-for-4 Saturday with a walk, an RBI and two stolen bases.He's hitting .432 (16-for-37) over his last nine games, driving his slash line on the season up to .338/.384/.485. It seems safe to say that Brantley's back is feeling just fine at the moment.
May 1 2015Brantley doubled twice and added an RBI single in four at-bats Thursday against Toronto.He's been a nearly unstoppable hitting machine lately, having gone 15-for-35 (.429) over the last nine games. However, after delivering a 20-20 campaign last season, Brantley's still looking for his first homer of 2015, and he's only got one steal to his credit so far.
Apr 25 2015Brantley went 4-for-4 Saturday with two doubles, an RBI and his first stolen base of the season.He accounted for half of the Indians' hits on the day. Brantley is now slashing .286/.324/.343 with three multi-hit performances in his last four games.
Apr 18 2015Brantley (back) went 2-for-5 in Friday's loss to Minnesota. He had missed six of Cleveland's first eight games due to a back issue, including Wednesday's game.It looks like a day off has him able to play, but he may continue to serve as the DH as he did Friday.
Apr 17 2015Brantley (back) will serve as the designated hitter and bat third Friday against the Twins, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.After missing six of the team's first eight games to start the year due to a back issue, Brantley will slot back in to face right-hander Mike Pelfrey in the opener against Minnesota. Brantley is 1-for-10 with a walk in his career against Pelfrey. It's uncertain when he may be cleared to return to the field, but Brantley appears safe to deploy in all formats this weekend.
Apr 15 2015Brantley (back) was able to hit in the batting cage and do some work in the outfield prior to Wednesday's game, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.The Indians are optimistic that he'll be able to return Friday following the team's off day Thursday.
Apr 15 2015Brantley (back) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game again a the White Sox.While Brantley will be held out again Wednesday, manager Terry Francona is encouraged by his progress, and the Indians are hoping that Brantley will be able to return to action following a team off day Thursday. Mike Aviles will start in left field for the Indians on Wednesday afternoon.
Apr 14 2015The Indians are optimistic that Brantley (back) will be able to return Friday, MLB.com reports. "I think he's really trending in a good way," manager Terry Francona said Tuesday. "If you see him playing tomorrow, he's perfect. Because, with the day off [Thursday], we want to make sure we get him going in the right direction and keep him going in the right direction."Brantley's missed five of the first seven games this season but appears to be avoiding a DL stint at this point. Look for the Indians to hold him out Wednesday in advance of the off day Thursday with an eye towards a Friday return.
Apr 14 2015Brantley (back) remains out of the lineup Tuesday against the White Sox.Brantley will test his back in batting practice prior to Tuesday's game, but the team is set on not want to return their star player to action before he's ready. With Brantley owning just a 1-for-12 career mark against Hector Noesi, Wednesday's scheduled starter for Chicago, it would make sense if the Tribe held Brantley out at least through Thursday's off day.
Apr 13 2015Brantley (back) will take batting practice prior to Tuesday's game against the White Sox, FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal reports.The report did not indicate whether or not Brantley would be ready to go for Tuesday's game, but it did say it is possible he could be held out until the weekend with the Indians facing left-handers Tuesday and Wednesday in advance of a team off day Thursday. Those who are considering Brantley for fantasy purposes this week may not get a definitive answer on his status until sometime Tuesday, but the Indians want to get him back to 100 percent, so don't be surprised if he misses more game action this week.
Apr 12 2015Brantley (back) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Tigers.Brantley left Friday's contest with what was referred to as a "stabbing" back pain, and has now missed back-to-back games a result. Consider the 2014 breakout player day-to-day until further notice, with Mike Aviles standing to gain reps in his stead. With a team off day on the schedule Monday, manager Terry Francona may just be taking a conservative approach.
Apr 11 2015Indians manager Terry Francona said Brantley felt a "stabbing" pain in his back late in Friday's game, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Further, Francona admitted he probably shouldn't have returned Brantley to action Friday, as the issue quickly resurfaced and Brantley is now back on the bench for Saturday's game. Apparently, the team has discussed a possible DL stint, but the consensus has been that it's unnecessary, even though the issue has bugged Brantley since the start of spring training. Mike Aviles is getting the start in left field Saturday.
Apr 11 2015Brantley is out of the lineup Saturday against the Tigers.Brantley seemed to be out of the woods with the back injury, playing a full nine innings Friday and doubling in four trips after missing two games, but it seems the issue may have resurfaced. Mike Aviles will man left field Saturday against lefty David Price with Jason Kipnis moving back down to the three-hole in the batting order. Consider Brantley day-to-day until the team elaborates.
Apr 10 2015Brantley (back) is batting third and starting in left field for Friday's game against the Tigers, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.It wasn't a good sign for Brantley's availability when the Indians recalled outfielder Jerry Sands from Triple-A Columbus, but it now appears the team just wants to keep another bat on the bench. Brantley will return from a two-game absence for a favorable matchup with right-handed Alfredo Simon.
Apr 9 2015Brantley (back) is out of the lineup again Thursday, Fox Sports Ohio's Joe Reedy reports.He continues to deal with lower-back stiffness and will miss his second straight game Thursday. While manager Terry Francona said he was hopeful Brantley would miss just one game, anything the manager says in a scenario like this when we're dealing with back discomfort should be taken with a grain of salt. David Murphy gets the start in left field Thursday. Consider Brantley day-to-day for now.
Apr 8 2015Brantley (lower back stiffness) was a late scratch Wednesday.The news came out less than two hours before Wednesday's game, so hopefully owners were able to react quickly and get someone else in their lineups. Mike Aviles takes Brantley's spot in left field Wednesday and will bat ninth. This is somewhat concerning, especially considering Brantley missed about a week in spring training with the same back issue.
Apr 8 2015Manager Terry Francona is hopeful that Brantley (back) will be able to play Thursday against the Astros, Ryan Lewis of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.Francona said Brantley felt great entering Wednesday, but he apparently injured his back while reaching for something and was unable to go Wednesday night. The Indians are "perplexed" by what Brantley is exactly dealing with, but the team's medical staff will take a look at him Thursday morning and determine if he is able to return to action.
Apr 3 2015Brantley (back) has gone 6-for-13 at the plate since returning to the lineup Sunday.Brantley missed just five days of spring training action, and it appears he's more than ready for the regular season. While he only has one home run in 41 at-bats this spring, Brantley still owns a gaudy .366/.409/.463 slash line, having struck out just four times.
Mar 28 2015Brantley (back) will miss Saturday's game, but is expected to play Sunday against the White Sox, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes reports.This is excellent news as his recovery from a tight back seems to be progressing well. Check back to make sure he is able to play Sunday, but if he clears that hurdle, his status for Opening Day will be looking good.
Mar 28 2015Brantley (back) missed his fourth straight game due to back stiffness but is showing signs of improvement, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "He's doing much better," said manager Terry Francona. "I told him point-blank, 'I don't care if you miss a few games or a few at-bats. Let's get you healthy so you're not thinking about this during the regular season.'"Don't be alarmed if Brantley is held out for a few more days to make sure this is behind him when the season starts. Brantley dealt with some back problems earlier in camp which raises same concerns but this doesn't look like anything that will impact his readiness for the start of the regular season.
Mar 26 2015Brantley is dealing with back tightness and will be sidelined for a few days, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley is not expected to miss significant time, but the issue is certainly something to monitor as the regular season approaches quickly.
Mar 26 2015Brantley (back), who missed his third straight Thursday with back tightness, could be sidelined for a few more days, MLB.com reports.The Indians took a cautious approach with Jason Kipnis in a similar situation so don't be alarmed if Brantley is sidelined through the weekend.
Mar 16 2015Brantley (illness) was back with the team Monday, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.He appears to be getting over the flu-like symptoms that bothered him last week and should be back in the lineup in the very near future.
Mar 15 2015Brantley was held out of action Sunday due to the flu, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.The Indians have had a number of players come down with the flu this spring and Brantley is the latest victim. He'll be back in a couple of days.
Mar 2 2015Brantley will make his spring debut Thursday against the Reds, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley was suffering from a sore lower back issue last week and skipped the team's sprint competition as a precautionary measure, but it appeared to be just a minor injury. He should be back out there with no restrictions going forward.
Feb 26 2015Brantley (back) was back on the field Wednesday and the Indians remain unconcerned about his balky back, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. "He's doing fine," manager Terry Francona said. "He went out this morning and did some stuff on the field. There's no reason on Feb. 25 [to overdo it]. He's getting all his work done."Don't be alarmed if Brantley remains a little limited in the coming days to avoid this becoming a bigger issue but he should be good to go when exhibition play starts up.
Feb 24 2015Brantley skipped Tuesday's team sprint competition due to a sore lower back, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.There's been no word of any other limitations, so Brantley is probably just dealing with some minor soreness. He played at least 149 games in each of the last three season.
Sep 28 2014Brantley is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rays.Brantley will get a ceremonial day off on the final day of the season after putting together an impressive 2014 campaign. J.B. Shuck will get the start in left field in Brantley's place.
Sep 19 2014Brantley was 2-for-5 with a solo home run in the Indians' loss to Minnesota on Friday night.The home run, his 20th, gives him a 20/20 season with 21 steals. With his .322 average and 95 RBI, his amazing year has a been a huge bright spot for the Indians and his fantasy owners.
Sep 14 2014Brantley went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Cleveland's loss to Detroit on Sunday.Brantley also swiped a base in the defeat, putting him at 21 steals for the season. Brantley has raised his batting average from .310 to .320 so far in September, and has logged multi-hit efforts in three straight games.
Sep 7 2014Brantley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Cleveland's victory over the White Sox on Sunday.Brantley, slashing .317/.375/.497 with 18 home runs, 89 RBI and 19 stolen bases on the year, extended his hitting streak to 11 games in the win. During the streak, Brantley is hitting .452 (19-for-42) with six doubles, six RBI and three stolen bases.
Aug 24 2014Brantley is out of the lineup Sunday against the Astros, MLB.com reports.Brantley is going through a rare rough spell at the plate, collecting only three hits in his last 30 at-bats to drop his season average from .325 to .311. The outfielder will get a day off to refocus, with Mike Aviles drawing into the lineup in his stead.
Aug 14 2014Brantley went a collective 3-for-9 with two RBI during Wednesday's doubleheader with the Diamondbacks.Brantley, who sustained a leg injury last week, had been limited to DH duties in recent days, but was back in the outfield Tuesday and also manned center for the first contest of the doubleheader. While the All-Star should see his power numbers decline a tick from here, there's no major red flags in his batted ball profile to suggest a steep regression of his .325 batting average is in order.
Aug 10 2014Brantley (leg) has been limited to DH duty the last three days. He went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a walk Sunday in that capacity.Brantley's status has made the Indians' outfield situation even more tenuous, with Nick Swisher and David Murphy going on the DL on Sunday. They had to start Ryan Raburn, Chris Dickerson and an out-of-position Zach Walters in the outfield Sunday.
Aug 7 2014Brantley (leg) is in the Indians' lineup Thursday against the Reds.While Brantley stayed in Wednesday's game initially after appearing to hurt his leg in the third inning, he was ultimately removed as part of a double switch in the seventh. Manager Terry Francona downplayed the issue afterward, saying, "He's OK. I just think he's been on his legs a lot," and Brantley's inclusion in Thursday's lineup suggests his removal was indeed precautionary.
Aug 6 2014Brantley left Wednesday's game with an apparent leg injury, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.A double switch removed Brantley from the game in the seventh inning, and he appeared to hurt his leg on a catch in the third inning. It's unclear what the nature of the ailment is, but consider him day-to-day until we learn more.
Aug 4 2014Brantley went 2-for-6 with a walk-off home run Sunday against the Rangers.Brantley has six multi-hit games in his last eight tries, including four in a row. There aren't many doubters left at this point, as Brantley is on pace for 23 homers, 101 RBI, 107 runs and 18 steals. His .323 BABIP is about what you'd expect given his batted-ball profile, though his HR/FB (14.8 percent) will be hard to maintain, as last season's mark of 6.8 percent previously represented his career high.
Aug 1 2014Brantley was 3-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI in Cleveland's rout of the Rangers on Friday night.He went through short cool spell, but the three hits boosted his average back up to a dazzling .320 and he now has 68 RBI on the season.
Jul 18 2014Brantley enjoyed another solid day at the dish going 4-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and his 11th swipe in a win over the Tigers on Friday night.His breakout season continues with the four-hit game boosting his average to .329 on the season. His mix of modest power and speed have made him a valuable piece in many fantasy team lineups and he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Jul 8 2014Brantley went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a home run Tuesday against the Yankees.He did most of his damage off A.L. Cy Young candidate, Masahiro Tanaka, and looks to be finishing off a tremendous first half on a high note. Brantley's ability to put the ball in play has been particularly keen lately, as he has now logged 59 consecutive plate appearances without striking out -- the longest active streak in the majors.
Jul 4 2014Brantley was 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a losing effort against the Royals on Friday night.Brantley is enjoying a breakout season and now has 13 home runs and 55 RBI to go with a very solid .314 average. His long one in this game came with no outs in the ninth and broke up a shutout bid by Royals youngster Yordano Ventura, but it was the only highlight of the night for the Indians.
Jun 22 2014Brantley went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI in Sunday's 10-4 loss to the Tigers.Brantley showed some rest in his return Saturday from his four-game absence due to a concussion by going 0-for-5 at the dish, but it didn't take him long to rediscover his hot-hitting ways. Now that everything seems to check out fine on the health front, Brantley can safely be inserted into fantasy lineups for the upcoming week.
Jun 21 2014Brantley (concussion) is back in the Indians' lineup Saturday against the Tigers.Brantley sustained a mild concussion Monday, and after failing to contribute in three consecutive games, the Indians forecast his return by sending him in as a pinch hitter Friday. On Saturday, he'll assume his typical spots in left field and third in the order.
Jun 20 2014Brantley (concussion) returned to action in a pinch-hitting role Friday and singled in his only at-bat. Brantley passed all of his pregame tests Friday and figures to resume his starting role Saturday, but owners in daily formats should verify that he's in the lineup before utilizing him.
Jun 20 2014Brantley (concussion) will be re-evaluated after batting practice on Friday with the hope of returning to the lineup Saturday, Joe Reedy of Fox Sports Ohio reports.Brantley participated in some limited pregame activities prior to Thursday's contest and plans to take part in all activities before Friday's game. Saturday is likely the earliest Brantley could be available for the Indians and seems like a possibility given the regimen he has undergone in the past few days.
Jun 19 2014Brantley (concussion) took part in limited pregame activities Thursday but plans for full baseball activities Friday, the MLB.com reports.Brantley was able to run and throw Thursday in addition to some time in the batting cages. If he passes all the tests Friday you can expect him back in the lineup Saturday.
Jun 18 2014Brantley (head) remains out of the Indians' lineup Wednesday versus the Angels, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley is missing his second game in a row due to a collision suffered while sliding into second base Monday. A timetable for his return is unknown, but consider him day-to-day for now. In his place, Mike Aviles will cover left field, while Ryan Raburn moves over to right.
Jun 18 2014Brantley (head) has a mild concussion and won't return to the lineup until Saturday, at the earliest, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Zack Meisel reports.This comes after he was thought to return to action Tuesday before getting scratched late after getting hit in the head on a slide Monday. The team says he was diagnosed with the concussion Tuesday, and is progressing well, and Mike Aviles figures to see the action in left field until Brantley is cleared to return.
Jun 17 2014Brantley will not start Tuesday night after being listed in the initial lineup. He's still feeling the effects of a collision from Monday's game, Zack Meisel of the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports.The Indians will evaluate Brantley again Tuesday, while an adjusted lineup without him has not been announced yet.
Jun 17 2014Brantley (head) is back in the Indians' lineup Tuesday against the Angels.Brantley took a blow to the head in Monday's contest on a slide into second base, but apparently no concussion symptoms have emerged in the ensuing hours. He'll slot into his normal spots in left field and third in the order.
Jun 16 2014Brantley passed initial concussion tests after exiting Monday's game, but he is dealing with a stiff neck and will be re-evaluated Tuesday, Zack Meisel of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley took a blow to the neck while sliding into second base during Monday's game, and he was subsequently replaced by Mike Aviles. The 27-year-old outfielder pushed his hitting streak to nine games before his exit, thus boosting his slash line to .323/.391/.519, while collecting RBI no. 46.
Jun 16 2014Brantley was removed from Monday's game as a precaution after he suffered a blow to the head/neck area after a slide into second base in the third inning, Fox Sports Ohio's Joe Reedy reports.He was replaced in left field by Mike Aviles, and it doesn't sound like this is anything serious. The Indians will no doubt evaluate Brantley sometime before Tuesday's game, and for now he should be considered day-to-day.
Jun 15 2014Brantley went 2-for-4 with a walk and a home run in Sunday's 3-2 win over the Red Sox.The red-hot Brantley has produced exactly two hits in five consecutive games and established a new career-best with his 11th home run of the season. Brantley's power numbers figure to taper off in the second half, but his skills as a contact-hitter and baserunner (9-for-9 on stolen base attempts) will continue to make him an above-average fantasy asset in the outfield.
Jun 10 2014Brantley went 3-for-3 with two walks, a solo home run and five runs scored Monday in the Indians' 17-7 thrashing of the Rangers in Arlington.Brantley's fourth inning home run off Scott Baker was his 10th of the season. The 27-year-old outfielder is hitting .307/.373/.498 through 62 games with the Indians thus far in 2014.
May 18 2014Brantley went 2-for-3 with a homer, two walks, and two RBI in Sunday's loss to the Athletics.The homer was Brantley's eighth of the season, making him an unlikely power source on a lineup full of underachievers. With Nick Swisher and Carlos Santana each turning in another hitless performance Sunday, expect Brantley to remain in the third spot in the order until further notice.
May 16 2014Brantley (back) is back in the lineup Friday, the Indians' official Twitter feed reports.He missed Thursday's game with a sore back, but he's back Friday, batting third and playing left field. Deploy him as usual.
May 15 2014Brantley (back) is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Blue Jays.Back tightness led to an early exit from Wednesday's game, and while the Indians said Brantley's removal was strictly precautionary, the 27-year-old will miss at least one start as a result of the ailment. Ryan Raburn will draw the assignment in left Thursday, but if Brantley's forced to miss additional time, Jesus Aguilar could see some time in the outfield.
May 14 2014Brantley was removed from Wednesday's game for precautionary reasons due to middle-back tightness.Brantley doubled off the Blue Jays' Dustin McGowan to open the top of the fifth inning and came around to score on a Carlos Santana homer, but was replaced by Nyjer Morgan in left to open the bottom of the frame. The team was quick to label Brantley's removal as precautionary, suggesting he's likely not in danger of hitting the DL, but it wouldn't be all that surprising to see him sit out Thursday's series finale.
May 8 2014Brantley continued his early-season power surge Thursday, going 3-for-5 with his sixth homer, three RBI and two runs in a win over Minnesota.He's now got an eight-game hitting streak going -- raising his average from .253 to .289 in the process -- and is already just four homers short of the career-high 10 he hit last season. Brantley's also got a sparkling 29 RBI, good for third in all of baseball. It's early to tell whether this is truly a new leaf for Brantley, who turns 27 next week, but his plate discipline has been very strong (he owns an 11:10 BB:K) and he's certainly at the right age for a breakout.
May 2 2014Brantley collected three hits, including his fifth homer of the season, and drove in three runs Friday.Brantley's been struggling lately but has been one of the few offensive bright spots for the Indians so far this season.
Apr 30 2014Brantley is out of the Indians' lineup Wednesday at the Angels.After tallying just one hit in his last 17 at-bats, Brantley will hand over the keys to left field to Mike Aviles, who will bat second in the order.
Apr 21 2014Brantley had just one hit Monday, but did damage with it, cranking a two-run home run off of Jeremy Guthrie.Brantley has now homered in back-to-back games, and has three bombs and eight RBI in his last five contests. The Indians' outfielder seems to be showing a bit more pop this season than in years past to go along with his .282 average.
Apr 20 2014Brantley was 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two runs scored and two RBI Sunday afternoon against the Blue Jays.Brantley belted his third homer of the season in the second inning off Brandon Morrow, starting an overall solid day at the plate for the 26-year-old. He's 19-for-67 to start the season, to go along with 16 RBI.
Apr 17 2014Brantley went 2-for-5 with his second homer and four RBI in Thursday's loss to Detroit.Although he's not hitting for much more power or average than he usually does, Brantley's got a surprising 14 RBI in 15 games this season, largely due to hitting behind the Indians' high-OBP middle of the lineup. He's certainly a playable outfielder in AL-only and deep mixers.
Apr 1 2014Brantley collected a pair of hits, both doubles, in Monday's win over the A's.Brantley's coming off a scorching spring at the plate and will bat fifth most night for the Indians behind some nice OBP option in Nick Swisher, Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana which should give him plenty of RBI chances.
Mar 21 2014Brantley collected three hits and drove in three runs Friday.It's been a relatively uneventful spring for Brantley, who will open the season as the team's everyday left fielder.
Feb 10 2014Brantley signed a four-year, $25 million extension with the Indians on Monday that includes a fifth year team option at $11 million, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley turned a career-best 611 plate appearances into a breakout season in 2013, finishing with career highs in homers (10), RBI (73), runs (66) and steals (17). His peripherals were essentially in line with expectations across the board, but an improved Cleveland lineup and a few extra homers boosted Brantley's counting stats. The 26-year-old veteran is back as the Indians' starting left fielder in 2014, and the extension means that he'll likely occupy that role for the foreseeable future. Brantley is nothing special as a player, but he's solid in all aspects of the game and should safely provide league-average production with the bat.
Sep 22 2013Brantley drove in a pair of runs for the second consecutive game Sunday.Brantley's been one of the lone bright spots offensively for the Tribe lately and has now hit safely in his last seven games.
Sep 15 2013Brantley is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against Chris Sale and the White Sox.Brantley, Michael Bourn, and Jason Kipnis will all sit, as Sale has held left-handed hitters to a remarkable .136/.204/.157 slash line this season.
Sep 12 2013Brantley is not in the lineup Thursday against the White Sox.With southpaw John Danks on the mound for the White Sox, manager Terry Francona will remove lefties Brantley and Lonnie Chisenhall from the lineup. The White Sox are slated to start two more lefties in the four-game series, so expect either Brantley or Michael Bourn to receive another day off in the outfield over the weekend.
Sep 9 2013Brantley (personal) is back in the Indians' lineup Monday against the Royals.After missing the past three outings due to the birth of his daughter, Brantley will slot back in his normal spot in left field and fifth in the order. Over the 10 outings prior to his recent absence, he put up a more than fair .333 average (12-for-36), one RBI, two runs, and three steals.
Sep 8 2013Brantley (personal) will more than likely rejoin the Indians for Monday's game versus the Royals, MLB.com reports.Brantley and his wife welcomed a daughter to their family Saturday, which has kept him away from the team since Friday. Before the birth, the outfielder had emerged from an extended slump, picking up hits in nine of 10 outings. During the stretch, he hit a steady .333 (12-for-36) with one RBI, two runs scored, and three stolen bases. If he does return Monday, expect him to take on his usual spot in left field.
Sep 6 2013Brantley was a late scratch from Friday's lineup, as he left the team for the birth of his child.Brantley figures to be out for one-to-three days, so a return early next week looks like the worst-case scenario. Jason Kubel will start in left field Friday night, while Drew Stubbs handles right field.
Sep 4 2013Brantley is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles.Though he rarely gets a day off, Brantley will sit Wednesday against left-handed hurler Zach Britton. Brantley has always struggled against lefties, but owns a somewhat acceptable .257/.313/.306 slash line against them this year.
Aug 14 2013Brantley went 2-for-5 with a run scored and three RBI Wednesday afternoon.Brantley has now hit safely in nine of his last 10 games. The Indians' outfielder has put together a very solid season in 2013, hitting .281 with eight home runs and 12 stolen bases.
Aug 10 2013Brantley is out of the Indians' lineup Saturday against the Angels.Brantley currently holds a six-game hitting streak, during which he's batting .375 (9-for-24) with one long ball, two RBI, five runs scored, and one stolen base. He'll make way for Ryan Raburn, who will cover left field and bat fifth in the order.
Jul 31 2013Brantley had a productive day at the plate Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.Brantley's big day Wednesday puts a nice bow on what was a successful month of July for the Indians' outfielder. Brantley hit .318 while driving in 13 runs and recording nine extra-base hits this month.
Jul 29 2013Brantley is not in the Indians' lineup Monday versus the White Sox, Newsradio WTAM 1100 AM reports..Brantley will sit for the second time since the All-Star break, as Ryan Raburn slides over to left field and Drew Stubbs handles right. Meanwhile, Brantley has notched hits in seven of the past eight games, during which he hit .321 (9-for-28) with three RBI, three runs, and one stolen base.
Jul 24 2013Brantley is not in the Indians' lineup Wednesday in Seattle.Brantley last took a seat during one end of a June 28 doubleheader. Since that date, he has tallied a hit nearly every day, batting .311 (23-for-74) with two long balls, 12 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three steals in 20 outings. In his stead, Mike Aviles will cover left field and bat sixth in the order.
Jul 21 2013Brantley hit a bases-clearing triple as the Indians bested the Twins on Sunday.Brantley managed just one hit on the afternoon, but it opened up a 3-0 lead in the fifth inning, after which the Indians, led by Justin Masterson's seven frames of one-run ball, did not look back. The month of July has been very kind to Brantley, as he's hit .288 with two homers, 12 RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases. His stellar plate presence, as evidenced by his 27:42 BB:K ratio in 339 at-bats, ensures his status as a staple of the Indians' outfield.
Jul 8 2013Brantley went 2-for-3 with two walks, one run scored and one stolen base Monday against the Indians.Brantley has really hit the ball well in his last two games as he is a combined 5-for-7 with two home runs, five RBI, four runs scored and one stolen base. He's not known for his power, but he does provide solid all-around production for fantasy owners.
Jul 4 2013Brantley collected four hits and drove in a run in a loss to the Royals on Thursday.Brantley's hitting .324 (12-for-37) in his last ten games after the four-hit effort Thursday.
Jun 28 2013Brantley is not of the Indians' lineup for Game 1 of Friday's doubleheader at the White Sox.Brantley will step aside for Mike Aviles, who will take on left field and bat ninth. Meanwhile, Brantley has been on a power surge over the last eight games, clubbing three homers in his last 27 at-bats.
Jun 24 2013Brantley went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and one run scored Monday against the Orioles.Brantley is quietly putting together a solid campaign as he is now hitting .278 with five home runs, 37 RBI, 32 runs scored and seven stolen bases.
Jun 19 2013Brantley went 2-for-3 with three RBI Wednesday against the Royals.Brantley is now hitting .277/.331/.369 on the year and has been a solid contributor with Mark Reynolds slumping, and Nick Swisher banged up.
Jun 9 2013Brantley is not in the lineup Sunday against the Tigers.Brantley just looks to be receiving the day off after turning in two consecutive 0-for-4 days at the plate. Ryan Raburn will get the start in left field after he supplied a two-run home run in Saturday's loss to the Tigers.
Jun 4 2013Brantley will move up to the #3 spot in the Indians' order with Asdrubal Cabrera sidelined, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Cabrera is expected to land on the DL but the length of absence is still not known at this point. Brantley figures to get at least a short-term uptick in his value as a result.
Jun 3 2013Brantley is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees.Brantley is hitting .286 against southpaws this season, but he will sit out Monday as the Indians employ a righty-heavy lineup against Yankees starter Andy Pettitte. Ryan Raburn will man left field in Brantley's place.
May 31 2013Brantley is not in the Indians' lineup Friday against the Rays, Nick Camino of Newsradio WTAM 1100 reports.Brantley will get what looks like a regular rest Friday while Ryan Raburn mans left field. It's Brantley's first time out of the lineup since May 18.
May 19 2013Brantley homered and drove in four runs in his return to the lineup Sunday.Brantley was given a routine day off Saturday and certainly made up for the lost time Sunday.
May 18 2013Brantley is not in the starting lineup Saturday.With Brantley on the bench, Mike Aviles is drawing into the lineup to play left field Saturday.
May 15 2013Brantley is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.Brantley is hitting .333 in May, and .296 against left-handers this season, but he will sit out Wednesday as the Indians go with a righty-heavy lineup against Phillies starter Cole Hamels. Ryan Raburn will get the start in left field in Brantley's place.
May 7 2013Brantley is not in the Indians' lineup against the Athletics.Brantley has tallied at least one base knock in seven of the last eight outings, raising his average from .260 to .289. During that span, he's posted one homer, three RBI, seven runs scored, and one stolen base. His absence will allow Mike Aviles to take over in left field and bat eighth Tuesday.
Apr 29 2013Brantley went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and pair of doubles in Monday's win at Kansas City.Brantley doesn't have a home run or steal so far this sesaon, but he's been hot at the plate lately with four mutli-hit games in his last eight. He's also been batting leadoff recently, so he should be a good source of runs at the very least.
Apr 27 2013Brantley went 2-for-5 with a double and a triple in the Indians' loss to the Royals on Saturday.The triple was Brantley's first of the season after he hit six in 2012 and seven in 2011. Brantley struggled in his first few games in the leadoff spot, but he has gone 8-for-23 with three extra-base hits over his last five contests.
Apr 20 2013Brantley drove in three runs in a 19-6 rout of the Astros on Saturday.Brantley's been moved up to the leadoff spot with Michael Bourn on the DL with a finger injury. He had drive in just two runs on the season prior to Saturday.
Apr 8 2013Brantley will return to the lineup for Monday's home opener against the Yankees, batting fifth in the order and manning left field.The right-handed hitting Ryan Raburn got the nod in left Sunday against Rays ace David Price. So far this season, Brantley has batted .353/.476/.353 with one RBI and three runs scored in 17 at-bats. While he hasn't provided much run production to date, he should eventually be a nice source of RBI, if he continues to hit in the middle of the order.
Apr 7 2013Brantley is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rays, Newsradio WTAM 1100 reports.A tough left-hander in David Price is on the mound Sunday, so manager Terry Francona has opted to overload his lineup with right-handed bats. Ryan Raburn will make the start in left field in place of Brantley.
Apr 3 2013Brantley collected four hits and drove in a run Wednesday.Brantley's batted fifth in the order in each of the team's first two games with Michael Bourn handling the leadoff duties as expected. Bump Brantley up a bit if he continues to hit in the middle of the lineup.
Mar 10 2013Brantley (forearm) will return to the lineup Sunday as the designated hitter, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley is scheduled to play only a few innings after slicing his forearm in his last appearance on Feb. 25 against the Athletics. He should slide back into an outfield spot in the coming days.
Mar 7 2013Brantley (foream) is expected to see game action by Sunday, Nick Camino of WTAM Cleveland reports.Brantley has not played since Feb. 25 due to a cut on his forearm that required stitches, but it appears the wound has healed. Brantley will need a couple days of batting practice to get his swing back, but expect him to take the field sometime this weekend.
Mar 5 2013Brantley (forearm) has resumed all baseball activities except for on-field batting practice. He is due to have his stitches removed "soon."The laceration Brantley suffered Monday required 15 stitches, but it appears that he should be good to go once the stitches are removed, which is expected to occur sooner rather than later.
Mar 1 2013Brantley (forearm) could be cleared to resume limited baseball activities early next week, the team's official site reports.Brantley needed 15 stitches due to a laceration suffered Monday but has been able to resume some conditioning drills this week. He'll have plenty of time to get ready for the regular reason once he's back healthy.
Feb 26 2013Brantley (forearm) is expected to miss the next 10 days of spring training action, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.Brantley required 15 stitches on his left arm after he was spiked during Monday's contest against the Athletics. Although he'll be unavailable for most of the next two weeks, the lengthy spring training should allow him to get an ample amount of at-bats while allowing him to adjust to a corner outfield move.
Feb 25 2013Brantley left Monday's exhibition after suffering a cut on his left forearm while sliding into third base. He received stitches following the game and is considered day-to-day.The Indians will reevaluate Brantley's arm Tuesday, but cuts to the skin aren't typically the kind of injuries that sideline players for lengthy periods of time. While the team will probably keep him out of the lineup for the next couple of games as a precaution, Brantley's arm injury shouldn't prevent him from getting all the reps he'll need during the spring.
Feb 12 2013Brantley is expected to play mostly left field this season, Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 reports.The acquisition of Michael Bourn will move Brantley to left field and Drew Stubbs in right field, giving the Indians one of the rangier outfields in the big leagues. With Bourn also expected to bat leadoff for the Indians this season, Brantley could be a candidate for the No. 2 hole in the lineup, where his decent on-base skills and ability to steal the occasional base would slot in well.
Oct 11 2012Brantley had surgery to repair a sports hernia in the left side of his abdomen Thursday, MLB.com reports.Brantley will face a recovery window of three-to-six weeks, giving him plenty of time to get ready before spring training. Brantley had the best season of his major league career in 2012, batting .288 with 37 doubles, six homers and 12 stolen bases.
Oct 3 2012Brantley is not in the lineup Wednesday, the Indians' official Twitter reports.It looks like the Indians are packing it in for some of their regulars in the final game of the season, as Carlos Santana and Asdrubal Cabrera will also be getting the day off. Jason Donald starts in center field in place of Brantley.
Oct 1 2012Brantley (groin) is back in the lineup Monday, the Indians' official Twitter reports.Brantley has missed five of the last six games due to the groin injury, but after receiving three at-bats Saturday, it looks like Sunday was a rest day more than anything. It appears Brantley will be in the lineup for the Indians for the remaining three games of the season.
Sep 30 2012Brantley (groin) is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Royals, the Indians' official Twitter page reports.Brantley was able to pinch hit in Saturday's loss to the Royals, but apparently his groin is not healthy enough to return Sunday. He could be back in the lineup Monday.
Sep 30 2012Brantley (groin), who wasn't expected back in the lineup until possibly Monday, pinch hit in Sunday's 14-inning marathon loss to the Royals.Brantley finished the night with four at-bats despite not entering the game until the eighth inning. The Indians will likely see how he feels prior to Sunday's game before deciding if he'll return to the starting lineup or not.
Sep 29 2012Brantley (groin) took batting practice Saturday but isn't expected to return until Monday, the team's official site reports.Brantley could return Sunday but the team is likely to give him another day to get back to full health.
Sep 28 2012Brantley (groin) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, according to the Indians' official Twitter page.The Indians were hoping Brantley would be able to play Friday, but apparently he is still too sore to give it a go. Ezequiel Carrera will start his fourth straight game in center field in Brantley's place.
Sep 26 2012Brantley (groin) is not in the lineup Wednesday, the MLB.com reports.Brantley will sit for the third straight night with the groin injury, ushering Ezequiel Carrera into center field in his place.
Sep 26 2012The Indians hope to have Brantley (groin) back in the lineup Friday, the team's official site reports.Brantley missed his third straight game Wednesday but the Indians are hopeful that a scheduled day off will enable to get Brantley back in the lineup Friday. "We're just going to take advantage of the day off," manager Manny Acta said. "We'll give him the day off [Wednesday], plus tomorrow, and he should be ready to go."
Sep 25 2012Brantley (groin) was once again out of the lineup Tuesday against the Whitesox, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports on Twitter.This will be Brantley's second straight game that he's missed due to a groin injury suffered last weekend. Indian's manager Manny Acta told reporters that Brantley could miss a couple more games, as well.
Sep 24 2012Brantley is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Yankees, MLB.com reports.It appears it's a scheduled off day for Brantley, who is recently getting over a chest injury. He's started the past seven games for the Indians, but Ezequiel Carrera will take his place in center field Monday.
Sep 24 2012Brantley is out of Monday's lineup with a groin injury, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.According to Indians manager Manny Acta, Brantley could miss a couple games with the ailment.
Sep 16 2012Brantley (chest) will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Tigers, the Indians' official Twitter page reports.Brantley, who was out of the starting lineup the past three games for the Indians with a chest injury, will start in center field and bat fifth in the order Sunday.
Sep 14 2012Brantley (chest) wasn't deemed available off the bench for Friday's game, the team's web site reports.It will likely be Sunday before Brantley is able to rejoin the starting lineup as a result.
Sep 14 2012Brantley (chest) is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Tigers, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley missed Thursday's game with the same left pectoral soreness. He will get another day to heal, with Ezequiel Carrera drawing the start in center field.
Sep 13 2012Brantley was scratched from Thursday's lineup with left pectoral soreness, the Indians' official website reports.The injury isn't considered a serious one, so consider him day-to-day for the time being. Ezequiel Carrera shifts over to center field to cover for Brantley.
Sep 4 2012Brantley went 1-for-2 with two walks, one run scored, and an RBI during Cleveland's 3-2 victory Tuesday in Detroit.Brantley, whose RBI double opened the scoring, has now reached base in six games in a row, batting 4-for-20 (.200) with five walks, two runs, and one RBI. While the numbers aren't stellar, at least he's putting himself into a position to steal bases -- he has 12 in 131 games this season -- or better yet, be driven in by teammates.
Sep 3 2012Brantley is back in Monday's lineup against the Tigers, according to the Indians' official Twitter page.Brantley is back in the cleanup spot for Cleveland on Monday after giving way to Ezequiel Carrera in center field Sunday.
Sep 2 2012Brantley is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rangers, according to the Indians' official Twitter page.Brantley will get the day off with left-hander Derek Holland getting the start for the Rangers. Ezequiel Carrera will get the start in center field in Brantley's place.
Aug 15 2012Brantley went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a pair of RBI, and his fifth home run of the season against the Angels on Tuesday.A solid performance out of Brantley in this one. He has a tendency to be a streaky hitter (2-for-20 prior to this game), so this may be the beginning of a hot streak.
Aug 12 2012Brantley is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Red Sox, the Indians' official Twitter page reports.Brantley will be out of the lineup for the first time since June 1. The 25-year-old outfielder continues to hit the ball with consistency, as he's 11-for-37 with five doubles to begin August. Ezequiel Carrera will get the nod in center field Sunday, but look for Brantley to be back in there Monday to take on Angels lefty C.J. Wilson.
Jul 14 2012Brantley was 3-for-4 with two runs, and a two-run home run against Toronto on Saturday afternoon.He has put together a pretty nice season so far, hitting .299 and contributing 44 RBI with a handful of stolen bases. This was just his fourth homer of the year, so he doesn't help a lot in power production, but his overall stats have generally been a plus for his fantasy owners.
Jul 8 2012Brantley went 3-for-4 with a walk and a double in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Rays.Brantley has put together a nice .288 batting line this season, and a surprisingly high 42 RBI. Though his total of 10 steals on the season is perfectly acceptable, he'll need to up that total in the second half to enhance his fantasy relevance.
Jul 1 2012Brantley is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Orioles, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Brantley will be out of the lineup for the first time since May 25 as Aaron Cunnningham starts in center field and bats ninth against lefty Brian Matusz.
Jun 15 2012Brantley singled in Thursday's loss to the Reds, extending his hitting streak to 21 games.As much as Brantley's hitting streak is starting to draw a little attention, there's been a lot of one-hit games in there. His overall numbers as a center fielder are decent, not great - .285/.321/.393. The team was wise to move him out of the leadoff spot, as he's drawn just 13 walks all season. The decent batting average and nine stolen bases will still help a fantasy team, though.
Jun 7 2012Brantley hit his first homer of the year Wednesday, a three-run shot off Detroit's Max Scherzer in the first inning that extended his hitting streak to 15 games.Brantley's been contributing in every category but homers of late, but he's got a little bit of pop as well and will knock one out on occasion. Over the course of his hitting streak, Brantley's hitting .357 (20-for-56) with the homer, five steals and a 5:6 BB:K.
Jun 2 2012Brantley extended his hitting streak to 11 games and drove in a pair of runs Saturday.Brantley's overall numbers are finally beginning to pick up after a sluggish start to the season. He's hitting .368 with ten RBI and five steals over his last ten games.
May 26 2012Brantley is back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the White Sox, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports.Brantley will be back in action after getting the day off Friday. He will bat second against White Sox starter Jake Peavy.
May 25 2012Brantley was given a routine day off Friday and was not out of the lineup because of an injury, the team's official site reports.You can expect Brantley back in the lineup Saturday if this is indeed the case.
May 25 2012Brantley is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.Brantley supposedly tweaked his ankle during Thursday's game, but it's not clear if he's sitting out to rest a sore foot, or if he is simply getting the night off with a left-hander on the mound for the opposition. Keep tabs on Brantley's status for a better feel as to his availability this weekend.
May 10 2012Brantley, who collected four hits Thursday, has now hit safely in 19 of his last 24 games.He's still not putting up huge numbers (.256 average, 11 RBI) on the season and has been dropped to the seventh spot in the batting order with Johnny Damon occupying the leadoff spot but he's been a steady drip on most nights.
Apr 25 2012Brantley was held out of Tuesday's game due to wrist soreness but was back in the lineup Wednesday, the team's official site reports.Brantley had his season cut short in August last year with a wrist injury and it appears it may require some additional maintenance early in the season. Brantley scored a run and swiped his second base of the season in his return to the lineup.
Apr 24 2012Brantley is not in the starting lineup Tuesday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.Aaron Cunningham is playing center field for the Tribe after Brantley went 0-for-4 against the A's on Sunday. The move is likely the result of the Indians facing a lefty as much as it is due to Brantley's slow start.
Apr 13 2012Brantley had his first mulit-hit game of the season with a pair of hits Friday.The Indians have struggled offensively to start the season and Brantley's been no exception. He should continue to see regular playing time even once Johnny Damon joins the team, however.
Mar 29 2012Brantley, who returned from a hamstring injury Tuesday, will play seven innings in a split-squad game Thursday after getting the day off Wednesday, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Don't be alarmed if the Indians decide to ease him back into the lineup over the next few days as a result of his recent hamstring injury. He's still on track to start the season as the team's starting center fielder.
Mar 27 2012Brantley (hamstring) returned to action Tuesday for the first time since March 19. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is on track to open the season as the team's starting center fielder and will slide over to left field when Grady Sizemore returns.
Mar 27 2012Brantley (hamstring) ran the bases Monday but remained out of the lineup, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's still a few days from returning to game action but the Indians are confident he'll be ready for Opening Day.
Mar 26 2012Brantley (hamstring) was able to participate in the team's workout Sunday and could rejoin the lineup within the next few days, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Look for the Indians to play it safe with Brantley at this point in the spring as a setback now could jeopardize his status for Opening Day.
Mar 24 2012Brantley (hamstring) did some agility drills on the field and hit at the Indians' complex Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was reportedly feeling good after the workout. The 24-year-old batted .266/.318/.384 with seven home runs, 46 RBI, and 63 runs scored last season (496 plate appearances). He said recently that he expects to be ready for Opening Day, but it would be nice if he could get some spring work in before then.
Mar 23 2012Brantley (hamstring) expects to be ready for Opening Day, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is expected to be held out of action for a few more days but was able to do some light activities Thursday. "It's better to be cautious at this point," Brantley said. "In spring training, the obvious goal for everybody in this locker room is to get out of here healthy. That's it -- be ready to go for the season. That's what I look forward to doing. Everything's going great right now."
Mar 22 2012Brantley will be shut down for a few days due to the recent hamstring tightness he's been experiencing, Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 in Cleveland reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It sounds like his injury is a bit more serious than the Tribe initially let on, but giving him extra time off now may be enough to get him back on the field by Opening Day.
Mar 19 2012Brantley left Monday's game as a precaution after experiencing hamstring tightness, Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 in Cleveland reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For now, he's considered day-to-day and given that the Indians are banking on him to serve as their primary center fielder while Grady Sizemore is out, they'll likely give him a few days to recover before putting him back in the lineup for Cactus League games.
Mar 1 2012Brantley will be the team's every day center fielder, Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Manny Acta says the only way Brantley doesn't get the vast majority of the playing time in center field is if Ezequiel Carrera makes a late play for the position in camp. That scenario remains quite unlikely.
Feb 24 2012Brantley will lead off for the Indians this season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is independent of the news regarding Grady Sizemore's doubtful status for Opening Day. Brantley figures to move over from left to center field in Sizemore's absence, but it will be interesting to see how much leash he receives in the top spot against lefties after hitting .230/.294/.278 against them last season.
Dec 7 2011Brantley could see some time at first base this spring, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley played some first base in the minors while with the Brewers and the Indians are simply looking to add to the flexibility of their roster as well as looking to add a right-handed bat at either first base or in a corner outfield spot this winter. It remains to be seen if this experiment leads anywhere however.
Sep 27 2011Brantley (wrist) is nearing the end of his rehab program and should not have any carryover effects this offseason, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "He's feeling good," head trainer Lonnie Soloff said. "His motion is good and his strength is good." He's expected to be fully healthy for the start of spring training.
Sep 20 2011Brantley (wrist) is progressing nicely in his recovery from hand surgery and expects to be at full strength for spring training, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The surgery that Brantley had to remove the hook of his hamate bone is pretty routine now, though it can lead to some power loss initially. Power's not a big part of Brantley's game however so it may impact him less than most. "At this point, less than three weeks out, I couldn't be happier," he said. "There's no brace, no cast. The strength is coming back. The only things that remind me I had surgery are the stitches. Without a doubt, I will be 100 percent ready for spring training."
Aug 31 2011Brantley (wrist) had successful surgery Wednesday, Nick Camino of WTAM in Cleveland reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll likely be ready for the start of spring training, but it's possible that Brantley won't be full a participant in early workouts depending on how he responds to rehab.
Aug 28 2011Brantley will have right hand surgery early next week to remove the hamate bone, the Indians official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Players often return from hamate injuries rather quickly, but find their power missing for an extended period of time (six months to a year, generally); however, as power is a very small part of Brantley's game, he could suffer less than most players.
Aug 26 2011Brantley (wrist) has been placed on the 15-day DL, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Ezequiel Carrera will handle the bulk of the playing time while Brantley and Grady Sizemore are on the DL. For now, it's unclear if Brantley will heal enough over the next two weeks to return after the 15-day minimum.
Aug 23 2011Brantley will be out until at least Friday, Nick Camino of Newsradio WTAM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Indians will make a decision (i.e. DL or no) by Friday. If they keep Brantley on the active roster, one would assume he will return to action by the weekend at the latest.
Aug 17 2011Brantley (wrist) went 3-for-6 with two runs scored in the Indians' loss to the White Sox on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He had a decent night at the plate and was able to play a full 14 innings in the field after missing four games to rest his wrist.
Aug 15 2011As expected, Brantley (wrist) is not in the lineup Sunday, the Indians' official Twitter feed reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's expected to return to action Tuesday, but a DL stint remains a possibility if he doesn't make enough progress in the next two days.
Aug 14 2011Brantley (wrist) likely will be out of the lineup until Tuesday, Cleveland radio WTAM reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Saturday is the fourth consecutive game he has missed with the injury. The Indians hope Brantley will avoid the disabled list, but manager Manny Acta said if he's not ready Tuesday, he'll likely have to go on the DL.
Aug 13 2011The Indians don't believe that Brantley (wrist) will require a trip to the DL, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's missed three straight and five of the last nine games after sitting out Friday. He was able to take pregame batting practice however so perhaps a return this weekend is in the cards.
Aug 11 2011Manager Manny Acta said Brantley needs another night to rest his wrist for precautionary reasons, according to Nick Camino of Newsradio. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This continues to sound like a nagging thing for Brantley more than a long-term concern, though it's been going on with varying degrees of discomfort for over a week now. And it's not like Thursday's game -- against the Tigers and Justin Verlander -- isn't important, so he's really not at the "rub some dirt on it" stage, either. Perhaps on Friday he'll be ready to give it a go.
Aug 10 2011Brantley (wrist) saw a specialist Wednesday and is expected to be out another day or two, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Apparently, there was nothing significantly wrong with Brantley's wrist, but he's still experiencing soreness after missing time last week with the same ailment.
Aug 6 2011Brantley (wrist) is back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Rangers, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will return to action after sitting out three games to rest his sore wrist. He will play center field and bat leadoff against Rangers starter C.J. Wilson.
Aug 5 2011Brantley (wrist) remains out of the lineup for the Indians on Friday, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was expected to rejoin the lineup Friday, but instead the Indians are hoping to have him resume taking batting practice prior to the series opener with the Rangers.
Aug 4 2011Brantley (wrist) did not show any signs of improvement after his second day of rest, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is expected to take batting practice Friday before determining his status but his readiness for the weekend could unexpectedly be in doubt after not making much progress over the last two days.
Aug 3 2011Brantley's absence from the lineup Wednesday was due to wrist soreness and he's expected to sit Thursday as well, the Indians' official Twitter feed reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just an FYI if you're utilizing Brantley in a daily format. Fortunately, it sounds like he'll be ready to play again by Friday.
Jul 22 2011Brantley (heat exhaustion) is in the starting lineup and batting second Friday, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is back starting in left field, but they have him hitting second instead of leadoff. They're keeping Ezequiel Carrera in the leadoff spot. If this situation stays, it should open up a few more RBI opportunities for Brantley.
Jul 20 2011Brantley (illness) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Twins, according to the team's official Twitter page. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Brantley still under the weather and Travis Buck unavailable, Luis Valbuena will start in left field Wednesday, with Ezequiel Carrerra getting the nod in center field and Austin Kearns in right field.
Jul 20 2011Brantley was a late scratch Tuesday because of an upset stomach, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley led off 20 consecutive games, but Ezequiel Carrera will bat first against the Twins on Tuesday with the former ill.
Jul 8 2011Brantley was 4-for-6 with two runs and two RBI Friday night against Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: If Brantley can keep up or even improve his batting average, he should pick up some nice run totals batting in front of guys like Asdrubal Cabrera and Travis Hafner.
Jul 3 2011Brantley went 1-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in Saturday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has nicely improved from where he was a season ago. In 301 at-bats, he has six home runs and a .266 batting average compared to last season when he had a .246 batting average and just three home runs in 297 at-bats.
Jun 26 2011Brantley (shoulder) is back in the lineup for Saturday's game against the Giants, according to the Indians' official Twitter page. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was held out of the lineup the last two games to rest his sore shoulder, but he will be back in left field and bat leadoff Saturday afternoon.
Jun 25 2011Brantley is not in Friday's lineup due to a sore left shoulder, reports Jordan Bastian of MLB.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The soreness doesn't appear too worrisome, as he will throw, take batting practice, and be available off the bench. There is a good chance he is back in the lineup Saturday.
Jun 23 2011Brantley is not in the starting lineup Wednesday, the Indians' official Twitter feed reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Travis Buck will start in left field while Brantley gets rest. Brantley has cooled off a bit in recent weeks with a .244/.300/.366 line over his last 20 games to go with one homer and five RBI during that span.
Jun 19 2011Brantley went 0-for-3 with an RBI in Saturday's win over Pittsburgh. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After seeing most of his action as the leadoff hitter, Brantley has hit third and second, as was the case Saturday, in the lineup recently. The bottom line is that Cleveland prefers to have Brantley hit somewhere near the top of the lineup, and shouldn't have a major impact on Brantley's numbers.
Jun 7 2011Brantley went 3-for-4 with a solo home run, a double and two runs scored Monday as the Indians lost to the Twins, 6-4. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is currently on a four-game hitting streak and is having a very good season overall. He is now hitting .291 with five home runs and 25 RBI this season in 56 games. Last year he hit .246 with three home runs and 22 RBI in 72 games of action, so he has clearly taken a step forward this season.
May 31 2011Brantley went 3-for-5 with a double and a triple in the Indians' win over the Blue Jays on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He shifted to the DH slot for this game with Grady Sizemore returning to the outfield. Brantley may cede the leadoff spot to Sizemore at some point in the near future, but he should remain in the lineup.
May 29 2011Brantley went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored in the Indians' win over the Rays on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has remained in center and the leadoff spot for the past two games even though the Indians activated Grady Sizemore from the DL on Friday. Considering Brantley is only hitting .259 with a sub-.300 OBP over his last 15 starts, hsi hold on the leadoff spot might not last long if Sizemore starts to hit.
May 28 2011Brantley went 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored in the Indians' win over the Rays on Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has remained in center and the leadoff spot for the past two games even though the Indians activated Grady Sizemore from the DL on Friday. Considering Brantley is only hitting .259 with a sub-.300 OBP over his last 15 starts, his hold on the leadoff spot might not last long if Sizemore starts to hit.
May 23 2011Brantley went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two RBI and a stolen base in Sunday's win over the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the big game, Brantley is hitting .296 with four homers, six steals, 25 runs and 22 RBI. It's hard to ask for more from someone who is spending most of his at-bats at the top of the order.
May 17 2011Brantley went 2-for-4 with two walks, two runs scored, a homer and four RBI during the Indians' win Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is batting .304 with a 15:17 K:BB ratio this year, and he's back hitting leadoff with Grady Sizemore (knee) on the DL.
May 10 2011Brantley went 2-for-4 with a home run, a steal and two RBI in the Indians' win over the Rays on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The second of those two RBI was a walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth inning. With one strikeout and one walk in the game, he continues his positive K:BB on the year (14:15).
May 4 2011Brantley went 2-for-4 in a loss to the Athletics on Wednesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Despite being dropped from the top spot in the lineup due to the return of Grady Sizemore he has continued to hit well, recording nine hits over his current five-game hitting streak. Those in Al-only leagues should continue to play him as a nice source of runs and batting average.
Apr 30 2011Brantley went 3-for-6 with a solo home run and a pair of runs scored in the Indians' win Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He got the start in center and led off with Grady Sizemore sitting for the night. Brantley should fall back down in the order when Sizemore returns Sunday.
Apr 28 2011Brantley is back in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals, Indians.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has just two hits in his last 15 at-bats and was given a day off Wednesday. He'll hit seventh against right-hander Kyle Davies.
Apr 27 2011Brantley is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, according to Indians.com. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Royals are sending lefty Jeff Francis to the hill, so Brantley will take a seat.
Apr 20 2011Brantley went 3-for-5 batting at the top of the order for the Indians on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He has been performing admirably (.304 average, six RBI, three steals) and appears to have solidified his place in the lineup. With the return of Grady Sizemore he has lost his spot at the top of the order but will continue to bat there when Sizemore rests and is playing well enough to be owned in AL-only leagues.
Apr 18 2011Brantley went 1-for-3 with a run scored, two walks and a steal during the Indians' 7-3 win over the Mariners on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is now hitting seventh instead of leadoff with Grady Sizemore's return, but his start to the year remains encouraging. He's batting .304 and already has drawn eight walks over 15 games. There's legitimate 30-steal potential here.
Apr 17 2011Brantley is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game, according to the Indians' official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's getting a scheduled day off Sunday that happens to coincide with Grady Sizemore's return from the DL. Brantley will be the team's primary left fielder when Sizemore is in the lineup though he will cede the leadoff spot to Sizemore when both are in the starting lineup.
Apr 7 2011Brantley is not in the starting lineup for Thursday's game against Boston, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Travis Buck will get the nod in center field while Brantley gets some rest. Brantley is off to a nice start this season with a 3:4 BB:K along with a 6-for-19 (.316) mark and a stolen base through the first five games.
Apr 5 2011Brantley went 1-for-3 with a double and a steal in the Indians' win over the Red Sox on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Grady Sizemore (knee) appears to be on the mend, but Brantley should continue to see time in the outfield even after the former All-Star returns (in a couple weeks3F) Brantley has shown some good patience at the plate through 15 at-bats, drawing two walks to go with his three strikeouts.
Apr 2 2011Brantley led off for the second straight game Saturday and went 1-for-4 with a walk in the loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's 3-for-9 with a pair of RBI to open the year, while the key to Brantley's success this season will be improving his plate discipline to both cut back on his strikeouts and draw more walks. If he's able to take more free passes, Brantley will become more of an asset with this speed as a regular part of the Cleveland lineup this season.
Mar 8 2011Brantley (leg) returned to action Tuesday after missing the previous four games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Neither player nor team ever seemed overly concerned about Brantley's injury, so he should be healthy going forward unless he feels any extra soreness Wednesday.
Mar 7 2011Brantley (leg) will be held out of the lineup Monday for the fourth straight day, MLB.com's Jordan Bastian reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley said he felt good enough to play Monday, but he is now shooting for Tuesday instead. Though Brantley has been held out for a few days, the Indians are just being cautious with him since he could start in center field if Grady Sizemore (knee) is not ready by Opening Day. If not Tuesday, expect Brantley to return to the lineup at some point this week.
Feb 22 2011Brantley has been working to adjust his mechanics at the plate this spring after struggling with them throughout last season, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "It was very hard for me to see the baseball," Brantley said, "and then react, notice what pitch was coming, was it inside or outside, or was it up or down. I really pride myself on my strike zone discipline and I really couldn't do it. I was making bad choices." Entering spring training, Brantley is penciled in as the Indians' starting left fielder. If the adjustments he's making with his approach enable him to improve his plate discipline and draw more walks, he could be a cheap source of stolen bases and runs scored atop the Tribe's lineup.
Sep 27 2010Brantley (hamstring) is back in the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, Indians.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hadn't started since Wednesday, but his two-run, pinch-hit double Sunday indicated a return to the lineup wasn't far off. He'll lead off against Tigers righty Armando Galarraga.
Sep 26 2010Brantley (hamstring) hit a two-run, pinch-hit double in Sunday's victory over the Indians. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley had not played since Wednesday, but he was finally able to get back on the field Sunday. Expect him to return to the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.
Sep 25 2010Manager Manny Acta said Brantley (hamstring) would probably play Sunday, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This will be Brantley's third straight miss, and he is also dealing with a touch of the flu. Acta also said Brantley may be available off the bench Saturday, so those in weekly formats can get ready to insert him in their lineups for the season's final session.
Sep 24 2010Brantley (hamstring) is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Royals, according to the team's official Twitter page. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley will miss his second consecutive game on Friday. He will be replaced by Trevor Crowe once again.
Sep 23 2010Brantley has been scratched from Thursday's lineup with a tight left hamstring, reports the Indians' official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Trevor Crowe replaces Brantley in centerfield, and will get the starts if Brantley is held out for a few days. Consider him day-to-day.
Sep 16 2010Brantley extended his hitting streak to 16 games with a base hit in Thursday's extra-inning win over the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley, who stole his 10th base of the year, has raised his batting average from .216 to .241 during the streak.
Sep 5 2010Brantley collected a pair of hits Saturday. He's hitting .292 (28-for-96) with 16 runs and 12 RBI in 23 games since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Aug. 6. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley struggled badly in two previous stints with the Indians this year but appears to have put those days behind him. He's worth a look in most formats if you need help down the stretch.
Aug 30 2010Brantley is not in the starting lineup on Sunday, according to the Indians' official site. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's overall line for the season looks pretty ugly, particularly the .219 batting average, but he's young and on an eight-game hitting streak. Over that span he's hitting .314 with eight RBI, a home run and a stolen base. Sunday's game is a scheduled day off for him.
Aug 28 2010Brantley went 1-for-5 with a pair of RBI and a stolen base in Friday's win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's quiet progress, but Brantley has recorded a hit in each of his last seven games. The Indians have no good reason to withhold regular at-bats from him at this point, so Brantley could be a nice source of steals down the stretch as he remains atop the Cleveland lineup.
Aug 26 2010Brantley (ankle) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He was able to take batting practice and go through agility drills on Tuesday night, so Brantley should be ready to roll on Wednesday.
Aug 25 2010Brantley (ankle) isn't in the lineup on Tuesday night but could return on Wednesday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley went through agility drills and took batting practice before Tuesday's game. "If everything goes well, he could be available off the bench (Tuesday) and for sure will start (Wednesday)," Indians manager Manny Acta said.
Aug 23 2010Brantley (ankle) hopes to return to the lineup soon after an MRI showed no major damage, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was able to walk without an orthopedic boot on Saturday and plans to play catch and hit off a tee on Sunday with an eye towards a return as soon as Tuesday. It looks like he'll avoid the DL but an exact return date will likely hinge on how he responds to Sunday's activities. "He continues to make improvements," manager Manny Acta said. "[Sunday] he's going to progress to play catch and hit off a tee. We are happy with the progress he's making. We are pretty sure he probably will be playing next home stand."
Aug 20 2010Brantley (ankle) flew back to Cleveland to have on MRI done on his ankle, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He's still day-to-day until the results of the MRI come back. Brantley's had issues with this ankle before so the MRI may be precautionary but it could also be a signal that the team believes that a more serious injury is in play here. "He did test very good over there with the doctors in Cleveland. He has minimal swelling in his ankle. Obviously, the MRI will show things that you can't test with your hands or your eyes. We are waiting on that," manager Manny Acta said.
Aug 19 2010Brantley had to be helped off the field late in Thursday's game at Kansas City with an apparent ankle injury. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hit a ball up the middle and as he started to run to first base, his left ankle gave on him and he crumbled to the ground. It would have been a hit for Brantley on the play, but since he couldn't run to first base it ended up being a groundout. One hates to speculate on an injury, but it did look fairly serious. Tough break for Brantley, who was getting regular playing time and producing.
Aug 12 2010Brantley went 4-for-5 with a run scored and stolen base in Thursday's win over Baltimore. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The four hits matched a career high for Brantley, who has fared well since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus. In six games since the call up, Brantley has gone 9-for-24 with a homer and seven runs scored.
Aug 11 2010Brantley went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI in the Indians' loss to the Orioles Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Joy of Playing Time - Brantley has started the Indians' last four contests and has gone 5-for-16 (.313) with two extra-base hits. He hasn't flashed his prowess on the basepaths yet, but he should be able to in the future provided he continues to start.
Aug 7 2010Brantley collected two hits and scored twice in his return to the Indians on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It should be noted that Brantley got the start against a southpaw, Francisco Liriano, and batted leadoff. Brantley should find himself in the lineup on most nights, particularly if the team continues to play him against left-handed starters.
Aug 6 2010Brantley is in the starting lineup Friday, leading off and playing center field, MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Friday and will be given the opportunity to start for Cleveland going forward.
Aug 5 2010Brantley will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus on Friday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has struggled with the Indians this year, hitting just .157 (16-for-102) in a limited role but has enjoyed some success at Triple-A (.319 with 28 RBI in 65 games). Some trade deadline deals have opened up plenty of playing time for Brantley this time around however. "When he gets back, he's going to have his opportunity here. We love the guy. We really think he's going to be a good player for us. He's going to have his chance", manager Manny Acta said. Look for him to bat leadoff and play center field against most right-handers going forward.
Aug 1 2010Brantley will likely be recalled from Triple-A when he is eligible next week, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Indians must wait 10 days before recalling Brantley, though a possible DL stint from Travis Hafner could change that. He'll presumably get an extended look this time around as the Indians play out the string on a very disappointing season.
Jul 27 2010The Indians optioned Brantley to Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, the Indians' official Twitter page reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hit just .157 in July, so the Indians will let him search for his swing in the minors. Expect Trevor Crowe to slide back over to center field for the Indians.
Jul 24 2010Brantley did not start Saturday against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's not clear if the non-start was due to his recent shoulder injury or the Indians' Shin-Soo Choo-crowded outfield, but the latter could eat into Brantley's playing time going forward. Trevor Crowe started in center and led off Saturday.
Jul 23 2010Brantley (shoulder) is back in the starting lineup Friday against the Rays, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley had missed the last two games with a 93tweaked94 shoulder. The injury was never considered serious, and he is in center field and leading off against Rays starter Jeff Niemann.
Jul 21 2010Brantley (shoulder) is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley appeared as a defensive replacement and got an at-bat Tuesday, so it looks like he's close to being ready to return to the lineup whenever the Indians need him.
Jul 20 2010Brantley (shoulder) appeared as a defensive replacement in the Indians' win over the Twins Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's unclear if his shoulder is 100 percent yet, but it doesn't look like it will keep him from playing. He went 0-for-1 in his only at-bat.
Jul 18 2010Brantley collected another two hits and a stolen base on Sunday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It was Brantley's second straight day to swipe a bag and collect two hits. He's still hitting just .151 on the season but might be available on your waiver wire.
Jul 17 2010Brantley went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base in the Game 1 win over Detroit in Saturday's doubleheader. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The stolen base was his first of the season, but Brantley should be more active on the basepaths going forward, especially if the Indians allow him to remain in the leadoff spot long enough to break out of his recent slump. He's currently 11-for-77 in 19 games this season, but the door is wide open for him to play regularly with Grady Sizemore out for the season.
Jul 8 2010Brantley hit the first homer of his career in Thursday's game at Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has hit leadoff in each of the five games he's played in since being called up from Triple-A Columbus, although he hasn't been able to get on base. Cleveland's lineup looks pretty soft these days with Shin-Soo Choo (thumb) on the DL, but Brantley will have value if he continues to bat leadoff.
Jul 3 2010The Indians recalled Brantley after Saturday's game, Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The move was made possible by Shin-Soo Choo's thumb injury, and Choo's absence should provide Brantley with ample playing time. Brantley fizzled after he broke camp with the club, but he had a .315/.388/.407 line with Triple-A Columbus, and he was hitting .415 over his last 10 games.
Jun 28 2010Brantley is hitting .352 (31-for-88) with 10 walks in 21 games at Triple-A in June. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Expect the Indians to recall Brantley sooner rather than later, though perhaps not until the team is able to trade Austin Kearns to a contending team.
Jun 16 2010Brantley is hitting .354 (17-for-48) in June at Triple-A Columbus. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Indians have expressed a desire to give Brantley another look and his recent play only figures to accelerate those plans.
May 30 2010Brantley might get called up in the near future, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The news that Grady Sizemore needs knee surgery could hasten the Indians' steps to focus on rebuilding. "It's not a secret we are going to take a look at Michael again up here," manager Manny Acta said. "That's part of the plan. We feel both of those guys [Brantley and Crowe] can be part of the process here."
Apr 20 2010Brantley has been optioned to Triple-A, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Russell Branyan will likely be activated from the DL on Tuesday, so Matt LaPorta will become the Tribe's primary left fielder. Brantley will collect everyday at-bats with the Clippers instead of sitting on the bench in Cleveland, but he'll be the first outfielder called up if one of the regulars goes down with an injury.
Apr 16 2010Brantley was not in the Indians' lineup against the White Sox Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Austin Kearns got another start in left field Friday and it's looking like Brantley could be the odd man out when Russell Branyan returns.
Apr 15 2010Brantley is not in the lineup against the Rangers on Thursday, the Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Austin Kearns will be in the lineup in left field for the Tribe on Thursday afternoon. Brantley is just 5-for-26 (.192) in seven games this season and there's a chance he'll be sent down to Triple-A Columbus when Russell Branyan is healthy enough to return and Matt LaPorta moves back into the outfield.
Apr 12 2010Brantley saw his average drop to .174 after an 0-for-5 day on Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley does have hits in four of the six games he's played this season, but hasn't had a multi-hit effort thus far. There was an outside chance he'd stick with the team once Russell Branyan returned from the DL if he played well but he'll need to perform better than this if he wants that to become a reality.
Apr 9 2010Brantley is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Tigers, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Austin Kearns is getting a start in left field for the Tribe on Friday against Rick Porcello at the Tigers. Brantley started all three games of the series with the White Sox, recording a hit in each contest and going 3-for-10 (.300) with an RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Apr 4 2010Brantley will be in the Opening Day lineup against Mark Buehrle, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It sounds like the Indians are going to let Brantley play against most southpaws while he's up with the club. "Brantley is not here to platoon," said manager Manny Acta. "He's here to play."
Mar 31 2010Brantley was officially named the team's starting left fielder on Wednesday, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was an expected move, though there were some rumblings that he'd get sent to Triple-A in order to delay his arbitration clock despite the injury to Russell Branyan. The Indians had expressed a desire for Brantley to see regular playing time at Triple-A if he's not playing everyday for the Indians earlier this spring (a scenario likely to unfold once Branyan gets back to full health) but general manager Mark Shapiro may have left the door open for Brantley to stick around if he plays well. "He's certainly earned an opportunity to be here," Shapiro said. "Ideally, you'd get a little more Minor League time with a guy like that, but he's earned the opportunity. We told him he'll be making the decisions for us, going forward."
Mar 29 2010Brantley's hot spring continued on Sunday, reaching base three times and scoring two runs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley upped his average to .359 for the spring and figures to head north with the club for Opening Day with Russell Branyan's balky back landing him on the DL. Temper your expectations however as Brantley's time on the big league roster figures to end when Branyan is ready to come off the DL.
Mar 28 2010Brantley's chances of starting the season as the team's left fielder increased with the announcement that Russell Branyan would start the season on the disabled list. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Before getting too excited, you should realize that Brantley's stay on the major league roster will most likely be directly tied to Branyan's stint on the DL. The Indians want Brantley playing every day so he's likely ticketed for Triple-A as soon as Branyan is healthy.
Mar 25 2010Brantley (ankle) returned to the lineup on Thursday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's chances of making the Opening Day roster keep improving with Russell Branyan still sidelined with a back injury but he still figures to get sent to Triple-A to play every day once Branyan is back to full health.
Mar 22 2010Brantley's turned ankle is not an issue, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: "They ran every test on him, and he checked out fine," manager Manny Acta said. Brantley did not play in Monday's exhibition against the Cubs, but he should be back in the lineup within the coming days.
Mar 21 2010Brantley left Sunday's game in the fourth inning with an ankle injury, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley has been a bright spot for the Indians this spring as he's battling for the everyday job in left field with Matt LaPorta. It should be noted that Brantley dealt with an ankle injury last September, though the severity of his most-recent injury is unknown at this time.
Mar 20 2010Brantley's solid spring continued on Friday, reaching base three times in a win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's hitting .320 on the spring but his fate will hinge on the status of Russell Branyan now that Matt LaPorta is nearing full health. If Branyan's back allows him to be ready for Opening Day, Brantley's looking at a return trip to Triple-A to play everyday.
Mar 8 2010Brantley collected three hits, falling a homer short of the cycle, in exhibition play Monday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Matt LaPorta is expected to be at full strength later this week and his presence certainly hurts Brantley's chances at cracking the Opening Day roster. He'll need to hit his way into a starting role this spring but Monday's effort was a step in the right direction.
Feb 25 2010Brantley will be sent down to Triple-A for regular playing time rather than filling a reserve role for the Indians if he doesn't win the starting left field role, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The writing on the wall has been there for Brantley since the team announced the signing of Russell Branyan but the picture got a little more clear with the announcement that Branyan would be the team's full time first baseman and that Matt LaPorta would be joining the crowded picture in left field for playing time. Brantley will need a strong spring to beat out LaPorta for the starting job.
Feb 23 2010Brantley could be looking at a return trip to Triple-A after the signing of Russell Branyan, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Manager Manny Acta has been silent on the possible roster ramifications until Branyan officially passes his physical but it appears Brantley could be the odd-man out if Branyan's presence pushes Matt LaPorta back to left field on a regular basis. Keep an eye on how this plays out as Brantley was a popular sleeper candidate this spring.
Jan 29 2010Brantley, who has put on around 10 pounds of muscle this offseason, will enter spring with the inside track on the starting left field job, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley's biggest gap in his game is a lack of power as he has a career slugging percentage of .369 in the minors so hopefully the added muscle will help remedy that. If Brantley wins the everyday job in left field expect him to be eased into the lineup with Grady Sizemore still holding down the leadoff spot for at least the beginning of the season.
Sep 29 2009Brantley has been out of the lineup the last two days with a sore ankle, the team's official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley was able to pinch hit on Saturday but was out of the lineup again on Sunday. Consider him day-to-day for now.
Sep 29 2009Brantley (ankle) will likely return to the lineup Tuesday against the White Sox, the Indians' official site reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley did agility drills before Monday's game and moved around well, so he should be good to go on Tuesday.
Sep 23 2009Brantley went 2-for-5 against the Tigers Tuesday to raise his average to .342. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley is 5-for-9 over his last two games and has not struck out in his last three games. He has shown the ability to put bat on ball in his brief call of duty, something he did well this season in the minors with 48 K's in 457 at bats.
Sep 19 2009Brantley will likely get a chance to win an everyday role in spring training, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Those who got into the free agent bidding at a keepable price may have a nice value next spring if Brantley can land an everyday role. He's hitting .328 (22-for-67) for Cleveland, albeit with just two extra base hits, with three steals and four caught steals so some polish is still needed.
Sep 13 2009Brantley went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, an RBI and a steal in the Indians' win over the Royals Saturday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The steal was his second in three games, and he reportedly has the green light. Brantley has gone 16-for-42 since joining the Tribe at the beginning of the month.
Sep 7 2009Brantley has been given the green light to steal bases by manager Eric Wedge, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley swiped 46 bases in 51 attempts at Triple-A and figures to play quite a bit in September with Grady Sizemore shut down. If you're looking for some steals down the stretch he's worth a look.
Sep 5 2009Brantley went 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in Friday's win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Grady Sizemore out for the year, Brantley should receive plenty of opportunities down the stretch and could become a nice source of runs and steals in AL-only formats.
Sep 2 2009Brantley went 2-for-4 with two singles in a run in his MLB debut Tuesday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Brantley hit ninth in the order, but the Indians could test a new lineup that could have him as the leadoff hitter, the spot in which Brantley is expected to fill in 2010. However, Brantley just .267 this season with the Clippers so don't expect him to be able to keep your team afloat in average just yet.