Brantley went 4-for-5 with a double, one RBI and one run scored in Wednesday's 8-3 win over the Mariners.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Returns to lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Brantley (shoulder) is back in the lineup Wednesday versus the Mariners.
Brantley will start in left field and bat sixth for the visiting Astros after missing eight straight games because of more shoulder discomfort. He's produced two homers, six RBI and six runs scored in 12 games when healthy this season.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Remains out Tuesday
Rotowire
Brantley (shoulder) isn't in the Astros' lineup Tuesday against the Mariners.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Available off bench
Rotowire
Brantley (shoulder) will be available off the bench Monday against the Mariners, Chandler Rome of The Athletic reports.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Continues to sit
Rotowire
Brantley (shoulder) is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Mariners.
Brantley's shoulder issue will keep him out of the starting nine for the seventh time in as many games. He remains on Houston's active roster for the time being, but it's unclear when he will be ready to play again.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Remains on bench Sunday
Rotowire
Brantley (shoulder) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Shoulder still bothersome
Rotowire
Brantley'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.
Brantley returned in late August after shoulder surgery kept him off the field for over a year, but he lasted only 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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Remains sidelined
Rotowire
Brantley (soreness) remains on the bench for Saturday's game against the Royals.
Brantley will sit for the fifth straight game while dealing with general soreness. Shoulder troubles prevented him from making his season debut until late August, and he recorded a modest .702 OPS in 12 games between his return and his recent shutdown. It's not clear that he'll be able to play a significant role for the Astros over the final eight days of the season.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Remains out Friday
Rotowire
Brantley (soreness) isn't in the Astros' lineup Friday against the Royals.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Out again Wednesday
Rotowire
Brantley (general soreness) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Orioles.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Managing soreness
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Manager 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.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: On bench again Tuesday
Rotowire
Brantley is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.
It's the second consecutive game out of the lineup for Brantley, who has a .702 OPS in 44 plate appearances since being activated from the injured list and is 2-for-16 over his past four contests. Yordan Alvarez will serve as the designated hitter while Chas McCormick mans left field.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Gets breather Monday
Rotowire
Brantley is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Orioles.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Not starting Friday
Rotowire
Brantley isn't in the Astros' lineup Friday against the Padres.
Brantley will get a breather Friday after starting his season by going 6-for-19 with two homers and six RBI since returning from shoulder surgery Aug. 29. Yainer Diaz will serve as Houston's designated hitter and bat eighth.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Swats second homer
Rotowire
Brantley went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and a sacrifice fly in Wednesday's 12-3 win over the Rangers.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Not in Tuesday's lineup
Rotowire
Brantley is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.
Brantley started four of Houston's first five games after being reinstated from the injured list last week for his season debut, 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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Taking seat Monday
Rotowire
Brantley is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: Pops first homer of 2023
Rotowire
Brantley went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees.
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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: On bench versus southpaw
Rotowire
Brantley is not in the starting lineup Friday against the Yankees.
The 36-year-old will take a seat as the Astros face left-hander Carlos Rodon. Brantley 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.
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Astros' Michael Brantley: First hit of season
Rotowire
Brantley went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a run scored Wednesday against the Red Sox.
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.
