Michael Brantley

ATC projections by Ariel Cohen. Steamer projections by Steamer Projections Blog. THE BAT projections by Derek Carty. Zeile Consensus projections by FantasyPros.

Fantasy Baseball News Last 90 Days

Michael Brantley Returning To The Lineup

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Seattle Mariners. Brantley will make his return to the lineup after missing nine of the last 10 games due to a right shoulder soreness. The veteran outfielder has been available off the bench over the last few days, but will officially be back in the lineup for the first time on Wednesday. He'll cover left field and bat sixth versus right-hander Bryce Miller.

Sep 27 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Was Available Off The Bench

The Houston Astros didn't need him in their big win over the division-rival Seattle Mariners on Monday night, but manager Dusty Baker said before the game that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) would be available off the bench. Brantley didn't make his 2023 debut until Aug. 29 due to a shoulder injury that required surgery late last year, and he's now dealing with more shoulder issues and hasn't played since Sept. 17. The 36-year-old has gone 11-for-42 (.262) with two home runs, six RBI and six runs scored in his 12 games played. It sounds like he's improving, but it remains to be seen how much he'll play in the final week of the regular season or if the Astros will even include him on their postseason roster once the playoffs begin in October.

Sep 26 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley To Miss Fifth Straight Game

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (general soreness) is out of the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This marks the fifth game in a row that Brantley has sat out due to what the team is calling general soreness. The veteran outfielder has been banged up most of the season as shoulder issues stopped him from debuting until August. At this point, it's unclear if he'll play again with eight games left in the regular season. Chas McCormick will cover left field and bat sixth versus right-hander Jordan Lyles on Saturday.

Sep 23 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Continues To Sit Out

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (general soreness) remains out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Kansas City Royals. This marks the fourth straight game that Brantley has missed due to what the team is calling general soreness. There's a good chance that the 36-year-old was going to be sidelined again versus left-hander Cole Ragans on Friday. Chas McCormick will cover left field and bat seventh versus Ragans here. It's uncertain how much more time Brantley is going to miss due to this issue.

Sep 22 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Taking A Seat Monday

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is not in the starting lineup Monday against the Baltimore Orioles and left-hander John Means. The veteran is 0-for-9 with a strikeout over his last two games and will take a seat against the lefty on Monday while Chas McCormick takes over in left field. A shoulder injury kept Brantley out until late August and he hasn't been at his best since returning. The 36-year-old has hit .262 with two homers and a .702 OPS across 44 plate appearances on the season, and while he has struck out just twice in that time, he has also drawn just a single walk so far this season. His lack of power and speed at this stage in his career has kept Brantley off the fantasy radar over the last several seasons.

Sep 18 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Previewing The 2023-24 Free Agent Class: Corner Outfield

Throughout the week, we’ve covered the upcoming free agent class at MLBTR. We move today to the outfield. Teams often use left and right fielders interchangeably, so we’ll combine them into a single corner outfield group. It’s not a great class but is arguably among the stronger options in a light market for position players.…

Sep 16 · MLB Trade Rumors Brewers Braves Marlins Rockies Astros Phillies Giants Red Sox Twins Angels Rangers Diamondbacks Dodgers Orioles Athletics Yankees Blue Jays Padres Reds Rays Brian Anderson Ian Anderson Luis Arraez Charlie Blackmon Michael Brantley Willie Calhoun Mark Canha Nick Castellanos Michael Conforto Corey Dickerson Adam Duvall Joey Gallo Randal Grichuk Robbie Grossman Lourdes Gurriel Jason Heyward Aaron Hicks Travis Jankowski Tony Kemp Max Kepler Isiah Kiner-Falefa Whit Merrifield Gabriel Moreno Wil Myers Joc Pederson David Peralta Tommy Pham Kevin Pillar AJ Pollock Jurickson Profar Hunter Renfroe Eddie Rosario Jorge Soler Raimel Tapia Daulton Varsho Jesse Winker

Astros Outright Jake Cousins

The Astros have sent right-hander Jake Cousins outright to Triple-A Sugar Land, tweets Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Houston had designated him for assignment earlier in the week upon reinstating Michael Brantley from the injured list. Cousins spent a month on Houston’s 40-man roster. The Astros claimed him off waivers from the Brewers shortly before the trade deadline.…

Sep 2 · MLB Trade Rumors Astros Michael Brantley Jake Cousins

Michael Brantley To Sit Out On Friday

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley is out of the starting lineup for Friday's game against the New York Yankees. The left-handed slugger will sit out this game for rest purposes with a southpaw on the mound. The 36-year-old has gone 2-for-8 with a double and two RBI since being activated from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday. Yainer Diaz will serve as the designated hitter and bat sixth versus left-hander Carlos Rodon on Friday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with Brantley on the bench.

Sep 1 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Astros Activate Michael Brantley From 60-Day IL, DFA Jake Cousins

The Astros have activated Michael Brantley from the 60-day injured list, the team announced. Corey Julks has been optioned to Triple-A to make room on the 26-man roster, while Jake Cousins has been designated for assignment to open up a spot on the 40-man. On Sunday, Astros GM Dana Brown told Robert Ford of 790 AM…

Aug 29 · MLB Trade Rumors Astros Michael Brantley Jake Cousins

Astros Reinstate Michael Brantley From Injured List

The Houston Astros reinstated outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Corey Julks to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. To make room for Brantley on the 40-man roster, the Astros designated right-hander Jake Cousins for assignment. After not playing since late last year and having offseason shoulder surgery, Brantley will make his 2023 debut on Tuesday, starting in left field and batting sixth against Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello. The 36-year-old has been an excellent contact hitter in his career, but he's likely to be eased back into the fold and will have a pretty low fantasy ceiling and floor the rest of the way in 2023.

Aug 29 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Not Ready To Join Astros

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) is headed back to Triple-A Sugar Land and will play on both Friday and Saturday. Baker said Brantley is "not physically there yet." "He's not ready and I told him, let us know when he's ready because he's champing at the bit, but at the same time we can't afford to lose him again. Sometimes you can't do anything about father time, as much as you want to. With the schedule winding down, we have to do what's right for him," Baker said. Even when the 36-year-old is ready to make his 2023 debut, the Astros will probably give him plenty of days off in the final month of the regular season. Brantley has always hit for a high average, but he's not going to provide much else. He hasn't played in the big leagues in over a year.

Aug 24 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Playing In Back-To-Back Rehab Games

Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker said that outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) will serve as the designated hitter on Wednesday in a minor-league rehab game with Triple-A Sugar Land for the second straight day "and we'll make a determination after today." Brantley played left field on Tuesday for Sugar Land and appears to be finally nearing his season debut for Houston after having surgery on his shoulder last year. There's a chance the 36-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran will play his first game with the Astros at some point this weekend on the road against the Detroit Tigers. Brantley, a five-time All-Star, has a .298 career batting average, but he hasn't played since late last season and won't provide much else for fantasy managers down the stretch.

Aug 23 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

The Astros' Potential Outfield Surplus

Entering the season, the outfield was an area of some uncertainty on an excellent Houston roster. Kyle Tucker is an established star in right field. The other two positions were more questionable. Before Opening Day, Houston brass has suggested they planned to divide left field and designated hitter reps between Yordan Alvarez and Michael Brantley. As it has…

Aug 17 · MLB Trade Rumors Astros Yordan Alvarez Michael Brantley Corey Julks Chas McCormick Kyle Tucker

Michael Brantley Starts Rehab Assignment

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) started his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday night, according to the team. Brantley will finally restart a rehab assignment down on the farm after being shut down on his first rehab assignment back in early May after he dealt with inflammation in his surgically repaired right shoulder. The regular season is nearly over, but it would be nice to see the 36-year-old veteran make it back into a big-league ballgame next month for the first time since last June 26. The five-time All-Star has very little power -- he's only hit 20-plus home runs twice in 14 big-league seasons -- and he won't have much time at all to contribute to fantasy rosters if he indeed ends up making it back in 2023.

Aug 15 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

AL West Notes: Brantley, Heim, Ohtani

It has been over a year since Michael Brantley underwent shoulder surgery and even longer (June 26, 2022) since the veteran slugger appeared in a big league game.  However, Brantley’s long recovery process may finally be nearing an end, as Astros GM Dana Brown told 790 AM’s Robert Ford in a radio interview today (hat…

Aug 13 · MLB Trade Rumors Astros Rangers Angels Michael Brantley Mitch Garver Jonah Heim Sam Huff Shohei Ohtani

Michael Brantley Takes Batting Practice On Saturday

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) handled on-field batting practice on Saturday for the first time post-All-Star break. However, manager Dusty Baker couldn't provide an update on Brantley's health despite the progress. The 36-year-old commenced a rehab assignment on April 23, but suffered a setback after 24 at-bats in the minor leagues. Brantley has been on the injured list all season while recovering from Aug. 2022 right shoulder surgery. The veteran contact hitter's return timetable remains in the dark at this time. Brantley seems more likely to make an impact for Houston perhaps in the playoffs rather than be a fantasy factor in 2023 at this point.

Jul 23 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Able To Ran The Bases

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) was able to run the bases prior to Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Angels. There is still no word on when Brantley might begin a minor league rehab assignment. He hasn't played at all this season and would need an extended period of time to get ready in order to play again. At this point, fantasy managers shouldn't expect Brantley to have much fantasy value, assuming he has any at all.

Jul 16 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Shut Down From Baseball Activities

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) has been shut down from baseball activities, according to manager Dusty Baker. Brantley continues to deal with issues related to his right-shoulder surgery from last August, and Baker recently said that the 36-year-old veteran had plateaued in his rehab. It's his latest setback after having labrum surgery, and it's fair to wonder if Brantley will be able to play at all for the Astros in 2023. He should remain on the waiver wire in most fantasy leagues. Brantley is currently rostered in only five percent of Yahoo leagues. The five-time All-Star hit .288/.370/.416 with only five home runs, 14 doubles, a triple, 26 RBI and 28 runs scored in 64 games played in 2022.

Jul 4 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Baker: Michael Brantley Has "Plateaued" In Attempt To Rejoin Astros

Astros outfielder Michael Brantley still hasn’t played this season, repeatedly struggling to get fully back to health after last year’s shoulder surgery. Now manager Dusty Baker tells Chandler Rome of The Athletic that Brantley has “plateaued” in his attempt to come back (Twitter links). “He’s plateaued somewhat,” Baker said in response to a question of…

Jul 3 · MLB Trade Rumors Astros Michael Brantley

Michael Brantley Hits Plateau In His Recovery

Houston Astros outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) has "plateaued" in his attempt to come back from right-shoulder surgery last year, according to manager Dusty Baker. Brantley will not take part in right-hander Jose Urquidy's (shoulder) live bullpen session on Tuesday. Baker said the team wants to take it slow with Brantley, who has had multiple setbacks in his recovery from shoulder surgery this year. At this point, it's fair to wonder if the 36-year-old veteran will return at all in 2023 for the Astros. He remains on the 60-day injured list and won't return until the second half of the season, but there remains no specific timetable for a return. Fantasy managers should continue to ignore Brantley in mixed leagues.

Jul 3 · Source via Astros Michael Brantley

Historic stats obtained free of charge from and are copyrighted by Retrosheet. ATC projections by Ariel Cohen. Steamer projections by Steamer Projections Blog. THE BAT projections by Derek Carty. Zeile Consensus projections by FantasyPros.

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