Brantley barred from running for at least a week

The Indians on Sept. 20 offered an update on injured outfielder Michael Brantley, and it is discouraging.

Brantley, out since Aug. 8 with a sprained ankle, saw a foot and ankle specialist in Vail, Colorado, on Sept. 19. Dr. Thomas Clanton concluded the former All-Star should be shut down from running for at least a week to 10 days more. The divisional playoffs begin Oct. 5.

Brantley has been unable to run since he was injured running toward center field on a routine play to back up Bradley Zimmer on a fly ball. He ended up sitting on the outfield grass until a trainer ran out to help.

The Indians tried to minimize the injury at the time, but the next day traded for outfielder Jay Bruce from the Mets.

“It’s considered mild, but it’s such a small area,” Indians manager Terry Francona said on Aug. 9.

“It’s more on the side (of the ankle). When somebody is sitting out there, you’re never really relieved, but I knew it wasn’t an Achilles. When the trainer says, ‘Give us a day to look,’ it makes you feel a heck of a lot better than you did last night.”

Technically, Dr. Clanton diagnosed Brantley as suffering from “a deltoid ligament sprain along with right ankle synovitis.”

According to radiopaedia.com, the deltoid ligament “is composed of two layers. The superficial layer has variable attachments and crosses two joints while the deep layer has talar attachments and crosses one joint.”

Physioadvisor.com says

“ankle synovitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the soft tissue lining the ankle joint capsule, known as the synovium, with subsequent ankle swelling, pain and stiffness.”

Brantley will be re-evaluated in a week to 10 days, the report said. Meanwhile, outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall is still out with a calf injury and Zimmer is recovering from surgery on his right hand. It is unlikely Zimmer will be available in the postseason.

Brantley has played in 88 games this season. He was hitting .299 with nine homers and 52 RBI when he was injured. He has scored 42 runs.

A shoulder injury limited Brantley to 11 games in 2016 and prevented him from playing in the postseason.