Injured Brantley appears doubtful for postseason play

Michael Brant- CLEVELAND — ley’s chances of playing in the postseason for the Indi- ans may be slipping away.

Cleveland’s All-Star left fielder has been told to refrain from any running activity for at least another week, giving him little time to possibly be healthy enough to play in the AL division series.

Brantley has hit .299 with nine homers and 52 RBIs in 88 games this season, his ninth with the Indians.

Brantley has been out since Aug. 8, when he was injured while tracking a flyball. He visited a foot and ankle specialist earlier this week in Vail, Colorado, and the Indians said Dr. Thomas Clanton confirmed Brant- ley is dealing with a deltoid ligament sprain along with right ankle synovitis, a painful condition caused by fluid collecting in the joint.

The Indians said Wednesday that Brantley won’t run for another seven to 10 days before being re-evaluated.

The AL Central champi- ons will begin the playoffs on Oct. 5, and Brantley is unlikely to make their roster — at least for the first round.

Brantley missed the entire postseason in 2016 after undergoing right shoulder surgeries. He played in just 11 games during the regu- lar season and then had to watch in October as Cleve- land made it to the World Series without him.

Brantley bounced back nicely this season, and was one of five Indians All-Stars. He went on the 10-day disabled list in June with a sprained ankle, and the Indians initially thought he had re-sprained the ankle last month.

The pain has persisted, however, and Brantley hasn’t been able to run. He was still in a walking boot last weekend when Cleveland ended a run that included a 22-game winning streak by winning their second straight divi- sion title.