A nagging back issue that has plagued Indians left fielder Michael Brantley will not keep him sidelined Tuesday against Seattle. He is playing the field and batting third.
Brantley had been in left in only one of the previous five games. He served as a designated hitter in two others.
The problem has affected him at the plate in recent weeks. Brantley is on a six-game hitting streak, but has just one hit in all of them. He is batting .222 (6-for-27) since May 28 and his average has fallen from .348 to .302 over the last three weeks.