Astros manager Dusty Baker said Tuesday that Brantley (shoulder) isn't expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley has been brought along slowly this spring after undergoing right shoulder surgery last August, and he also was away from camp for a spell due to a personal matter. The 35-year-old has since rejoined the Astros, but because he didn't spend much time going through baseball activities while he was away from the team, he appears to have run out of time to get fully ramped up before the opener. It's unclear how much time he might miss, but fantasy managers should plan for a minimum of a couple weeks in the likely event that he's placed on the injured list. With Brantley and Jose Altuve (thumb) out, the top two spots in the Houston lineup have been opened up.

Brantley (shoulder) rejoined the Astros at spring training Monday, but manager Dusty Baker said it "will be close" whether the veteran outfielder is ready to go for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley's status for Opening Day was already in question while he continues to recover from the surgery he underwent last August to repair the labrum in his right shoulder, and it didn't help his cause that his rehab program was essentially put on hold when he stepped away from the team just under two weeks ago to tend to a family matter. Now that he's back at camp, Brantley is expected to steadily increase his baseball activities, but he still may have an uphill battle to get fully ramped up by the time Houston opens its season March 30 versus the White Sox. When Brantley is healthy, Baker said that the 35-year-old is expected to serve as the Astros' No. 2 hitter while likely sharing time at designated hitter and in left field with Yordan Alvarez (hand).

Brantley (shoulder/personal) is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley has been brought along slowly this spring as he works his way back from shoulder surgery, and he's been away from the team for a week or so while dealing with a family matter. It's not clear when he might return and at this point he's simply running out of time. Brantley still has some fantasy appeal as the projected No. 2 hitter in a strong Astros lineup, but his injury history and mediocre power make him both a risky option, and one with a limited ceiling.

Brantley (shoulder) may not be ready to play on Opening Day, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley is recovering from surgery to repair his right labrum and has been progressing slowly. He's currently away from the team due to a personal matter, but prior to that, he had not appeared in any Grapefruit League games. On Wednesday, general manager Dana Brown said Brantley's availability for Opening Day is in doubt, but the team hopes he'll be able to return to the field no later than April 10.

Astros manager Dusty Baker told reporters that Brantley (shoulder, personal) will hit second when in the lineup this season, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Jeremy Pena hit second for most of last year, but it's worth pointing out that was with Brantley missing a large portion of the season because of shoulder surgery. "If Brantley is in the lineup, Brantley is No. 2 ... I know Pena's been good, but Pena ain't been good as long as Brantley," Baker said. The veteran outfielder is away from the club now to deal with a personal matter, but a chance to hit second in the quality Houston lineup certainly doesn't hurt Brantley's fantasy potential.

Brantley (shoulder) is away from Astros camp while dealing with a family matter, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley has yet to play in any Grapefruit League games as he takes things slowly following last August's shoulder surgery. This personal matter will halt his rehab, presumably briefly. The hope is that the 35-year-old will be ready in time for Opening Day.

Brantley (shoulder) will take batting practice on the field Sunday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's a significant step for the 35-year-old, as it will be his first session of batting practice since he underwent surgery to repair the labrum in his right shoulder back in August. Brantley still has some work to do in his rehab program before progressing to game action, but barring any setbacks he appears on track to be ready for Opening Day.

Brantley (shoulder) could see time at first base in the 2023 season, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley has taken reps at first base on the backfields of the Astros' spring-training facility. The 35-year-old has never played the position in the majors, but did play it in the minors all the way back in 2007. Jose Abreu should see the overwhelming majority of the reps at first base as long as he's healthy, but this would be a way to get Brantley in the lineup on those days that Abreu sits out.

Brantley (shoulder) acknowledged Monday that he's on schedule in his recovery from August surgery to repair his right labrum but noted that he doesn't expect to be ready to play when the Astros open Grapefruit League play Saturday, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley relayed that he'll face no limitations defensively in spring training, and he even took grounders at first base Monday, though manager Dusty Baker said that he's "not seriously" considering deploying the 35-year-old at the position as anything more than an emergency option, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Instead, any defensive action Brantley sees in 2023 will most likely come in the corner outfield, though the Astros appear to be viewing him as their primary option at designated hitter heading into Opening Day. Since Brantley isn't yet 100 percent swinging the bat, he'll eventually need to prove that his surgically repaired shoulder isn't hindering him at the plate during spring training in order to avoid a stint on the 10-day injured list to begin the campaign.

Astros general manager Dana Brown said Brantley's (shoulder) readiness for Opening Day is "going to go down to the wire," Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brantley is hitting, fielding, and "not feeling much pain," per Brown, but the Astros still intend to bring him along slowly this spring as he completes his recovery from right shoulder labrum surgery last August. The 35-year-old was re-signed to a one-year, $12 million contract in December and currently projects to serve as Houston's primary DH in 2023. He probably won't play in any Grapefruit League games before mid-March.