The Brewers placed veteran outfielder Ryan Braun on the disabled list with a calf tightness. Who gains fantasy value from his absence?
The Milwaukee Brewers are off to a hot start, especially on offense. The team will be without one of their key pieces for about two weeks. Ryan Braun was placed on the 10-day DL with calf tightness just days after returning from the DL. How long will fantasy owners be without the star outfielder?
Braun first hit the DL on May 10 after leaving the game with a calf tightness. It was then upgraded to a strain. He also had a strain in the flexor tendon of his forearm. After serving the minimal time on the DL, he was activated.
He went 0-for-5 in his first game back. Braun went 0-for-3 with a walk in his next game. He then made it just one at-bat before being pulled from Thursday’s game after aggravating his calf injury chasing down a foul ball.
Braun commented on the status of his injury and how he felt coming back the first time.
"I knew, obviously, when I came back I wasn’t at 100% but I was hoping it was good enough. I was optimistic I’d be able to work through it.More from Fantasy Baseball5 fantasy baseball waiver wire pivots to replace Triston McKenzieFantasy baseball mock draft 2023, 12-team: Aaron Judge over Trea Turner?3 fantasy baseball sleepers being drafted too lateNBA DFS picks December 25: Merry Bucking ChristmasFantasy Baseball: Hot pitchers worthy of starting this weekend"
Unfortunately, he was not good enough and lasted just two full games before going back on the DL.
Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel believes that Braun will be out longer than the 10-day minimum because Brewers management wants to make sure he is 100 percent.
Luckily, the Brewers have outfield depth to replace Braun. All three outfielders are available in over 50 percent of ESPN leagues.
Keon Broxton (47.3 percent owned) has five home runs, 14 RBI, 10 steals and a .329 on-base percentage. Domingo Santana (14.9 percent) has six homers, 22 RBI, 22 walks and a .364 OBP. Both already have starting jobs. Hernan Perez is the beneficiary of Braun’s injury.
Both already have starting jobs. Perez is the beneficiary of Braun’s injury. He filled in the first time, so this is an easy move. Perez (28.4 percent) has five home runs, 18 RBI, nine walks and a .311 OBP this season.
A Lewis Brinson call-up is close and this injury could make it happen. He’s hitting well in Triple-A, .326/.382/.528 line with four home runs, 13 RBI, and four steals. Brinson is a deeper-league option but someone to watch.
Braun is hitting .262 with seven homers, 19 RBI and four steals. As a fifth round pick, his fantasy owners are going to miss his production.
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While he is on the 10-day DL, I expect Braun to be out at least four weeks. At 33 years old, the Brewers need to take their time with rehabbing Braun. He is a key piece to their 2017 success and beyond. The Brewers need him healthy if they want to trade him, but that’s another story.
If you are a Braun owner, you need to hold onto him. Maybe you can trade him for something if you want to move on from him.