Cleveland Indians: Michael Brantley making things interesting

The Cleveland Indians still have to set the ALDS roster, and Michael Brantley is hoping to be among those chosen after his return on Saturday night.

The Cleveland Indians picked up a rare loss on Saturday night, but it came after the team officially clinched the top seed in the American League. We’ll take it.

The offense only managed three hits on a night when Corey Kluber logged five innings of one-run baseball, padding his resume for the Cy Young Award.

Even with the loss and the lack of offense, one of the three hits was enough to get fans excited.

Michael Brantley came in to hit in the bottom of the fifth inning and was greeted by a standing ovation. I was in attendance myself and the feeling was special as he stepped into the box for the first time in nearly two months.

All that time off may cause some players to be rusty, but not Brantley. All he did was work a 10-pitch at-bat and rip a single to right field. The hit started a minor rally that resulted in the Indians tying the game 1-1.

It was Brantley’s only at-bat of the game but he made it clear he can hold his own at the plate after so much time away. That doesn’t mean he should be starting in left field during the ALDS, but he did at least make a case to be included in a pinch-hitting role in the postseason.

The problem with carrying Brantley on the roster solely as a pinch hitter is that it takes away a spot that could add more value such as what Greg Allen can do. The other option is carrying one less bullpen arm, but we all know how much Terry Francona loves his bullpen weapons.

Regardless of how Brantley performed Saturday night, Francona likely already knows what he wants to do with Brantley. The veteran could have struck out on three pitches and it probably wouldn’t have swayed Tito too much.

We know Francona is loyal to his veteran players which helps Brantley’s case to make the roster, given he is healthy. And if he isn’t added for the ALDS, it would be hard to imagine him being left off if the team advances.

Next: Postseason roster roundtable

The good news is that we will know the answers to all our roster questions quite soon, and it will be hard to argue either side about the decision made on Brantley.