Ryan Braun could return Saturday or Sunday

Although he sat out his fifth consecutive game Thursday with an upper-left calf strain, Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun continues to make progress.

With an MRI confirming Wednesday that the injury is inflammation and nothing more serious, it's looking more likely he'll be able to play at some point this weekend in the team's four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park.

"I don't know if it'll be tomorrow, but I'm hoping Saturday or Sunday," manager Ron Roenicke said. "So yeah, I'd probably be surprised if he didn't come back."

Braun, who suffered a minor setback Wednesday after taking batting practice Tuesday, is focused on getting better rather than trying to speed his comeback and winding up making matters worse.

"Obviously I don't want to be stupid about it," he said. "The last thing I want to do is rush back and then have either a setback where it's something that keeps me out for a long period of time, or have it get to the point where it something that's going to nag and be there for the second half.

"The goal obviously is trying to get as close to 100% before coming back."

One interesting twist is that Roenicke said he wouldn't have an issue with Braun playing in the All-Star Game on Tuesday at Chase Field in Phoenix - as long as he's completely healed before doing so.

Braun, hitting .320 with 16 home runs, 61 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases, was the leading vote-getter in the National League and is poised to make his fourth consecutive start in the midsummer classic.

"The thing with me is, yeah, if he can't go here and he's trying to force it to the All-Star Game, I would not want him to do it," Roenicke said. "But if he's playing the All-Star Game and he's 100% healthy, then maybe that's a good game to play because if he doesn't play in it and he comes back on Thursday, we're talking 11 days without him playing a game.

"Actually (bench coach) Jerry Narron mentioned that to me yesterday - if he's 100% healthy, maybe it's a good idea to have him play that game. At least he gets a couple at-bats and he's out there in the field, and now the length of time (between games) isn't so great."

If Braun were to aggravate his injury in the All-Star Game, the Brewers wouldn't be able to back-date him to July 3 - the day after he originally hurt himself in Minnesota - if they had to put him on the disabled list.

Instead, they'd have to put him on the DL retroactive to July 13, the day after the All-Star Game.


(jsonline.com)