Indians’ Michael Brantley anxious to contribute every game

8:54 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA — The Cleveland Indians have encountered some early challenges after being labeled a team to watch during spring training. Pitcher Carlos Carrasco just went on the disabled list for four to six weeks with a hamstring injury. Closer Cody Allen is 0-3 with a 6.97 ERA. The Indians are 4-7 in one-run games, including back-to-back walk-off losses in Minnesota last week. And judging from all those postponements, rain delays and cold, dank days at the park, they might be the most meteorologically-challenged team in the game.

“You can usually tell how many degrees it is by the snot running down my nose,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said.

The last thing Francona wanted to do Sunday afternoon was give his most talented player a seat against hard-throwing right-hander Vince Velasquez with the Philadelphia Phillies on the verge of a three-game sweep at Citizens Bank Park. But sometimes the long-term view takes precedence over events that might transpire during any given nine innings.

Outfielder Michael Brantley is seven months removed from tearing his right labrum while diving for a ball, and he’s hitting .118 (2-for-17) since returning to the lineup in left field. While he’s anxious to get back to speed quickly, the Indians are determined to monitor his workload, mix in regular rest and not push him so quickly that he suffers a setback.

The Indians are being careful with Michael Brantley’s return so that he doesn’t have a setback. Jason Miller/Getty Images

So Brantley rested Sunday, and the Indians promptly went out and dropped a 2-1 decision to Velasquez and the youthfully, exuberant Phillies.

“We told Michael early on, ‘Hey, having you back for two out of three is better than not having you,'” Francona said. “He’s the one that wants to play because he cares so much. …

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