Brown sports a .324 average and 1.024 OPS across the 40 plate appearances covering his last 13 games, a stretch during which he's sporting a modest 15.0 percent strikeout rate.

EDGE Analysis

It's certainly not the most sizable sample, but Brown's late-season offensive improvement comes at a good time for fantasy managers and is encouraging under any standard. The 31-year-old's current hot stretch continued via a 2-for-4, two-RBI tally Tuesday against the Astros, one which included Brown's seventh and eighth extra-base hits (two doubles) in the 13-game span. However, Brown's significantly improved contact rate is just as eye-catching, as he'd generated a 28.5 percent strikeout rate across his first 85 games of the season.

Brown isn't in the Athletics' lineup Friday against the Rangers.

EDGE Analysis

The lefty-hitting Brown will take a seat Friday with southpaw Jordan Montgomery set to start on the mound for Texas. Brent Rooker will take over in right field, allowing Jordan Diaz to serve as the DH while Kevin Smith mans third base.

Brown went 2-for-4 with a double and a run in a loss to the Blue Jays on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

Brown crossed the plate with the Athletics' only run of the night while posting his first multi-hit effort since Aug. 18. The 31-year-old has hit safely in five of his last seven games, a stretch during which he's laced five extra-base hits (three doubles, two home runs) and kept his strikeout rate at a minuscule 8.3 percent.

Brown entered Sunday's win over the Angels as a pinch hitter in the sixth inning and remained in the game in left field, going 1-for-1 with a two-run home run, a walk and an additional run.

EDGE Analysis

Brown started the game in the dugout with southpaw Tyler Anderson on the hill for Los Angeles, but he became an integral part of the Athletics' sixth-inning comeback from a 3-0 deficit with his two-run homer. The slugger would eventually cross the plate again in the seventh inning with Oakland's penultimate run of the game courtesy of a Shea Langeliers double. Following a recent 14-game homerless drought, Brown has now left the yard twice in the last four games. With 13 round trippers on the season, he has an outside chance of hitting the 20-homer mark for the third straight year if his power stroke remains hot over the final weeks of the campaign.

Brown is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Angels.

EDGE Analysis

The lefty-hitting Brown will retreat to the bench for the series finale while southpaw Tyler Anderson takes the hill for Anaheim. With Brown and fellow left-handed hitters Tony Kemp and Lawrence Butler also riding pine Sunday, the Athletics will roll out a starting outfield of Aledmys Diaz, Esteury Ruiz and Brent Rooker from left to right.

Brown went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

Brown opened the scoring in the first inning and the Athletics never looked back. He hasn't been hitting all that well lately, going just 7-for-42 (.167) over his previous 14 contests, with just two of those hits going for extra bases. The 31-year-old is up to 12 homers, 43 RBI, 26 runs scored, two stolen bases and a .212/.278/.398 slash line over 303 plate appearances for the season. He continues to hold down a strong-side platoon role.

Brown remained in Friday's win over the White Sox after getting hit in the head by a pitch in the sixth inning, NBC Sports California reports.

EDGE Analysis

Brown was eventually lifted for a pinch hitter (Esteury Ruiz) in the seventh inning, but he was able to take his base after the scary plunking and play defense in the outfield in the bottom of the sixth. It was only Brown's second HBP across 289 plate appearances this season, and absent any residual effects overnight, he should be back in the starting lineup Saturday against right-hander Touki Toussaint.

Brown is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Royals, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's Oakland's second day in a row facing a lefty and also the second straight day the left-handed hitting Brown will begin on the bench. Aledmys Diaz will patrol left field.

Brown is not in the lineup Tuesday versus the Royals.

EDGE Analysis

Brown will be on the bench with lefty Angel Zerpa on the mound for the Royals. Aledmys Diaz will take his spot in left field and bat fifth.

Brown will sit Saturday against the Orioles.

EDGE Analysis

Brown will sit with ex-Oakland lefty Cole Irvin on the mound for Baltimore. Brown has made the occasional start against a southpaw this season but has now sat against each of the last six lefties the Athletics have faced. His .223/.291/.417 slash line on the season doesn't make a strong case for an expanded role over the final six weeks.