PHOENIX (AP) Those days of playing every day, they're done for Ryan Braun. Most important for the longtime Milwaukee Brewers star these days is making the most of the time he's in the lineup.

Now 35, Braun is inching closer to the downside of his career. And while he is still capable of being a game-changing presence, staying healthy and on the field on a regular basis is not nearly as easy as it was when he was 28 and just hitting his prime.

Managing Braun's playing time to keep him fresh has been an annual challenge for Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell. He, Braun and the team's training staff try to map out a plan each year to build in scheduled rest days along the way - day games after night games, especially ahead of scheduled team off-days - to keep Braun as available as possible.