Rays' Chandler Simpson: Returning to starting nine Sunday
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Simpson (finger) will start in left field and bat fifth in Sunday's game against the Astros, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Simpson will check back into the starting nine after sore right index and middle fingers kept him on the bench the previous two nights. Before his recent absences, Simpson had recorded at least one hit in 11 of 12 starts, slashing .386/.438/.477 while adding six steals, three runs and two RBI during that stretch.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Sitting again Saturday
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Simpson (finger) is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Astros on Saturday.
Simpson was a late scratch Friday due to sore right index and middle fingers, which will keep him out of the lineup for a second consecutive game. Victor Mesa, Cedric Mullins and Jonny DeLuca will start in the outfield Saturday from left to right.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Scratched from Friday's lineup
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Simpson was scratched from Friday's lineup against the Astros due to sore right index and middle fingers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Simpson jammed his fingers while sliding into second base during Thursday's game against the Royals. The move is being labeled as precautionary, which suggests Simpson could be available off the bench Friday and back in the lineup for Saturday's contest. Victor Mesa will take over in left field for Friday's series opener.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Out of Friday's lineup
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Simpson is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Simpson will ride the bench for the series opener despite recording at least one hit in six of his last seven games, and even with the Diamondbacks starting a righty in Zac Gallen. Victor Mesa will replace Simpson in left field and bat seventh Friday.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Riding bench Monday
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Simpson isn't in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Dodgers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Simpson will head to the bench for the series opener with southpaw Eric Lauer expected to toe the rubber for Los Angeles Monday evening. Ryan Vilade gets the nod in left field and is batting cleanup in Simpson's place.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Expected to play Tuesday
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Manager Kevin Cash said after Monday's 10-9 loss to the Tigers that Simpson (mouth) is expected to play Tuesday against Detroit, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Simpson was removed from Monday's contest after he sustained a busted lip when his helmet fell off and came up to strike him in the mouth. Simpson required stitches but is otherwise fine. He went 1-for-2 with a single prior to leaving Monday.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Leaves game Monday
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Simpson was removed from Monday's game against Detroit due to a cut on his mouth, reports Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He went 1-for-2 with a single prior to leaving the game.
Simpson was advancing to second base when his helmet fell off and struck his mouth, causing the laceration and left him bloodied. Ryan Vilade replaced Simpson in left field and in the fifth spot of the lineup.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Back in starting nine Wednesday
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Simpson (leg) will start in left field and bat leadoff Wednesday against the Blue Jays, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
The Rays held Simpson out for Tuesday's 7-6 win so that he could receive more time to recover from left leg cramps, which cropped up during Monday's series opener. The day off appears to have helped resolve the issue, as Simpson will step back into his usual spot in the outfield and batting order. Tampa Bay is hopeful that the missed start won't disrupt Simpson's rhythm at the plate; since the start of May, Simpson has hit .316 with three stolen bases, eight runs and six RBI in 10 games.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Held out of Tuesday's lineup
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Simpson (leg) is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Simpson exited Monday's series opener due to left leg cramps, and he'll sit out at least one game due to the injury. According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the 25-year-old indicated he could be available off the bench Tuesday, though the Rays are more likely to play it safe and give him the full day off.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Riding pine Saturday
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Simpson is not in the Rays' starting lineup against the Yankees on Saturday.
The Yankees are deploying southpaw Max Fried to the mound for Saturday's contest, so the lefty-hitting Simpson will take a seat while Ryan Vilade starts in left field and bats second. Simpson has reached base safely in each of his 13 outings this season and has a .373/.407/.412 slash line with five steals (in seven attempts), five runs, one triple and three RBI across 54 plate appearances.
Simpson went 1-for-5 with two RBI during the Rays' 5-3 win over the Yankees on Friday.
Although he wasn't credited with the error, Simpson's fielding gaff in the first inning resulted in an RBI triple for Amed Rosario to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead. Simpson made up for his mistake with RBI in the second and sixth inning on a fielder's choice and a single, respectively. He has recorded a hit in 12 of the first 13 games of the regular season and is slashing .373/.407/.412 with five steals (in seven attempts), one triple and three RBI over 54 plate appearances.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Ascends to leadoff spot
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Simpson will start in left field and bat leadoff in Friday's game versus the Yankees.
Simpson spent some time in the leadoff spot for the Rays last season, but this is the first time this year that he's sitting atop the batting order. The speedster earned a move up by slashing .391/.429/.435 with five stolen bases over his first 49 plate appearances this season. Yandy Diaz -- who had hit leadoff in the Rays' first 12 games -- is in the cleanup spot.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Records fifth steal
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Simpson went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Cubs.
Simpson has hit safely in 11 of 12 games so far this season, and he's been in the starting lineup for every game after being on the bench Opening Day. He's bounced around the lineup but has seemingly settled into the No. 5 hole over the last three games, though he could hit lower in the lineup if he gets consistent time against southpaws. So far, he's earned the starting job in left field, batting .391 with five stolen bases, one triple, one RBI and five runs scored over 49 plate appearances. He hasn't hit a home run in his career, so he's purely a speed option in fantasy. Simpson stole 44 bases on 56 attempts as a rookie in 2025.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Still nursing hamstring
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Simpson has been held out of Grapefruit League games since Wednesday due to renewed tightness in his left hamstring, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Left hamstring tightness pushed Simpson's spring debut into late February, and it appears he still hasn't fully recovered from the injury. However, manager Kevin Cash said Saturday that the Rays are being "overly cautious," and he expects Simpson to return to the lineup relatively soon. The 25-year-old outfielder is 5-for-10 with a stolen base through four games this spring.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Making spring debut
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Simpson (hamstring) is starting in left field and batting sixth in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 25-year-old is making his first start of spring training Friday after recovering from left hamstring tightness. Simpson showed off his two-category upside in 109 games as a rookie last season with a .295 batting average and 44 stolen bases, but his stats were otherwise underwhelming with 53 runs scored, 26 RBI and no home runs.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Nursing hamstring injury
Rotowire
Simpson will not play in the Rays' first several Grapefruit League games due to a tight left hamstring, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Much of Simpson's value comes from his speed, so the Rays will proceed cautiously with any lower-body issue. The 25-year-old is in line to be the team's primary left fielder this season. He slashed .295/.326/.345 with 44 stolen bases over 109 contests last season as a rookie.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Idle Sunday
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Simpson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.
Unless he's used off the bench Sunday, Simpson will conclude his rookie season with a .295 batting average to go with 44 stolen bases, 53 runs and 26 RBI in 109 games. Jake Mangum will enter the lineup in center field.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Taking seat Thursday
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Simpson is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Baltimore.
The Rays are using a right-handed-heavy lineup against Orioles southpaw Cade Povich, so the left-handed-swinging Simpson will grab a seat. Christopher Morel will handle left field and bat cleanup.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Posts steal in win
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Simpson went 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 7-3 win over the Red Sox.
Simpson was able to bounce back after an 0-for-5 effort Saturday. The outfielder has 43 steals this season, including five thefts across 19 contests in September. He's added a .299/.331/.349 slash line through 105 contests with 26 RBI, 51 runs scored, 14 doubles and three triples, but the speedy outfielder is still in search of his first home run.
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Rays' Chandler Simpson: Sitting against southpaw
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Simpson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Simpson started the previous seven games but will take a seat for the series finale in Chicago. The rookie outfielder batted .333 (9-for-27) during that stretch but is without an extra-base hit in his past 17 contests. Christopher Morel is starting in left field and batting cleanup against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga.
