Like every team in the offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays will have questions to ask regarding holes that need filling when the hot-stove-league talks heat up.
One of those questions won’t be who will bat in the lead-off position, however.
The Rays (75-79), who will host the Boston Sox (84-70) on Saturday night, have had that spot in the lineup penciled in almost all season for rookie Chandler Simpson.
The 24-year-old speedster, who had the night off Friday, is one of the team’s brightest spots in a season in which the Rays will miss the playoffs for the second straight year.
Shortstop Carson Williams has watched Simpson develop into an electric player.
“Something I think that’s so special about Chan is that he doesn’t change his game for any level,” Williams said. “He knows what he does. He uses his speed — it’s the best speed I’ve ever seen — and uses it to his advantage. He’s so good bat-to-ball. He never tries to do too much and is consistent.”
Simpson had a fine week against American League East-leading Toronto, going 8-for-17 (.471) with three doubles, four runs, three RBIs and two steals. He is 42-for-54 in stolen-base attempts this season and is batting .301.
In Friday’s opener, Boston blew open a one-run game with a seven-run eighth inning on the way to an 11-7 win over the Rays. Tampa Bay officially was eliminated from playoff contention with the loss while Boston is tied with Houston for the second wild-card position in the American League.
Ceddanne Rafaela crafted his first four-hit game of 2025 as the Red Sox moved to 9-2 against the Rays this season.
“I think there were some good signs (on offense) the last few days at home,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “We didn’t cash in. Ceddanne put good at-bats. … Tonight, it was a good one.”
Though they beat Tampa Bay for the seventh consecutive time, the Red Sox have stumbled this month, going 8-8 after a 34-18 stretch in a hot July and August.
Tampa Bay right-hander Adrian Houser (8-4, 3.11 ERA) will start against them on Saturday. Houser is 1-0 with a 4.42 ERA in his last three starts, allowing nine earned runs on 15 hits — including three homers — in 18 1/3 innings while permitting the opposition to bat .211 against him.
The nine-year veteran will make his first career appearance against the Red Sox.
Boston’s Kyle Harrison (1-1, 4.05 ERA) will make his fifth start and 10th overall appearance this season on Saturday. As a starter, the left-hander is 1-1 with a 4.91 ERA, but he has been more effective as a reliever, posting a 2.16 ERA without a decision in 8 1/3 innings.
Acquired from the San Francisco Giants on June 15 in a trade for Rafael Devers, Harrison will make his first career appearance against the Rays.
–Field Level Media
