Chandler Simpson DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

The Tampa Bay Rays have optioned outfield prospect Chandler Simpson to Triple-A Durham. In a corresponding move, the Rays activated outfielder Jake Mangum (groin) from the 10-day injured list. Simpson was given the call to the majors in April. Through his first 35 MLB contests, the No. 7-ranked prospect in the Tampa Bay system posted a .285/.315/.317 slash line with four doubles, 11 RBI, and an impressive 19 stolen bases. His 19 stolen bases are currently the third-highest total in the American League. Under the hood, he has generated an elite .305 xBA and only struck out at a 10.5% rate. At Triple-A this season, Simpson swiped eight bags in 17 contests. With Simpson being optioned, fantasy managers should expect Mangum to see time in left field and for Christopher Morel to see more opportunities in the starting nine.

Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson (hand, face) is back in the starting lineup for Wednesday's series finale against the visiting Houston Astros and right-hander Hunter Brown, playing left field and batting sixth. Simpson is returning to action for the first time since being pulled from Saturday's game against the Miami Marlins early due to a sore hand and some facial injuries from a hard slide into home plate. Although he didn't start the first two games of the series against Houston, the speedy 24-year-old did appear off the bench in both games and had two steals on Monday. Simpson has been a lineup regular for the Rays against right-handed pitchers since his first big-league call-up and is hitting a solid .290 (27-for-93) with 11 steals. The former second-rounder has yet to go deep and has minimal power, but the speed is worth buying.

Tampa Bay Rays rookie outfielder Chandler Simpson (hand) remains out of the starting lineup for Monday's series opener against the visiting Houston Astros. Simpson will miss his second straight game after injuring his right hand on a slide into home plate on Saturday against the Miami Marlins. Fantasy managers will have to check back to see if the speedy 24-year-old will be ready to go for Game 2 of the series in Tampa on Tuesday. Kameron Misner is starting in center field and batting ninth, while Christopher Morel gets the start in left field and is hitting third against Astros left-hander Colton Gordon. Simpson has yet to homer in the big leagues but has hit a cool .301 (28-for-93) in his first taste of the big leagues while providing nine steals as a lineup regular for the Rays. Nobody in Tampa's lineup on Monday has faced Gordon.