What happened: Chandler Simpson entered Saturday batting .311 with 44 stolen bases as Tampa Bay prepared to face Boston. The game had not started yet, with the Red Sox and Rays at 0-0 before first pitch.

Why it matters: Simpson gives Tampa Bay a runner who can pressure a defense the moment he reaches base. That kind of speed can affect pitch timing and turn routine baserunners into immediate scoring chances.

What to watch: Watch whether Simpson gets on base early enough to test Boston's control of the running game. The matchup remained in pregame at 0-0.