The Tampa Bay Rays lost left fielder Chandler Simpson to a cut and bloodied mouth and shortstop Taylor Walls to hamstring tightness during their series opener against the visiting Detroit Tigers on Monday.
Walls left during the bottom of the third due to left hamstring tightness, which the Rays called a precautionary move. He left before taking his first at-bat of the game. Walls was dealing with a hamstring issue last week and missed two games.
Oliver Dunn pinch-hit for Walls in the third inning and took over for him at shortstop in the fourth. Ben Williamson was sent in to replace Dunn later in the game.
In the fourth, Simpson was the victim of some bad luck on a stolen base attempt.
Simpson broke from first base to second when Tigers pitcher Ty Madden threw a wild pitch. But Simpson’s helmet fell off, bounced and hit him in the mouth as he dove for a headfirst slide. It was unclear whether it hit him in the tooth or split open his lip.
Ryan Vilade pinch-ran for Simpson and took over for him in left field.
Simpson is a speedster who has 14 stolen bases this season after notching 44 as a rookie last year. Simpson also owns the American League lead with four triples. His 1-for-2 day Monday left him with a .284 batting average.
Walls is batting .208 through 44 games this year, his sixth with Tampa Bay.
