Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell continued his impressive stretch on Thursday, shutting out the Boston Red Sox for seven innings and earning his eighth win in a 2-0 victory. Littell was completely dominant in this one, allowing just one hit and walking no one while punching out seven. This makes three straight outings where the 28-year-old hasn't given up a run or allowed more than three hits. It's been a good campaign overall for Littell, and he could earn himself a spot in Tampa's 2025 rotation with the way he's pitched. The righty has one start left this year against the feisty Detroit Tigers, and fantasy managers who are in a pickle certainly could do worse than Littell.
Zack Littell Activated From Injured List, To Start On Monday
The Tampa Bay Rays activated right-hander Zack Littell (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list on Sunday and also selected the contract of catcher Logan Driscoll from the minors. Littell is scheduled to make his first start back from the IL on Monday in the series opener against the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field. The 28-year-old didn't require a minor-league rehab assignment after leaving his last start early on Aug. 14 against the Houston Astros with right-shoulder soreness. Fantasy managers in mixed leagues will want to pounce on Littell if he's available on the waiver wire. While his 21.1% strikeout rate doesn't exactly stand out, he allowed five runs (three earned) with five walks and 16 K's in his last four starts before getting hurt. On June 20 against the Twins, he gave up just two earned runs while striking out five in five innings for a no-decision.
Zack Littell Could Return During Upcoming Homestand
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said on Wednesday that right-hander Zack Littell (shoulder) is progressing well and that he threw a "simulated live session," so there is hope that he can be penciled back into the starting rotation sometime during the upcoming homestand that runs from Friday, Aug. 30, through Thursday, Sept. 5. Cash said Littell, who last pitched on Aug. 14 due to right-shoulder fatigue, is not likely to need a minor-league rehab assignment before coming off the 15-day injured list. The 28-year-old will be in play in deep-mixed leagues when he's back. Although he didn't go beyond 5 1/3 innings in any of his three August starts, he gave up just five runs (three earned) while walking four and striking out 11 in 15 2/3 innings. Littell has a nice 4.7% walk rate and a 21.1% strikeout rate in 2024, which is his highest mark since 2021.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Zack Littell (shoulder) was placed on the 15-day injured list with right-shoulder fatigue. In a corresponding move, the Rays recalled southpaw Tyler Alexander from Triple-A Durham. Littell was enjoying a nice hot stretch before the injury as he held a strong 1.19 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, and a 5:16 BB:K ratio across his previous three outings (22 2/3 innings). Overall, through the season, the 28-year-old has posted a 3.89 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, and a 26:116 BB:K ratio. Alexander has carried a hefty 5.20 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP through 71 frames this season. Fantasy managers should expect Alexander to contend for the open spot in the rotation with Drew Rasmussen, who recently returned from the 60-day IL, while Littell remains sidelined.
Zack Littell Tosses Seven Shutout Innings In Win Over Reds
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell (4-7) allowed three hits while striking out five over seven scoreless innings in Saturday's 4-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds. He collected his fourth victory of the season. It was the fourth time in his career he made it seven innings. The 28-year-old threw 96 pitches, landing 60 for strikes. He bounced back on Saturday after allowing five earned runs in the previous start. The Rays are amid a fire sale and have already traded away Randy Arozarena and Zach Eflin. Littell is subject to trade rumors and could be moved by the MLB deadline on Tuesday. He owns a 4.18 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 105 strikeouts over 114 innings. Littell is scheduled to take on the Astros on Saturday if he's not moved by the MLB deadline.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Zack Littell will look to keep his fast start going on Wednesday against the visiting Los Angeles Angels. Littell has yielded just two earned runs across his first three starts of the season spanning 15 1/3 innings, striking out 15 against five walks in that time. The 28-year-old has been solid for the Rays since the club claimed him from the Red Sox last season as he tossed a 3.93 ERA in 26 outings (14 starts) with the club last season before starting this season with a 1.17 ERA, albeit alongside a 3.90 SIERA. He takes on an Angels offense that is tied for 16th with a .314 wOBA and 19th with a 23.6% K% on the young season.
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zack Littell will look to put a stop to a recent three-start skid on Thursday night when he takes on the Seattle Mariners at home. While not utterly disastrous, Little has allowed four earned runs in each of his last three starts spanning 16 innings of work, good for a 6.75 ERA in that time. The right-hander managed to post a strong 11:2 K:BB in those three starts but has been knocked around for 20 hits, including five home runs, as well. The tough stretch has seen Littell's ERA rise to 4.69 in 63 1/3 innings on the season, although a 4.13 SIERA and elite 3% BB% on the season could force improved results moving forward. He will be in tough Thursday, however, against a Mariners offense that ranks third with a .353 wOBA since the All-Star break.
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Zack Littell is starting Thursday night versus the St. Louis Cardinals opposite Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore. The right-hander has spent time in the Rangers, Red Sox, and Rays organizations this season but will make his 17th appearance and sixth start for a Rays team that has seen its pitching staff decimated by injuries. Littell has been more than serviceable when on the mound this season, tossing a solid 4.04 ERA across 35 2/3 innings of work. Additionally, he sports a 3.49 FIP and a 3.73 SIERA while walking just 3.9% of the batters he has faced. He will have his hands full on Thursday, however, as he takes on a Cardinals offense that sits sixth with a .331 wOBA versus right-handed pitching this season.
Zack Littell Opening On Thursday, Yonny Chirinos To Follow
Tampa Bay Rays righty hurler Zack Littell will start Thursday's matchup against Brandon Pfaadt and the Arizona Diamondbacks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The 27-year-old won't be out there for very long, as he hasn't thrown more than 2 2/3 innings in any appearance this season. It'll be Yonny Chirinos who gets the bulk of the innings on Thursday. The five-year veteran has posted a 3.91 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and 11.6% strikeout rate with a 3-3 record over 11 games and four starts this season. Chirinos doesn't have much value in most leagues, and fantasy managers should only roster him in deep and AL-only formats.
The Tampa Bay Rays claimed right-hander Zack Littell off waivers from the Boston Red Sox on Friday, according to a source. In a corresponding move to open up a spot on the team's 40-man roster, pitcher Garrett Cleavinger (knee) was moved to the 60-day injured list. Cleavinger suffered a season-ending torn right ACL last weekend. Littell will join the Rays after being designated for assignment by Boston after he allowed three runs on three hits while walking three and striking out two in three relief innings this year. The 27-year-old reliever has six years of big-league experience, posting a 4.17 ERA (4.66 FIP), 1.34 WHIP and 20.8 percent strikeout rate in 172 2/3 career innings pitched. Littell will likely operate in low-leverage situations out of the bullpen.
Zack Littell
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Rays
