Littell (5-9) took the loss against the Twins on Monday, allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks with two strikeouts over four innings.
Littell was a bit rusty in his return from the injured list, walking a season-high four batters and surrendering a three-run homer in the third inning. On the plus side, his velocity was mostly in line with his season averages, and he generated a solid 11 whiffs on 78 pitches. The 28-year-old owns a 4.04 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 118:30 K:BB across 133.2 innings this season and lines up for a tough matchup with the Orioles this weekend.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Returns from IL, starting Monday
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Littell (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Sunday, and he's scheduled to start Monday against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The right-hander landed on the shelf due to shoulder soreness after his last start Aug. 14 against Houston, but he's ready to rejoin the Rays as MLB rosters expand to 28 players Sunday. Littell will look to pick up where he left off, as he has a 1.19 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB in 22.2 innings across his past four starts.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Nearing return
Rotowire
Littell (shoulder) threw a simulated game Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Manager Kevin Cash confirmed that Littell will not go on a rehab assignment. Assuming Littell's progress continues, he is expected to return to the rotation during the Rays' upcoming homestand, beginning Aug. 30 and ending Sept. 5.
Rays' Zack Littell: Headed to IL with shoulder fatigue
Rotowire
The Rays placed Littell on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to right shoulder fatigue, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Littell came away with the no-decision while allowing one run on one hit and two walks over five innings in his start Wednesday against the Astros, but he might have been plagued by the shoulder injury during the outing. The fact that the Rays are characterizing his injury as fatigue rather than a strain could bode well for his chances of avoiding an extended stay on the shelf. Left-hander Tyler Alexander was called up from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move, and he'll likely slot in as the fifth member of the Tampa Bay rotation beginning with Sunday's game against the Diamondbacks, when he'll likely start or serve as a bulk reliever.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Steady in no-decision
Rotowire
Littell allowed one run on one hit and two walks while striking out three over five innings in a no-decision versus the Astros on Wednesday.
Aside from a Jeremy Pena solo home run in the fifth inning, Littell was in control, though he threw just 68 pitches (44 strikes) in this start. That matches his lowest pitch count since the start of July -- he'd thrown no fewer than 79 pitches in any of his last six starts. He's now at a 4.03 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 116:26 K:BB through 129.2 innings over 24 starts this year. Littell is tentatively projected for a favorable road start against the Athletics in his next outing.
Littell (5-8) took the loss Friday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out five.
After surrendering a home run to Colton Cowser to lead off the game, Littell managed to settle in and keep Baltimore off the board until the fifth, when Ryan O'Hearn drove in two more runs with a two-out single. The 28-year-old Littell had won back-to-back starts prior to Friday, allowing just one run in 12.2 innings. Overall, the right-hander sports a 4.11 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP and 113:24 K:BB across 124.2 innings this season. Littell's currently slated for a home matchup with the Astros in his next outing.
Littell (5-7) allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out three over 5.2 innings to earn the win over the Astros on Saturday.
Littell allowed the opening run of the game, a Jon Singleton solo home run in the first inning. The Rays were able to bounce back on offense while Littell was sharp the rest of the way to collect consecutive wins for the first time this season. The right-hander has allowed just one run on seven hits and two walks over his last 12.2 innings. For the season, he's pitched to a 4.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 108:23 K:BB over 119.2 innings through 22 starts. Littell is projected to make his next start at home versus the Orioles.
Littell (4-7) picked up the win in Saturday's 4-0 victory over the Reds, scattering three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. He struck out five.
The 28-year-old right-hander was masterful over 96 pitches (60 strikes), as Cincinnati managed to get only two runners into scoring position against him. The quality start was the eighth of the year for Littell, but only his second in his last eight trips to the mound, a stretch in which he has a 5.22 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. With the Rays in sell mode at the trade deadline and Littell headed for his final year of arbitration in 2025, Saturday's performance can only have boosted his market value. If he doesn't get dealt, he's scheduled to make his next start for Tampa Bay on the road next weekend in Houston.
