Fantasy News

• Rays' Zack Littell: Yields five runs in loss

  Rotowire Apr 22, 2024

  Littell (1-1) took the loss Monday against the Tigers, allowing five runs on nine hits and no walks over six innings. He struck out seven. Littell allowed a solo homer to Mark Canha on the third pitch of his start Monday and never seemed to recover. Despite surrendering five runs, Littell managed to generate 15 whiffs and match his season high in strikeouts with seven. The 28-year-old starter sports a 3.33 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 29:5 K:BB over 27 innings. His next start is scheduled against the White Sox on the road.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Falls shy of quality start

  Rotowire Apr 17, 2024

  Littell didn't factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing three runs on eight hits and no walks over 5.2 innings against the Angels. He struck out seven. Although Littell didn't walk any batters and yielded merely three runs, he was pulled at 107 pitches before he was able to complete six innings. He surrendered his first home run of the campaign, being tagged by Mike Trout for a solo homer in the first inning. Littell boasts a 2.14 ERA with a 22:5 K:BB across 21 innings and seems to be building off his 2023 showing with Tampa Bay when he logged a 3-6 record and a 3.93 ERA in 26 appearances (14 starts). He's tentatively scheduled to face the Tigers on Monday.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Inefficient in no-decision

  Rotowire Apr 11, 2024

  Littell came away with a no-decision in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Angels, allowing one run on six hits and three walks over 4.1 innings. He struck out four. The right-hander ran his pitch count up to 99 (62 strikes) before getting the hook, missing out on a chance to secure his second win of the year. Littell has a 1.17 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 15:5 K:BB through three starts and 15.1 innings, and he has yet to serve up a homer despite the fact that one of his outings came in Coors Field. The latter could be key to his fantasy fortunes in 2024 after he was tagged for 13 home runs in 87 innings with Tampa Bay last season. Littell lines up for a rematch with the Halos back at home early next week.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Sharp outing at Coors

  Rotowire Apr 5, 2024

  Littell came away with a no-decision in Friday's 10-7 loss to the Rockies, allowing one run on five hits over five innings. He struck out five without walking a batter. The right-hander pounded the strike zone at Coors Field, firing 52 of 69 pitches for strikes, and Littell left the mound with the Rays nursing a 2-1 lead before things got wacky in the late innings. After a solid finish to the 2023 campaign in the Tampa Bay rotation, Littell has been even better to begin the current campaign, posting a 0.82 ERA through his first 11 innings with an 11:2 K:BB. He lines up to make his next start on the road against the Angels next week.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Six scoreless in win

  Rotowire Mar 30, 2024

  Littell (1-0) earned the win over the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing four hits and two walks over six scoreless innings. He struck out six. It wasn't the most dominant outing in terms of swings and misses (11), but Littell got the whiffs when he needed them with two strikes. A waiver claim by the Rays last May after the Red Sox designated him for assignment, Littell has somehow turned himself into a viable No. 3 starter for Tampa Bay, though fantasy managers will face a tough decision this upcoming week with a trip to notoriously hitter-friendly Coors Field on tap.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Wraps up impressive spring

  Rotowire Mar 25, 2024

  Littell allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 3.1 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers. After going most of the exhibition season without a blemish to his ERA, Littell ran into a bit of trouble in his final tuneup. Still, it was an impressive spring as Littell had a 13:3 K:BB and did not allow a homer in 13.1 innings. He quietly had a strong run with the Rays last year and has become a popular mid-to-late pick in recent fantasy drafts. The right-hander will start Tampa Bay's third game of the season, Saturday at home against the Blue Jays, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Locked into rotation

  Rotowire Feb 20, 2024

  Littell is expected to serve as a starter for the entire 2024 season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Littell made the transition from reliever to starter in the middle of the 2023 season, and he managed a 3.41 ERA across 71.1 innings in the latter role. With the Rays down several starters to begin the 2024 campaign, he'll be counted on in the rotation, but the team is also planning on him sticking in a starting role for the entirety of the season. That could change if he falters and either Shane Baz (elbow) or Jeffrey Springs (elbow) can return, but neither is likely to be available until the summer months at the earliest.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Gets used in relief Friday

  Rotowire Sep 30, 2023

  Littell didn't factor into the decision Friday during the Rays' 11-4 loss to the Blue Jays, coughing up three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.1 relief innings. He struck out one. Aaron Civale tossed 40 pitches as the starting pitcher and was charged with the loss during a game in which the Rays never led, but both Littell (35 pitches) and Taj Bradley (21 pitches) also saw action out of the bullpen, as manager Kevin Cash wanted to keep all his options open for his playoff rotation while not giving Toronto -- Tampa's likely opponent in the wild-card round -- a good look at any of them. Littell closes the books on a regular season that saw him post a 4.10 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 74:12 K:BB through 90 innings split between the Rays and Red Sox.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Settles for no-decision Saturday

  Rotowire Sep 24, 2023

  Littell came away with a no-decision Saturday, allowing two unearned runs on five hits and a walk over 5.2 innings in the Rays' 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays. He struck out six. The right-hander came one out shy of his third quality start in five September outings, and Littell left the mound in line for his fourth win of the season and first since Aug. 27, only for the Tampa Bay bullpen to cough up the lead in the eighth inning. Littell sports a sharp 2.70 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 22:2 K:BB through 30 innings on the month, and with Saturday's win having locked up a playoff spot for the Rays, he may not be asked to handle a full workload in his final start of the regular season, which lines up for a rematch with the Jays in Toronto next weekend.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Four earned runs in no-decision

  Rotowire Aug 23, 2023

  Littell did not factor into the decision Tuesday, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk over 5.1 innings against the Rockies. He struck out six. Littell induced a second-inning popup by Nolan Jones that landed just inside the left-field foul line, resulting in an unfortunate triple due to miscommunication between Tampa's young infield tandem of Osleivis Basabe and Curtis Mead. Jones would score on a sacrifice fly before Michael Toglia hit a solo homer. Littell conceded two more earned runs in the sixth and was on track for the loss before Tampa Bay's offensive explosion in the eighth turned the game into a blowout victory for the Rays. In five starts since joining the rotation July 30, the 27-year-old righty has posted a 3.54 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 21:2 K:BB across 28 innings. Littell is tentatively slated to make his next start at home against the Yankees over the weekend.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Solid again but takes loss

  Rotowire Aug 11, 2023

  Littell (2-3) took the loss against St. Louis on Thursday, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out five batters over six innings. Littell held the Cardinals scoreless through three frames before serving up a two-run homer to Andrew Knizner in the fourth. St. Louis tacked on another run against the right-hander in the sixth, which was enough to send him to his third loss. Despite the defeat, Littell continues to look good in his new role as a traditional starter, tossing his second straight quality start. In three games since moving into the rotation, he's posted a 2.65 ERA and 10:1 K:BB over 17 innings.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Shuts down Tigers

  Rotowire Aug 5, 2023

  Littell (2-2) earned the win Friday, allowing three hits and one walk over six scoreless innings against Detroit. He struck out one. The Rays gave Littell a nice cushion early and he cruised, completing six frames on 74 pitches. It wasn't a dominant performance in terms of whiffs -- Littell induced just five swinging strikes -- but the right-hander was efficient and kept the ball on the ground. With Shane McClanahan moving to the 15-day injured list this week with forearm tightness, Littell would seem to be locked into the rotation as long as he keeps delivering solid performances.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Set to start Friday

  Rotowire Aug 1, 2023

  Littell is listed as the Rays' starting pitcher for Friday's game against the Tigers at Comerica Park. Littell has already made four starts this season, but on each of the first three occasions, he covered no more than 3.1 innings while operating as more of an opening pitcher. In his most recent start Sunday in Houston, however, Littell covered a season-high five innings, striking out four while allowing two runs on eight hits. Based on the workload he handled, Littell looks like he could be getting stretched out for a more traditional starting role, especially now that Tampa Bay has a spot in the rotation open after Taj Bradley was optioned to Triple-a Durham on Monday. Erasmo Ramirez worked three innings behind Littell on Sunday, so it's possible the two pitchers work in tandem again Thursday if Ramirez isn't needed out of the bullpen Tuesday or Wednesday.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Starting Sunday

  Rotowire Jul 29, 2023

  Littell will start Sunday's game against the Astros, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports. The right-hander hasn't pitched since he delivered two scoreless innings last Sunday against Baltimore, and he'll start Tampa Bay's bullpen day in Houston a week later. Littell has covered at least two frames in each of his past four outings, but he shouldn't be expected to last more than once through the order Sunday.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Season-high four strikeouts in loss

  Rotowire Jul 20, 2023

  Littell (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits over 3.1 innings against the Rangers. He struck out four. Littell made it through the first two innings unscathed before serving up a leadoff home run to Leody Taveras to open the bottom of the third. That would be the only run allowed by the right-hander on the afternoon as he was later relieved by Jake Diekman after surrendering a one-out double to Jonah Heim in the fourth. Littell has now allowed at least one run in each of his last three outings while his four strikeouts Wednesday marked a season high.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Serving as opener Wednesday

  Rotowire Jul 18, 2023

  Littell will serve as the Rays' opener Wednesday against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Wednesday will mark the third time this season Littell has served in an opener role. The 27-year-old righty holds a 6.05 ERA and 1.55 WHIP through 19.1 innings this season and will presumably stay in the game for one or two innings before turning things over to the bullpen.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Allows two runs as opener

  Rotowire Jul 6, 2023

  Littell did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits over two innings against the Phillies. He struck out two. Littell served as the Rays' opener Wednesday and got off to a good start with a 1-2-3 first inning. However, he would run into trouble in the second after striking out Bryce Harper to open the frame, allowing four consecutive singles as the Phillies tied the game at 2-2. The right-hander was then relieved by Yonny Chirinos to begin the third after seeing his ERA jump up to 5.71 on the season. On a positive note, Littell has now recorded at least two strikeouts in each of his last five appearances (spanning 8.2 innings).

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Draws opener assignment

  Rotowire Jul 5, 2023

  Littell is scheduled to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Phillies. Littell will get the opener assignment for the second time in less than a week, after he most recently struck out three over two scoreless frames in his "start" against the Diamondbacks last Thursday. Yonny Chirinos covered six innings behind Littell that day and will presumably work as a bulk reliever once again Wednesday.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Serving as opener

  Rotowire Jun 29, 2023

  Littell will serve as an opener Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. Littell will take the mound first for Tampa Bay, with Yonny Chirinos slated to cover bulk relief innings. It will be the first opener assignment this season for Littell, who holds a 6.57 ERA and 11:5 K:BB over 12.1 innings covering 10 appearances between the Red Sox and Rays.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Rehabbing at Triple-A

  Rotowire Jun 12, 2023

  Littell (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and has made three appearances thus far, covering two innings and allowing four earned runs on four hits and four walks while striking out one batter. Littell is working his way back from a bout with right shoulder inflammation, an issue that resulted in his placement on the 15-day injured list May 24. Before picking up the injury, Littell was a fringe member of the Rays' 40-man roster, so he likely won't be assured a spot in the big-league bullpen once he's formally activated. Littell hasn't helped his cause by having pitched ineffectively thus far during his rehab assignment.

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