Zack Littell

Fantasy News

• Rays' Zack Littell: Strikes out six in no-decision

  Rotowire Jun 25, 2024

  Littell did not factor into the decision in Tuesday's 11-3 win over the Mariners, allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts over five innings. Littell opened with four scoreless innings before allowing a two-run home run to Ty France in the fifth. He generated an impressive 14 swinging strikes on just 72 pitches and has rebounded from a rough start June 14 by yielding just two runs in each of his past two outings. The 28-year-old owns a 4.17 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 82:16 K:BB this season and will try to record his first win since May 11 against the Royals next week.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Allows two runs in no-decision

  Rotowire Jun 20, 2024

  Littell did not factor into the decision Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings against the Twins. He struck out five. Thursday represented a return to form for Littell, who held the Twins to single tallies in each of the second and third innings. Littell had posted a 7.71 ERA and 2.07 WHIP with four homers given up across three starts in June entering Thursday, including a season-worst six earned runs allowed in just two frames during his previous start. Although he was touched up for a homer for the seventh consecutive outing, it was also the first time in five starts he didn't allow at least three earned runs. He tentatively lines up for a home matchup with the Mariners next week.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Chased early in loss

  Rotowire Jun 14, 2024

  Littell (2-5) yielded seven runs (six earned) on eight hits and a walk over two innings Friday, striking out two and taking a loss against Atlanta. Atlanta jumped all over Littell right out of the gate, tallying five runs in the first inning and two more in the second. It was Littell's shortest outing of the year and he saw his ERA jump from 3.63 to 4.24 in the process. Over his last six starts, he's posted a 5.79 ERA in 31.2 frames. Still looking for his first win since May 11, Littell's next start is projected to come in Minnesota.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Takes loss in quality start

  Rotowire Jun 9, 2024

  Littell (2-4) took the loss Sunday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on seven hits and a walk across six innings. He struck out three. Littell had to work for his third straight quality start, stranding five batters and allowing four extra-base hits, including a fourth-inning solo homer by Anthony Santander. Littell has surrendered a home run in five straight starts and owns a 4.55 ERA with a 24:5 K:BB across 29.2 innings. He's tentatively scheduled for a road start in Atlanta on Friday.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Battles through quality start

  Rotowire Jun 2, 2024

  Littell struck out two and allowed three runs on 11 hits and one walk over six innings in Sunday's 4-3 win over the Orioles. He didn't factor into the decision. Littell's day started by allowing a leadoff homer to Gunnar Henderson, but he somehow managed to keep the Rays in the game despite walking the tight rope throughout most of his six-inning effort. In total, Littell scattered a season-high 11 hits and 12 total baserunners while accumulating a season-low two strikeouts. Despite facing at least five Orioles batters in four of his six innings completed, Littell managed to walk away with a quality start, and his gritty performance kept the door open for the Rays to pull off the comeback win. Littell will look to make things a bit easier on himself during his next start, tentatively slated to take place against these same Orioles next weekend when the O's return the favor and make the trip to Tampa.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Let down by defense Tuesday

  Rotowire May 29, 2024

  Littell (2-3) took the loss Tuesday as the Rays fell 3-0 to the A's, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out nine. The right-hander set a new career high in strikeouts, generating 30 called or swinging strikes among his 95 pitches, but a Brandon Lowe error helped prolong the sixth inning and set the stage for a three-run homer by Miguel Andujar. Littell had to settle for his fourth quality start of the year, and he'll take a 3.03 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 64:10 K:BB through 62.1 innings into his next outing, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in Baltimore.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Punches out seven

  Rotowire May 22, 2024

  Littell didn't factor into the decision Tuesday against Boston, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk across 5.2 innings. He struck out seven. Littell fared better against the Red Sox the second time around, holding them to three hits Tuesday after yielding seven hits and four runs to Boston in his last start. Though the 28-year-old did surrender a solo homer to Jarren Duran, he tied his season high in strikeouts and walked fewer than two batters for the sixth time in his last seven starts. Littell hasn't gone deeper than six innings this season but owns a 3.42 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP across 10 appearances. He's scheduled for a home start against the Athletics next Tuesday.

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• Rays' Zack Littell: Picks up second win

  Rotowire May 11, 2024

  Littell (2-2) got the victory Saturday versus the Yankees, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks over 5.2 innings. He notched three strikeouts. Littell came into this outing with zero walks over his last four starts and at least six strikeouts in all of those outings. While he went the other direction in both areas during Saturday's start, it was an effective outing nonetheless. Littell is sitting on a 3.02 ERA, but this was his first win since March 30. His next outing projects to come in Boston.

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• 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: 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: 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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