ZACK LITTELL NEWS

Starting Sunday Littell will start Sunday's game against the Astros, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.

Impact 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.

JULY 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Season-high four strikeouts in loss Littell (0-2) took the loss Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits over 3.1 innings against the Rangers. He struck out four.

Impact 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 actually marked his season high.

JULY 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rays' Zack Littell hopes Wednesday outing is start of something Notes | The re-converted reliever wants to keep building up and take a regular turn in the rotation. Also, the Mitchell High draftee signs.

JULY 19, 2023 • TAMPABAY.COM

Serving as opener Wednesday Littell will serve as the Rays' opener Wednesday against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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.

JULY 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Allows two runs as opener Littell did not factor into the decision Wednesday, allowing two runs on four hits over two innings against the Phillies. He struck out two.

Impact 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 jumped tied the game up 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). Allow

JULY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Draws opener assignment Littell is scheduled to serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

Impact 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.

JULY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Serving as opener Littell will serve as an opener Thursday for the Rays in their game in Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact 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.

JUNE 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Returns from IL The Rays reinstated Littell (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Impact Tampa Bay optioned lefty Jalen Beeks to Triple-A Durham to clear a spot in the bullpen and on the 26-man active roster for Littell, who missed about three weeks due to the inflamed right shoulder. Littell will likely work in lower-leverage spots for Tampa Bay after he surrendered six earned runs on 10 hits and three walks over 6.1 innings during his first six relief appearances in the majors this season.

JUNE 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rehabbing at Triple-A 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...

Impact 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.

JUNE 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

To IL with shoulder injury Littell was placed on the 15-day injured list by the Rays on Wednesday with right shoulder fatigue, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Littell last pitched Monday and gave up two runs while recording just one out against the Blue Jays. It's not clear how long he might be sidelined.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Claimed by Tampa Bay Littell was claimed off waivers by the Rays on Friday, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports.

Impact Littell was designated for assignment by the Red Sox earlier this week and will wind up remaining in the American League East. The reliever is out of options, so he'll join the major-league roster. It's not clear yet what the Rays' corresponding move will be.

MAY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Designated for assignment Littell was designated for assignment by the Red Sox on Wednesday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Impact Littell has lost his roster spot to James Paxton, who is set to make his season debut Friday versus the Cardinals. Littell, 27, allowed three earned runs in three innings (two relief appearances) during his brief stay with Boston.

MAY 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Active in big-league bullpen Littell's contract was selected from Triple-A Worcester on Saturday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Impact The 27-year-old righty had a 3.82 ERA and 102 strikeouts in 106 innings for the Giants from 2021 through 2022, but he'd been working as a Triple-A reliever for the Rangers prior to getting shipped to Boston for cash. Littell should work in low-leverage spots.

MAY 6, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Report: Rangers trade RHP Zack Littell to Red Sox for cash considerations The Boston Red Sox acquired right-hander Zack Littell from the Texas Rangers on Friday for cash considerations, MLB.com reported

MAY 5, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM

Traded to Boston Littell was acquired by the Red Sox from the Rangers on Friday in exchange for cash considerations, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Littell has posted a 2.25 ERA and 16:2 K:BB over 12 innings this season at the Triple-A level. He'll report to Triple-A Worcester for now but could get a look with the big club before long.

MAY 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Signs minor-league deal Littell signed a minor-league contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Kiley McDaniel of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Littell will be in big-league camp as a non-roster invitee. The 27-year-old was highly effective out of the Giants' bullpen in 2021 before stumbling to a 5.08 ERA in 2022. He would seem to have a decent chance to win a middle-relief role in Texas.

JANUARY 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Loses spot on 40-man roster Littell was outrighted to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

Impact Littell was sent down in mid-September and will lose his spot on the team's 40-man roster now that the offseason has begun. It's possible that he serves as a non-roster invitee this spring.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Twins rally past Giants 3-2 on Celestino walk in 10th

Gilberto Celestino walked with the bases loaded in the 10th inning and the Minnesota Twins rallied to beat San Francisco 3-2

AUGUST 28, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Picks up first save Littell pitched a perfect 11th inning to earn the save in Sunday's 9-8 win over the Rockies.

Impact Littell was the seventh reliever the Giants deployed in this contest, and he was able to lock things down after Wilmer Flores' sacrifice fly put them ahead in the top of the 11th. Littell has covered three scoreless innings in two appearances since returning from an oblique injury Wednesday. He has a 4.59 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 30:8 K:BB across 33.1 innings this year, though he's added only one save and three holds as more of a low-leverage reliever. As such, he shouldn't be considered likely to see many additional save chances.

AUGUST 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Reinstated from 15-day IL Littell (oblique) was reinstated from the 15-day injured list Wednesday.

Impact Littell sustained a left oblique strain in early July and spent just over a month on the injured list, but he was in the minors on a rehab assignment for two and a half weeks. The right-hander posted a 4.05 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 6.2 innings over seven rehab appearances and will rejoin the Giants' bullpen ahead of Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.

AUGUST 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rehab moves to Triple-A Littell's (oblique) rehab assignment was transferred from Single-A San Jose to Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

Impact Across those two levels of the minors, Littell has allowed three hits and a walk while striking out three in four scoreless innings through four rehab appearances. Given the results so far, the right-hander doesn't seem too far away from rejoining the Giants.

AUGUST 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rehab assignment on tap Littell (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment at Single-A San Jose on Friday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Impact Littell has been on the injured list since early July due to his left oblique strain but is closing in on a return. It's not yet clear how many rehab appearances the right-hander will require before he's able to rejoin the Giants' bullpen, but it's possible that he'll be activated as early as next week.

JULY 28, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out with strained oblique Littell landed on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Littell was recalled Thursday and walked four batters in 1.1 innings of relief against the Padres the next day. Those command issues now look like they were injury-related. It's not yet clear how much time he's expected to miss.

JULY 9, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Returns to San Francisco Littell was recalled by the Giants on Thursday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Impact Jose Alvarez (elbow) was placed on the injured list, creating a need in the bullpen. Littell will fill that void, and he's managed a 4.97 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB across 29 innings with the Giants on the season.

JULY 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sent to Triple-A Littell was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento on Friday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Impact Littell pitched Thursday against Atlanta and allowed one run over three innings, and he'll head to the minors in favor of a fresh bullpen arm. The 26-year-old has a 4.97 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB across 29 major-league innings this season.

JUNE 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE