Littell allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out three over three innings in a no-decision versus the Diamondbacks on Friday.
Littell has two good starts and two shaky ones since he was traded from the Rays to the Reds. This fell in the latter category, as he gave up a three-run home run to Gabriel Moreno in a difficult third inning that ultimately made this a short start. Littell has given up 10 runs (nine earned) over 20.2 innings with Cincinnati, and he's at a 3.62 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 106:27 K:BB through 154 innings over 26 starts this season.
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Reds' Zack Littell: No-decision in quality start
Rotowire
Littell did not factor into Saturday's decision against the Brewers, allowing one run on four hits and one walk while striking out three across six innings.
Littell faced the minimum number of batters in three of six innings and kept the Brewers in check outside of a Brice Turang RBI double in the second. Littell needed just 87 pitches (54 strikes) to make it through six innings, and he was in line for his 10th win of the season before the Brewers tied things up at 2-2 in the ninth frame. The 29-year-old right-hander has given up one earned run or less in three of his last four outings and has a 3.37 ERA and 1.21 WHIP across his six starts since the All-Star break. Littell is slated to make his next start on the road against the Diamondbacks next weekend.
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Reds' Zack Littell: Hit around in no-decision
Rotowire
Littell did not factor into the decision in Sunday's 14-8 win over the Pirates, allowing four runs on nine hits and no walks with three strikeouts over 4.2 innings.
Littell opened with three scoreless innings before giving up four runs in the fourth and fifth. The 29-year-old threw 56 of 83 pitches for strikes but allowed 11 hard-hit balls and failed to complete five frames for just the second time this season. He'll take a 3.60 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 100:23 K:BB across 145 innings into a home matchup with the red-hot Brewers next weekend.
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Reds' Zack Littell: Dazzles with eight Ks in team debut
Rotowire
Littell (9-8) earned the win Tuesday against the Cubs, allowing one run on three hits and two walks in seven innings. He struck out eight.
Littell shined in his Reds debut, fanning a season-high eight and delivering his second start of season with at least seven innings while surrendering one run or fewer. The 29-year-old right-hander generated 16 whiffs on the evening, and his streak of starts with at least five frames was also extended to 20 on Tuesday. There may be some concerns regarding his fantasy appeal when he needs to work at homer-friendly Great American Ball Park, as Littell has served up an MLB-high 27 home runs, but his next appearance is slated for this weekend in Pittsburgh. Through 140.1 innings, Littell has a 3.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 97:23 K.
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Reds' Zack Littell: Making team debut Tuesday
Rotowire
Littell is listed as the Reds' probable starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
After making his final start for the Rays this past Wednesday before being dealt to the Reds later that evening, Littell will be taking the hill on five days' rest for his Cincinnati debut. Right-hander Hunter Greene (groin) has already completed two rehab starts and could be activated from the injured list in the next week or two, but his return is unlikely to dislodge Littell from the rotation, given how well he had been pitching for the Rays this season. Over his 22 starts with Tampa Bay, Littell spun a 3.58 ERA and 1.12 WHIP in 133.1 innings, though he had served up a MLB-high 26 home runs.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Tagged for five runs during loss
Rotowire
Littell (8-8) took the loss Friday against the Reds, allowing five runs on 10 hits over six innings. He struck out two and didn't issue a walk.
Littell was hurt by the long ball in Friday's loss, giving up a solo homer to Tyler Stephenson in the second inning and a two-run shot to TJ Friedl in the sixth. The five earned runs marked the 29-year-old's highest total allowed since April 10, snapping what had been a strong stretch. Entering the outing, Littell had posted a 2.43 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 22:6 K:BB across 29.2 innings in his last five outings. The right-hander will aim to return to that form in his next start, scheduled to be against the Yankees.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Opens second half with QS
Rotowire
Littell allowed two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three batters over six innings in a no-decision against Baltimore on Saturday.
Littell fell behind early, allowing two runs in the first inning. He settled in from there, however, allowing just four more baserunners and zero runs over the remainder of his six frames. Littell was thus able to record a quality start -- his third over his past four appearances -- and was taken off the hook for a loss when the Rays battled for four runs over the seventh and eighth innings. The right-hander lowered his season ERA to 3.53, and he hasn't allowed more than three runs in any of his past six outings.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Fires six strong innings Friday
Rotowire
Littell didn't factor into the decision Friday against the Twins, giving up one run on four hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out five.
Littell fanned five while allowing a lone run in his third consecutive start, tossing six strong innings Friday. The 29-year-old right-hander had previously gone four straight outings without walking a batter, but he's now issued two free passes in each of his last two appearances. Littell is now up to 12 quality starts in 2025, and he'll carry a steady 3.50 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 76:15 K:BB across 110.2 frames into a tough spot on the road against the first-place Tigers.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Sharp in seventh win
Rotowire
Littell (7-7) picked up the win Saturday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over seven innings in an 11-3 rout of the Orioles. He struck out five.
The right-hander tossed 61 of 93 pitches for strikes en route to his 11th quality start of the season, and fifth in his last seven trips to the mound. During that stretch, Littell has produced a 2.78 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and stunning 33:2 K:BB over 45.1 innings. He'll try to stay dialed in during his next start, which lines up to come on the road next weekend in Minnesota.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Takes loss despite quality start
Rotowire
Littell (6-7) took the loss Tuesday against the Orioles, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out three in six innings.
Littell gave up a fifth-inning solo blast to Colton Cowser and a near home run to Jordan Westburg but otherwise kept the Orioles in check. It was his fourth straight start allowing a homer, but his fifth straight start going at least six innings. Littell has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of his last 12 starts and has walked just eight batters over that span. He'll aim to get back in the win column this weekend against the Tigers.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Tosses first career complete game
Rotowire
Littell (5-5) earned the win over Houston on Saturday, allowing three runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out six batters over nine innings.
Littell allowed two homers to Jeremy Pena in his first three innings, with the second tying the score at 3-3. The Rays poured on the offense from there, and manager Kevin Cash elected to give the bullpen a break and let Littell finish off the contest, which he did without allowing another run. The right-hander threw 117 pitches -- the most by any major-league pitcher in a game this season -- en route to his first career complete game. Since giving up seven runs in four innings against the Angels on April 10, Littell has yielded three runs or fewer in each of his subsequent nine outings, compiling seven quality starts, five wins and a 2.97 ERA in that span.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Fans six in no-decision
Rotowire
Littell came away with a no-decision against the Astros on Tuesday, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out six over five innings. He did not issue a walk.
Littell scattered his two runs in the second and third innings and wasn't brought out for the sixth after tossing 103 pitches (63 strikes) while generating 10 whiffs. He has yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts, which has brought his ERA down to 4.25 across 59.1 innings. Littell has earned the win in three of his last five outings after losing his first five starts of the season. He'll go for win No. 4 in his next start, tentatively slated for next week at home against Minnesota.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Earns third win
Rotowire
Littell (3-5) allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out two over 7.1 innings to earn the win Thursday over the Blue Jays.
Littell's longest start of the year was his fifth quality start in six outings, though there were some flaws. All three runs he allowed came via solo home runs, making this the fourth time in nine outings he's allowed multiple homers. Still, he continues to be effective at limiting damage, as this was the seventh time he's walked no more than one batter. The right-hander is now at a 4.31 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 32:10 K:BB over 54.1 innings this season, despite allowing 13 homers so far. His next start is projected to be at home versus the Astros.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Delivers another quality start
Rotowire
Littell came away with a no-decision in Friday's 4-3 win over the Brewers, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk over six innings. He struck out five.
The right-hander needed 90 pitches (65 strikes) to record his fourth quality start in his last five trips to the mound. After a bumpy beginning to the campaign, Littell has found a groove, posting a 3.00 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB in 30 innings over that five-start stretch. He'll look to keep rolling in his next outing, which is scheduled to come on the road next week in Toronto.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Remains winless despite QS
Rotowire
Littell (0-5) took the loss Tuesday, giving up three runs on six hits and one walk over six innings as the Rays were downed 5-1 by the Diamondbacks. He struck out two.
The right-hander delivered his second straight quality start and third in five trips to the mound on 99 pitches (61 strikes), but he once again couldn't get into the win column. Tampa Bay has scored a total of five runs in Littell's five outings, which certainly isn't helping his chances of collecting a win, but he's also served up eight homers in 29 innings to begin the season -- including two in Tuesday's loss. Littell will carry a 5.28 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 21:7 K:BB into his next start, which lines up to come on the road this weekend in San Diego.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Another tough-luck loss Wednesday
Rotowire
Littell (0-4) took the loss Wednesday against the Red Sox after allowing one run on five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out five.
Wednesday marked the second time already this year that the right-hander was charged with the loss despite firing six innings of one-run ball. David Hamilton's third-inning solo home run wouldn't have been a homer in any other MLB ballpark, according to Statcast, and Littell also notably escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth inning. Despite carrying a respectable 1.26 WHIP and 19:6 K:BB across 23 innings (four starts) in 2025, Littell's 5.48 ERA makes him tough to trust from a fantasy perspective in Arizona for his next turn through the rotation.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Five shutout innings in win
Rotowire
Littell (6-9) threw five scoreless innings to pick up the win Sunday against Baltimore, allowing three hits and one walk while striking out four.
Littell was sharp, limiting a potent Orioles offense to just three singles to earn his first win since Aug. 3. The 28-year-old has been excellent over his past six starts, allowing one or fewer runs in five of those outings, pitching to a 1.99 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 18:10 K:BB in 31.2 innings. Littell doesn't offer gaudy strikeout totals, but his superb command has allowed him to maintain consistency. On the year, the right-hander owns a 3.89 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 122:31 K:BB in 138.2 innings (26 starts). He will look to stay hot in his next start, currently scheduled for next weekend in Cleveland.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Falls to Baltimore
Rotowire
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.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Blanks Cincy for fourth win
Rotowire
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.
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Rays' Zack Littell: Battered in loss
Rotowire
Littell (3-7) took the loss Monday against the Yankees, allowing five earned runs on nine hits and two walks in 5.2 innings. He struck out six.
The 28-year-old surrendered three home runs in this one, including back-to-back blasts from Austin Wells and Anthony Volpe in the second inning. Littell has allowed at least one home run in 11 of his past 12 starts, limping to a 5.49 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 55:12 K:BB during that stretch. The right-hander boasts an elite 4.95 K/BB that ranks in the 94th percentile, but he will need to keep the ball in the yard to find consistency. Littell will look to bounce back his next time out, a start currently scheduled for this weekend against Cincinnati.
