Rays’ Zack Littell is ready for next start after rare complete game

TAMPA In the immediate aftermath of his complete game Saturday in Houston the Rays first in nearly four years Zack Littell enjoyed praise and accolades for his work against the Astros.Everybody around here for the next day or two kind of just kept telling me how cool it was, which it was, Littell said Thursday.

But I was kind of ready to move on to this one pretty soon after.

So, just ready to get after it this week.This one is against the Marlins, a rare Friday afternoon game resulting from a scheduling conflict with a Metallica concert that night across the street at Raymond James Stadium.Littell said he felt no aftereffects from throwing a career-high 117 pitches against the Astros or getting all 27 outs for the first time as a big-leaguer.

He got the benefit of an extra days rest, as the Rays were off Monday.I feel good, Littell said.

Responded really well.

Body-wise, the extra day helped.To further that feeling, he skipped an already light and abbreviated between-starts bullpen session (typically 12-15 pitches) in favor of playing catch each day.It was pretty routine, maybe a little lighter, but not like an intentional, OK, were going to back off here, Littell said.

It was just kind of one of those things where I went into it every day and made sure that I had my body feeling good before I went and played catch, and played catch and felt what I wanted to feel.Littell, 29, said he has skipped between-starts bullpen sessions before, including one earlier this season.

Its part of a less-is-more approach he adopted when moving from the bullpen back to the rotation in the second half of the 2023 season, with some guidance from former Ray Zach Eflin.I try and limit my workload between starts in general, anyway, he said.

Especially when things are going pretty well, theres not a lot to try and go down there and hammer out.In a question he has had to answer only three other times in the 11 seasons hes managed the Rays, Kevin Cash said he doesnt expect to handle a starter coming off a complete game any differently in terms of workload.Itll be very similar to how weve gone about it in the past, Cash said.

Hes pitching with a day off in between, so a plus-one.

Im sure hes going to be motivated to go nine innings again.Cash acknowledged that Littell has pitched the idea of getting to work a complete game before.

Actually, Cash said, nagging was a good word.Fade to BlackThere didnt seem to be much chatter among the Rays about attending the Metallica concert, with 35-year-old reliever Cole Sulser joking he is one of the few players old enough to appreciate their music.

Cash said that during his time catching the Yankees he came to consider the Metallica classic Enter Sandman one of the best intro songs, as it was used by closer Mariano Rivera.

TV analyst Brian Anderson appears to be the bands biggest fan among the Rays group and has tickets for the Friday show.Franco trial continuesInitial hearings in Rays shortstop Wander Francos trial on charges stemming from a relationship with a minor continued Thursday in the Dominican Republic.Much of the time, according to several reports, was spent on introducing and ruling on whether to accept the presented evidence, which included several videos.

Among them was the previously private testimony the minor had given in a judges chamber.According to Domincan newspaper Listin Diario, Irina Ventura, one of Francos lawyers, said that testimony exonerates Franco of all blame.

What we can establish from the interview is that there is no connection of any kind between the minor and Wander Franco, she said.However, ESPNs Juan Arturo Recio reported that after the video was played (media and other observers had been asked to leave the room), Franco was the first out of the room during the ensuing recess.

He looked completely shaken by whatever he had seen in the video, had teary eyes, declined comment and was escorted by his lawyer to the restroom, Recio wrote.The trial continues Friday morning and is expected to last at least three-four months.MiscellanyThe Rays announced attendance of 10,046, the 34th time in 40 home games theyve sold out Steinbrenner Field.

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Rays pitchers allowed four or fewer runs for a team record-tying 16th consecutive game.

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Catcher Danny Jansen threw out two runners trying to steal.

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The St.

Petersburg City Council on Thursday approved spending another $5.3 million for repairs and expense to make Tropicana Field ready for the 2026 season.

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Texas pitcher Kumar Rocker, whose mental lapse contributed to the Rays scoring the decisive run Wednesday, was optioned to the minors.

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