Littell (0-1) took the loss against the Rockies on Saturday, allowing one run on four hits and no walks with seven strikeouts across six innings.
Littell recorded 14 whiffs on 87 pitches but exited with a 1-0 deficit despite delivering a quality start. It was a strong showing for the 29-year-old after surrendering 12 runs over 13.1 spring innings, and he lines up for a road matchup with the Rangers next weekend.
The Rays recalled Mangum from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
At 29 years old, Mangum will finally get a chance to make his MLB debut following Josh Lowe's (oblique) move to the injured list. Mangum spent all of last season in Triple-A, slashing .317/.357/.442 with 56 RBI and 20 stolen bases across 428 plate appearances. He'll provide the Rays with some additional outfield depth until Lowe returns.
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Rays' Josh Lowe: Lands on IL
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The Rays placed Lowe on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a right oblique strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe injured himself on a swing during Friday's contest, and an MRI revealed a Grade 2 strain in his oblique, per Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun. It's unclear exactly how long the 27-year-old will be out, but there's a good chance he'll need to spend several weeks on the IL. In the meantime, Kameron Misner could pick up regular playing time in right field, while Jake Mangum will come up from Triple-A Durham to replenish Tampa Bay's outfield depth.
Fairbanks (1-0) got the win over the Rockies on Friday, working a scoreless ninth inning with two walks and two strikeouts in the 3-2 win.
The Rays' closer put two men on in the ninth inning with walks, but one of them was erased when pinch runner Mickey Moniak was caught stealing second base. Jordan Beck, however, was successful with a stolen base, but Fairbanks struck out Brenton Doyle to end the inning. The Rays walked it off in the bottom of the ninth, which made Fairbanks the winning pitcher of record.
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Rays' Ryan Pepiot: Strikes out eight in no decision
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Pepiot didn't factor into the decision in Friday's Opening Day win versus the Rockies. He allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings.
With Shane McClanahan (triceps) on the shelf, it was Pepiot who helped launch a new chapter in Rays history with their opener at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees' spring training facility that will be the Rays' home for 2025. Pepiot looked overpowering at times but was wild in the fourth inning. After hitting Michael Toglia with an errant curveball, the righty threw a wild pitch that advanced Toglia another 90 feet. He would eventually cross home plate on a sacrifice fly by Kyle Farmer. However, Tampa's offense came to life late and kept Pepiot out of the loss column. He is tentatively slated to face the Pirates his next time out.
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Rays' Josh Lowe: Dealing with oblique injury
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Lowe was removed in the fifth inning of Friday's game against the Rockies due to right oblique discomfort, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Lowe tweaked his oblique while hitting a single to center field in the fifth inning and was removed for a pinch runner. He'll undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury Saturday but is expected to miss time, per Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun. Kameron Misner is the top candidate to see more starts in the outfield for as long as Lowe is sidelined.
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Rays' Josh Lowe: Exits with injury
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Lowe was removed from Friday's game against the Rockies due to an apparent injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Lowe hit a single to center field in the fifth inning but seemingly injured himself on the swing and was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. The Rays will take a closer look at him and offer an update once they have more information. If his injury ends up forcing him to miss any time, Kameron Misner would be the early favorite to pick up additional playing time in the outfield.
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Rays' Brandon Lowe: Draws start versus southpaw
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Lowe is starting at second base and batting third in Friday's opener versus the Rockies.
Not only is the left-handed hitting Lowe in the lineup against southpaw Kyle Freeland, but he's hitting in the middle of the order. Lowe has been better versus righties (.833 OPS) than lefties (.737 OPS) in his career, but he had an .835 OPS against left-handers in 2024.
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Rays' Josh Lowe: Starting versus lefty in opener
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Lowe is starting in right field and batting seventh in Friday's opener against the Rockies.
The Rays seemed to telegraph that they intended to use the left-handed hitting Lowe as an everyday player with how they constructed their roster, and he is indeed in there versus southpaw Kyle Freeland on Opening Day. Lowe has a career .193/.252/.287 slash line against left-handed pitching, so he has some work to do to avoid being platooned.
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Rays' Jonathan Aranda: On bench for Opening Day
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Aranda is not in the lineup for Friday's opener against the Rockies.
The Rockies are sending left-hander Kyle Freeland to the bump, so it's not a surprise the lefty-hitting Aranda will begin the contest on the bench. He is a candidate to come in mid-game when the Rockies use a right-handed reliever, and the 26-year-old remains likely to start at first base or DH against most righties.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Batting leadoff in opener
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Mead is starting at first base and batting leadoff in Friday's opener versus the Rockies.
Mead was one of the best hitters in all of baseball during spring training, going a ridiculous 22-for-42 (.524) with one home run and a 6:6 K:BB. The Rays have rewarded him by slotting him at the top of their batting order in their opener against southpaw Kyle Freeland. Much of Mead's playing time is likely to come versus lefties, but he could hit his way into a bigger workload if he gets off to a hot start.
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Rays' Danny Jansen: Part of Opening Day lineup
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Jansen (rib) is starting at catcher and batting sixth in Friday's opener against the Rockies.
Jansen missed the last several days of spring training with a pulled muscle in his ribcage, but he came out of a simulated game Wednesday with no issues and is ready to roll. The former Blue Jay is expected to receive the bulk of the reps at catcher for the Rays this season.
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Rays' Danny Jansen: Expected to be ready to go Friday
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Jansen (rib) is expected to be in the lineup for the Rays' opener Friday against the Rockies, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
Jansen didn't have any limitations while going through a simulated game Wednesday and evidently bounced back well Thursday, which should clear the way for his Opening Day availability. He is expected to operate as Tampa Bay's primary catcher this season.
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Rays' Coco Montes: Added to 40-man and optioned
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The Rays selected Montes' contract from Triple-A Durham on Thursday and optioned him to Durham, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Montes had an upward mobility clause and was receiving interest from other teams, so the Rays either needed to add him to their 40-man roster or let him go. They chose the former, and he will provide infield depth at Durham.
Rays' Danny Jansen: Playing simulated game Wednesday
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Jansen (rib) will play 5-to-6 innings in a simulated game Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
If he gets through the workout without any lingering issues with his pulled rib muscle, Jansen will be active for the Rays' opener versus Colorado on Friday. Kenny Piper has joined the club as a contingency and would be added to the roster in the event Jansen isn't ready.
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Rays' Kameron Misner: Receives call-up
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The Rays recalled Misner from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Misner had been on track to begin the season in the minors after being optioned to Triple-A last Wednesday, but a spot on the Rays' Opening Day roster opened up for him after Richie Palacios suffered a fractured ring finger that will send him to the injured list. With Christopher Morel, Jonny DeLuca and Josh Lowe seemingly locked in as the Rays' preferred starting outfield trio against right-handed pitching, the lefty-hitting Misner likely won't be in line for many at-bats to begin the season.
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