The Cubs optioned Little to Triple-A Iowa on Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Little made just one appearance during his brief time with the big club and allowed one run while walking four over one-third of an inning. The Cubs will announced a corresponding roster move prior to Friday's game versus the Diamondbacks.

Little allowed one run and retired two batters in relief during Wednesday's 4-2 loss to the Padres while also walking four.

EDGE Analysis

After getting recalled from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday with Eli Morgan (elbow) moving to the injured list, Little struggled to find the plate in his 2025 MLB debut. Command has been the lefty's weakness so far in the majors, as he posted a 5.4 BB/9 during a brief stint in 2023 and then followed that up with a 6.2 mark last year while logging more innings for the Cubs. Little has good stuff, but if he keeps walking batters at a high rate, he will remain a low-leverage reliever at best with limited fantasy upside.

The Cubs recalled Little from Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, Taylor McGregor of Marquee Sports Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

With Eli Morgan (elbow) headed to the injured list and Nate Pearson headed to the minors, Little will make the trip to the majors alongside Daniel Palencia to replenish Chicago's bullpen depth. Little owns a 2.76 ERA through 32.2 career innings in the majors, and he's off to a strong start in Triple-A, allowing two runs in 5.2 frames while striking out six and walking three. He'll likely be used in middle relief while with the Cubs.

Little (lat) struck out two and scattered three hits over 1.1 scoreless innings in his Cactus League appearance Friday versus the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Little suffered a season-ending left lat strain last July and was eased along slowly in spring training, as he didn't make any appearances before the Cubs opened their campaign with a two-game set versus the Dodgers in Tokyo last week. The Cubs had already optioned Little to Triple-A Iowa on March 7, and his ability to make his spring debut Friday suggests that he'll likely avoid a stint on Iowa's injured list to begin the season. Little remains a member of the Cubs' 40-man roster and should have a good chance at surfacing in the big-league bullpen at some point in 2025.

The Cubs optioned Little (lat) to Triple-A Iowa on Friday, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Little never made an appearance this spring, as the Cubs have brought him along slowly after he ended last season on the injured list with a left lat strain. It's not clear when he might be ready to pitch in games. The big southpaw posted a 3.46 ERA and 28:18 K:BB across 26 relief innings for Chicago in 2024.

The Cubs plan to ramp Little (lat) up slowly this spring, and the lefty appears unlikely to be ready for an Opening Day bullpen role, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Little sustained a strained left lat in July, which ended his 2024 season prematurely. The Cubs are understandably being cautious with the lefty, so he likely won't be available when the team heads to Tokyo to play the Dodgers on March 18 and 19, though he could be ready for regular-season action later in the month or in early April. Little flashed some promise last year, as his fastball sat a tick below 96 mph and he recorded a 9.7 K/9 and 3.46 ERA across 26 innings. When he's ready to roll in 2025, the southpaw figures to be an interesting bullpen weapon for Chicago, though he likely won't see save opportunities with Ryan Pressly and Porter Hodge around.

The Cubs transferred Little (lat) to the 60-day injured list Monday, Ryan Herrera of CHGO Sports reports.

EDGE Analysis

The move frees up a spot for Julian Merryweather's return from the 60-day IL. Over the weekend, manager Craig Counsell said it was unlikely Little would make it back from his lat strain this season.

Manager Craig Counsell said Saturday that Little (lat) is likely out for the rest of the season, Mike McGraw of the Chicago Daily Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Little landed on the injured list last Saturday due to what was labeled a left shoulder strain, though the results of his MRI on Friday confirmed the strain is in his left lat. It doesn't seem that he'll require surgery, but the Cubs will still keep the southpaw shut down for now. Should he miss the rest of the season, he'll finish with a 3.46 ERA and 1.27 WHIP alongside a 28:18 K:BB across 26 innings.

Little will undergo an MRI on his injured left shoulder Friday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Little landed on the 15-day injured list just before the All-Star break and will now go through imaging to assess the severity of the issue. The left-handed reliever has put up a 3.46 ERA and 28:18 K:BB over 26 innings out of the Cubs' bullpen in 2024.

The Cubs placed Little on the 15-day injured list Saturday with a left shoulder strain, Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Little had to leave his appearance Friday after just four pitches due to reported soreness in his shoulder, and imaging revealed a strain that will cause him to land on the IL. Ethan Roberts was recalled from Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move in order to replenish Chicago's bullpen depth.