The Twins optioned Littell to Triple-A Rochester on Sunday, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Littell lost his spot on the active roster after the Twins reinstated Mitch Garver (ankle) from the 10-day injured list ahead of Sunday's series finale with the Rays. The 23-year-old right-hander was up with the big club for a little over a week, making two appearances out of the bullpen during that stretch. Littell was shelled in the latter of those two outings Thursday against the Rays, giving up eight runs on 10 hits and a walk over 4.1 innings.

Littell was recalled from Triple-A Rochester on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Littell has made seven starts and one relief appearance for Rochester this season, recording a 4.19 ERA. He appears to be up as a reliever for now, with Austin Adams designated for assignment as the corresponding move.

Littell was optioned to Triple-A Rochester, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Realistically, Littell had very little chance to break camp in the big-league rotation, so this comes as no surprise. He enters the year roughly seventh or eighth on the starting pitcher depth chart.

Littell allowed two runs on three hits and two walks across four innings in a no-decision Sunday against the White Sox. He struck out six.

EDGE Analysis

Littell ran into trouble in the first inning when he allowed two runs on two hits and a walk before escaping the jam. He was much more effective over the rest of his outing, allowing just two more baserunners, but he was removed with 70 pitches under his belt after the fourth. The majority of Littell's appearances this season came in the month of September, and his combined 6.20 ERA did little to inspire the club to give him a closer look. He'll become a free agent this winter and is a candidate to sign another minor league deal for 2019.

Littell will start Sunday against the White Sox, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Littell has made one start for the Twins this season and appeared five more times out of the bullpen, posting a 7.04 ERA in 15.1 total innings. The 22-year-old posted a much more palatable 3.57 ERA in 106 innings for Triple-A Rochester.

Littell, who had been used as the Twins' primary pitcher in his last appearance Sept. 2, won't be used in that capacity Sunday versus the Royals, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Littell still might work out of the bullpen in the series finale, but the Twins have abandoned using an opener for the sixth spot in the rotation, at least for this turn. Instead, Chase De Jong will make the start in his Twins debut and isn't expected to face any restrictions with his pitch count after logging 26 starts in the minors this season. With 10 runs (nine earned) allowed over 7.1 innings in the big leagues, Littell probably hasn't performed well yet enough to warrant handling a meaningful workload for Minnesota.

The Twins have recalled Littell from Triple-A Rochester ahead of his role as Sunday's primary pitcher at the Rangers, Brandon Warne of ZoneCoverage.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Here's the official transaction of the plan the club announced Saturday. Littell, who holds a 3.57 ERA for the Red Wings in the International League, will follow Gabriel Moya.

Littell will be recalled from Triple-A Rochester to be the Twins "primary pitcher" Sunday against the Rangers, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Littell was expected to be Sunday's starter, but manager Paul Moliter will instead opt to utilize the opener strategy, with reliever Gabriel Moya earning the "start." The 22-year-old had a 3.57 ERA and 1.32 WHIP over 106 innings with Triple-A Rochester this season.

The Twins are expected to promote LIttell from Triple-A Rochester to start Sunday against the Rangers, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 St. Paul reports.

EDGE Analysis

Littell wasn't included among the wave of September callups the Twins announced following Friday's game, but it sounds like he'll be officially added to the active roster ahead of the series finale and slot in as Minnesota's sixth starter. The 22-year-old has previously made two appearances (one start) with the Twins, giving up seven runs on seven hits and six walks across 3.1 innings. Littell isn't regarded as a high-end prospect, so he likely won't be worthy of much attention outside of most AL-only formats until his numbers warrant a longer look.

Littell was called up from Triple-A Rochester on Monday, Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

EDGE Analysis

Littell is coming off a pair of quality starts against Syracuse, allowing just two earned runs while striking out 10 over 12 innings, marking his best back-to-back performance since early May. The 22-year-old is set to serve as a middle reliever for Minnesota moving forward, though he has the ability to make a spot start should it be required. During his lone outing with the Twins this year, he gave up six earned runs off six hits and four walks across three innings versus the White Sox on June 5.