Luke

Little

Little heads back to the minors with Matthew Boyd returning from the injured list to start Wednesday’s game against the Phillies.

Little will get the chance to be a bullpen helper for the Cubs. The 25-year-old was an up-and-down option for Chicago in 2025 ,and likely will have the same role in 2026.

Dean was claimed off waivers twice this offseason after playing a bench role for the Dodgers in the World Series. He’ll provide bench help if called upon.

That was fast. Little lasted just a day with the Cubs in a year where he’s been up-and-down from the minors a time or two. The 6-foot-8 lefty is sent down to make room for Tom Cosgrove.

Little made 30 appearances with a 3.46 ERA for the Cubs last season, but he’s barely been needed this year, pitching just once in April. It probably didn’t help that he walked four in two-thirds of an inning in that game. Still, he had a 2.77 ERA in 48 2/3 innings for Iowa. He gives the Cubs a fourth left-hander in the pen as they combat the Brewers in five games over the next four days.

Little walked four of the six batters he faced in his one appearance for the Cubs, though he wasn’t as wild as that suggests. With a 2.97 ERA in 33 1/3 major league innings to date, he probably won’t have to wait too long for another look.

Little gets the call to bolster Chicago’s bullpen with Eli Morgan (elbow) landing on the injured list ahead of Tuesday’s contest against the Padres.

Little, 24, missed the end of 2024 because of a left shoulder strain he suffered in July. The southpaw could be an option in the middle innings for Chicago at some point this summer.

Little hasn’t been officially ruled out for the rest of the season, but it’s viewed as a long shot that he’ll make it back from his lat strain in time. The move to the 60-day IL does officially put him out of action until Sept. 9.

Little is going to wind up missing at least a couple weeks after suffering a shoulder injury on Friday during a relief outing against the Cardinals. The 23-year-old lefty has been solid in middle relief this season for Chicago with a serviceable 3.46 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 28/18 K/BB ratio across 26 innings (30 appearances, one start).