Sore right elbow lands McHugh on the IL
Righthander Collin McHugh, who on Tuesday was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Saturday, said an MRI showed no structural damage in his sore right elbow and that he will go a couple of days without picking up a baseball before beginning rehab work.
McHugh, who last pitched May 14 in a two-inning stint at Detroit, said he began experiencing elbow soreness a couple of days later. He attributed the problem to adjusting his routine since being sent to the bullpen after a poor May 7 start.
He warmed up Monday and would have been available to come into the game had the Astros extended their 3-0 lead against the White Six. After the game, however, he met with manager A.J. Hinch and the two agreed an injured list stint would be best for all parties.
“I could have gone then and probably could go (Tuesday), but it hasn’t been the most comfortable throwing session the last few times,” McHugh said. “I don’t want to be a liability (in the bullpen) with those guys getting as much work as they have. Hopefully, we can get it taken care of and get back to helping the team.”
McHugh said he probably would go two to three days without picking up a ball before playing catch and perhaps throwing a bullpen session. He did not believe a minor league rehab session would be necessary.
The righthander had elbow issues in 2017 and was limited to a dozen starts before working out of the bullpen in the playoffs. He said that injury involved a structural impingement and that the MRI revealed no structural issues related to his current soreness.
“There’s a little inflammation, probably a result of changing routines and getting out of the routine of where I had been as a starter and having to make adjustments in the bullpen,” he said. “Hopefully, it won’t be too long or too hard of a rehab.”