Astros Place Collin McHugh on 10-Day IL With Elbow Issue

Bad news, Astros fans: Collin McHugh is headed to the injured list. According to Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle, the culprit is "right elbow discomfort." McHugh has not pitched for the Astros since May 14th, and his IL stint is retroactive to May 18th.

In the corresponding move, the Astros recalled right-handed starting pitcher Brady Rodgers from their Triple-A affiliate.

Collin McHugh is going on the 10-day injured list with right elbow discomfort. The Astros recalled Brady Rodgers
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) May 21, 2019

McHugh struggled mightily early in the season as a starter, and he was eventually bumped to a bullpen role after just eight starts, in which he accrued a 6.37 ERA. McHugh has been a stalwart of the Astros pitching staff as both a starter and a reliever since 2014, and this IL stint may be an opportunity for him to get back to the pitcher he was in last season, when he compiled a 1.99 ERA in 58 appearances out of the pen.

Collin McHugh expresses disappointment about going to bullpen in that there wasn’t as much time as he had hoped to turn things around. pic.twitter.com/LZ0jdpSgTc
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) May 12, 2019

McHugh's replacement on the 25-man roster, Brady Rodgers, has had a solid season in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. He has started seven games to the tune of a 3.22 ERA and a 4-0 record after missing parts of 2017 and 2018 because of Tommy John surgery.

Brady Rodgers (from Richmond/Lamar Consolidated) on being called up with @Collin_McHugh going on IL with right elbow discomfort: "Definitely emotional..Definitely teared up again when I was talking w/ my dad,talking with my mom." Bounced from Tommy John surgery in 2017 (@Rodg_20) pic.twitter.com/5J1VnstvDH
— Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) May 21, 2019

McHugh will be eligible for reinstatement on May 24th, though the severity of the injury remains unknown.