McHugh struck out the only batter he faced in Monday's 5-2 win over the Mets to record his first hold of the season.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran right-hander was expected to fill a key setup role in Atlanta's bullpen, but McHugh has had a rocky start to the year, posting a 5.40 ERA and 1.44 WHIP despite a 14:2 K:BB through 8.1 innings. He's tossed more than one inning in three of his eight appearances but less than a full inning in four others, and that kind of unpredictable usage could limit his fantasy upside even if his ratios do improve.

McHugh agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with Atlanta on Tuesday. The contract includes a club option worth $6 million for for 2024, which has a $1 million buyout.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh was a key piece for Tampa Bay's bullpen in 2021 with a 1.55 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 74:12 K:BB across 64 innings, and he'll now join the defending World Series champions. The veteran right-hander featured strong strikeout and walk rates (30.0 and 4.9 percent, respectively) last year and should step into a high-leverage role in Atlanta's bullpen, though he's unlikely to be in the mix for many save chances.

McHugh will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher Monday against the Red Sox as part of a bullpen day in Game 4 of the ALDS, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Kevin Cash hasn't appointed a primary pitcher to work behind McHugh, as the Rays will instead likely turn to a cadre of arms to fill innings out of the bullpen. As Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network notes, all of Josh Fleming, JT Chargois, Pete Fairbanks, J.P. Feyereisen, Andrew Kittredge and Matt Wisler tossed 20 pitches or fewer in Sunday's 13-inning loss, so the Tampa Bay bullpen should be relatively fresh for Monday's contest.

McHugh (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out two in 1.2 innings to take the loss against the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh entered Friday's game with the Rays leading 5-3, but he gave up a pair of home runs that put him in line for the Game 2 loss. The right-hander had posted a 2.13 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 12.2 innings across his final eight appearances of the regular season, so he should still have the trust of manager Kevin Cash later in the series despite Friday's rough outing.

McHugh will start Thursday's game at Houston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander will receive the start against his former team while serving as an opener ahead of Thursday's primary pitcher, Ryan Yarbrough. McHugh surrendered two runs his last time out Saturday but overall has a 2.53 ERA across 10.2 innings (six appearances) in September. The 34-year-old won't pitch deep enough to qualify for a potential victory against the Astros, but he could give the Rays multiple frames before giving way to Yarbrough.

McHugh secured his fifth hold in a win over the Blue Jays on Monday, firing two perfect innings during which he recorded two strikeouts.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh's late-career transformation to dominant long reliever has been quite the positive development for the Rays bullpen, with the right-hander coaxing his ERA and WHIP down to 1.34 and 0.89, respectively, following his third scoreless multi-inning effort over the last four appearances. The timing and circumstances surrounding McHugh's deployment within games hasn't afforded the veteran many hold opportunities, but he's helped make up for that with six wins and a stellar 31.2 percent strikeout rate.

McHugh didn't factor into the decision in Monday's 8-1 loss to the Blue Jays, giving up three hits over 2.1 scoreless innings. He struck out one without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The veteran hurler lasted exactly one turn through the Toronto order, and McHugh left the game in a bit of a jam with two runners on and one out in the third inning. Fortunately for him, Ryan Yarbrough didn't allow any of the inherited runners to score when he replaced McHugh. Unfortunately for the Rays, Yarbrough's night went south right afterward. McHugh will continue to handle a flexible role on the Tampa Bay staff and has worked two-plus innings in eight of 11 appearances since the All-Star break, posting a dazzling 0.90 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 16:5 K:BB through 20 innings with four wins, a save and a hold over that stretch.

McHugh will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher in Monday's game against the Blue Jays in Toronto, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh has 124 career MLB starts under his belt, but the Rays aren't expected to have him pitch more than 2-to-3 innings before turning the game over to the bullpen. Ryan Yarbrough is expected to be available in a bulk-relief role, making him the Rays pitcher most likely to factor into any decision. Since returning from the injured list in early August, McHugh has covered 13.2 innings over eight appearances, giving up three runs (two earned) on nine hits and four walks while striking out 10.

McHugh (6-1) was credited with the victory in an extra-inning win over the Red Sox on Monday, allowing an unearned run on two hits and two walks over two innings. He struck out one.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh became the pitcher of record in the wild win when the Rays rallied for three runs over the last pair of frames. The veteran right-hander ran into a little more trouble than usual and has now allowed one run in three of his last four appearances, but he's still boasting an elite 1.46 ERA and 0.92 WHIP across 55.1 innings.

McHugh (5-1) was credited with the win in a victory over the Phillies on Wednesday, allowing an earned run on three hits over two innings.

EDGE Analysis

The outing was atypical for McHugh with respect to this season in a couple of ways, as the right-hander failed to record a strikeout in an appearance for the first time since May 30 while also allowing his first earned run since May 24. The two impressive stretches speak to McHugh's dominance, which is also reflected in his 1.43 ERA and 0.87 WHIP across 28 appearances (five starts).