McHugh (arm) threw 25-30 pitches off a mound at about 70 percent Monday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 29-year-old reportedly felt good after throwing his first bullpen session of spring training, and is hoping he can soon progress to live batting practice and then a Grapefruit League game. Despite being delayed considerably due to a dead arm at the beginning of camp, the Astros and McHugh feel optimistic that he'll be in their rotation come Opening Day.

McHugh is scheduled to throw his first bullpen session of the spring Monday, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports. The 29-year-old right-hander has been delayed this spring after he reported to camp in mid-February with a dead arm.

EDGE Analysis

After Monday's session, McHugh said he'll be better able to gauge how many more bullpens he'll need before he throws a live batting-practice session. Under that schedule, it's sounding like McHugh's preparation will bump up with the first week of the regular season, but he and the Astros are optimistic he'll be ready for the rotation's first turn in April.

McHugh could throw his first bullpen session "in the next couple days," according to Houston manager A.J. Hinch, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

If he can start throwing in game by the end of next week, McHugh will have time to build up arm strength and pitch counts to get ready for the first turn of the rotation in the regular season.

McHugh is behind the rest of the Astros starting pitchers in his throwing arm after coming into spring training with a "general dead arm," Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Although the dead arm set him behind in his throwing program, the right-handers feels confident that he'll be able to get in the four starts he needs to be ready for the beginning of the season. When he's able to return, he'll slide into the middle of Houston's rotation, where he posted a 4.34 ERA while registering 8.6 K/9 and 2.6 BB/9 in 184.2 innings last season.

McHugh will throw his first live batting practice session of the spring next week, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh hasn't had any offseason health issues, so this is probably just caution in his preparation. Perhaps they're changing things with him because he's had first-half struggles over the last two seasons. (He failed to recover as well in 2016 as he did in 2015.) The right-hander is often forgotten in the middle to late rounds of fantasy drafts, but his career 8.13 K/9 and 2.45 BB/9 show that he has the skills to deliver an elite season, like the one with which he treated opportunistic owners in 2014 (2.73 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.14 K/9, 2.39 BB/9).

McHugh won his arbitration hearing on Tuesday and will receive $3.85 million for the 2017 season, FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Astros had proposed a $3.35 million salary for the upcoming season, but the arbiter rewarded McHugh for handling 150-plus innings in three straight seasons while posting an ERA under 3.90 in two of those three campaigns.

McHugh's arbitration hearing is scheduled for Feb. 10.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh's numbers took a dip in 2016 relative to the season before, which could favor the team's offer ($3.35 million) over the pitcher's ($3.85 million) at the hearing. Working for McHugh is that he tied for the team lead in quality starts (16), won six straight decisions to end the season, and increased his strikeout rate. The 29-year-old right hander is expected to open the season in Houston's rotation.

McHugh allowed two runs on six hits and three walks with six strikeouts over seven innings in a no-decision Monday against the Mariners.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh has allowed two runs or fewer in five of his past six starts and hasn't dropped a decision since August 13 against Toronto. With Lance McCullers and Dallas Keuchel banged up, McHugh is effectively Houston's ace despite his 4.53 season ERA. McHugh posted a 3.89 ERA with 171 strikeouts in 203.2 innings in 2015 and has looked much more like that pitcher of late.

McHugh (12-10) allowed two runs on six hits, struck out five and walked two over 5.2 innings in a victory over the Athletics on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

He left with a runner at second and the tying run coming to the plate, but James Hoyt retired the next batter. McHugh has allowed two or fewer runs in three straight starts, all of which were victories. He has a 4.61 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 166 strikeouts in 170 innings this season. McHugh will make his next start Monday in a very important game against Seattle

McHugh improved to 11-10 after tossing seven scoreless innings in Friday's 6-0 win over the Mariners. He allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six.

EDGE Analysis

McHugh shut down Seattle over seven strong innings, lowering his ERA to 4.66 in the process. It's been an uneven season for the 29-year-old, who's struggled to maintain any sort of consistency a year after winning 19 games. He's been pitching better recently, however, going 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP over his past four starts. He'll look to stay hot in Wednesday's road start against a weak A's offense.