McHugh was lifted a bit early from Friday's start as a precaution due to a tender finger, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports. McHugh's removal appears to be precautionary to prevent a larger issue, but it's worth monitoring to ensure nothing more comes of the issue. Assuming all checks out fine, his next scheduled start would likely come Wednesday against the Athletics.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch announced Wednesday that McHugh will start the third or fourth game of the season, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports. With Dallas Keuchel and Scott Feldman ahead of him in the Astros' starting rotation, McHugh will draw a home start against Cleveland on April 9 or be on the mound at Texas on April 10. How quickly Brett Oberholtzer (back) heals from injury and whomever wins the competition for Houston's fifth starter job will ultimately determine where McHugh lands in the rotation. The 27-year-old has a 6.14 ERA and 9:3 K:BB ratio over 7.1 spring innings thus far.

McHugh breezed through two scoreless frames Thursday in the Astros' Grapefruit League opener, striking out three while walking one against the Phillies. "In terms of just kind of mental space, it's different because I've never been here, never broken camp with a team before," McHugh said. "It's different, but I'm excited because I'm honored to be called one of the five guys who gets the ball." The 27-year-old right-hander is likely to open 2015 as Houston's No. 2 starter behind Dallas Keuchel.

McHugh will start the Astros' Grapefruit League opener Thursday against Philadelphia, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports. McHugh opens camp fresh off an impressive 2014 campaign, during which he went 11-9 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 157:41 K:BB in 154.2 innings for the Astros. His breakout season assured him a spot in Houston's starting rotation to open 2015.

McHugh has been shut down for the remainder of the regular season, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports. McHugh has recorded quality starts in 9 of his last 10 outings, but the Astros have decided that they've seen enough this season. He's made 28 starts so far this season between the Astros and their Triple-A affiliate, accumulating a career-high 173.2 innings. With the team securely out of the playoff hunt, there's little incentive to push McHugh much harder.

McHugh won his fifth straight start Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and a walk with six strikeouts over six innings against the Mariners. McHugh (11-9) has won seven of his last 10 starts for the Astros and hasn't lost a game since July. The 27-year-old right-hander will carry a 2.73 ERA into his last scheduled start of the season against the Mets -- his former team -- on Sunday.

McHugh (forearm) isn't expected to miss his next scheduled start, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports. McHugh took a shot off the bat of Lonnie Chisenhall in Monday night's game, and although he was forced to exit, it sounds as if the right-hander is simply dealing with a bruise. The right-hander doesn't expect to miss his next scheduled start, and considering that the ailment is affecting his non-pitching hand, that notion seems like a reasonable possibility.

Updating a previous report, McHugh left Monday's game due to a left forearm contusion, MLB.com's Brian McTaggart reports. McHugh originally injured the arm on a comebacker in the seventh inning, and he looks to have avoided any major damage. Depending on how the bruising heals in the coming days, there's a chance he could still be available this weekend.

McHugh left Monday's game after getting hit in the wrist and knee with a comeback, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports. McHugh had been making a spot start in place of Brad Peacock (back), and this new development surely can't help his chances of remaining in the rotation. The severity of the injury has yet to be disclosed by the team, but the Astros may be looking for another spot starter this weekend against the Mariners if they don't receive good news. The timing is poor for McHugh, who had held the Indians to one unearned run on five hits with seven strikeouts over 6.2 innings before exiting.

McHugh will start Monday in place of Brad Peacock (back), according to the Astros official site. Assuming everything stays in place, McHugh could be looking at a two-start week; we won't guarantee it, though, because Houston is using six starters and we don't know when Peacock might return. The Indians and Mariners come to Houston over the seven-day slate.