Astros SP Collin McHugh to Miss at Least 6 Weeks with Elbow Injury

Houston Astros pitcher Collin McHugh will miss at least six weeks with an elbow injury.

The team announced Saturday that McHugh won't undergo surgery at this point and will be re-evaluated after six weeks:

The veteran right-hander began the 2017 season on the 10-day disabled list after he had suffered from arm fatigue in spring training.

McHugh has come into his own ever since he joined the Astros in 2014.

Working alongside 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel in Houston's starting rotation, McHugh won a career-high 19 games and struck out 171 batters while posting a 3.89 ERA across 203.2 innings during the 2015 campaign.

"I like Collin just because he's had to fight for everything he's achieved," Keuchel said that October, according to the Kansas City Star's Chris Fickett. "Kind of like myself.

"He's done everything we've asked of him and more. And I think he expects a lot out of himself just like I do, and it's a good combination."

McHugh struggled in 2016, posting a 13-10 record with a 4.34 ERA, but he still registered a career-high 177 strikeouts.

If there's good news for the Astros, it's that they have a solid rotation led by Keuchel, Lance McCullers Jr. and Mike Fiers. Even with McHugh likely to miss a significant chunk of the season, they should be able to survive without him as part of the pitching staff.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.