Collin

McHugh

This doesn’t come as a big surprise, but it also seems like McHugh could have kept going; while he dealt with shoulder tendinitis and his performance slipped some last season, his velocity was just about as good as ever at age 36. McHugh winds up 71-47 with a 3.72 ERA in 127 starts and 219 relief appearances as a major leaguer. A late bloomer, he finished fourth in the AL ROY balloting with the Astros at age 27 in 2014 and then went 19-7 with a 3.89 ERA the following season. He probably would have had a longer run as a starter if the Astros hadn’t been so loaded, but he adjusted very well to the pen, posting a 1.99 ERA in 72 innings as a reliever in 2018 and later a 1.55 ERA in 64 innings for the Rays in 2021.

McHugh receives a $1 million buyout and becomes a free agent. The 36-year-old righty logged a couple stints on the injured list this past season due to right shoulder inflammation and wound up making just 41 appearances for the Braves, finishing with a respectable 4.30 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 47/22 K/BB ratio across 58 2/3 innings of work.

McHugh landed on the injured list earlier this month with right shoulder inflammation. The 36-year-old right-hander has registered a pedestrian 4.30 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 47/22 K/BB ratio across 58 2/3 innings (41 appearances) in his second season with the Braves.

The Braves talked about Michael Soroka’s injury after last night’s game, but they said nothing about McHugh after he threw three innings. He had given up four runs in each of his last two appearances, taking his ERA from 3.31 to 4.30. McHugh also missed time with shoulder inflammation in April.

McHugh saved the Braves’ overworked bullpen with a herculean effort, striking out four of the 12 batters he faced, needing just 44 pitches (29 strikes) to complete three frames. The rest of Atlanta’s pitching staff should probably treat him to a steak dinner on their way back to Atlanta.

It’ll be McHugh’s first start since 2021. He’s pitched three innings in a game once this season and that’ll probably be the most the Braves ask out of him tomorrow. There doesn’t appear to be any consideration being given to stretching him out.

McHugh will be available out of the bullpen for Tuesday’s showdown against the division-rival Marlins. The 35-year-old veteran reliever made three appearances before landing on the injured list earlier this month due to right shoulder inflammation.

The right-hander looked good on a pair of recent minor league rehab appearances and is ready to return. He has been shelved since early April due to inflammation in his pitching shoulder. He’ll provide the Braves with another option in high-leverage late-game situations.

The right-hander made it through his second minor league rehab appearance on Friday without any issues and there’s really nothing left for him to prove there. Braves’ skipper Brian Snitker said they’ll see how he’s feeling over the next couple of days, and if all is well he’ll then be activated.

McHugh struck out two batters over 1 2/3 scoreless frames in his first appearance on Tuesday. The 35-year-old has been out since early April with right shoulder inflammation, but he should be ready to rejoin the Braves in the next few days.