WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- While every Astros pitcher has thrown at least one round of live batting practice, right-hander Collin McHugh has yet to throw off the mound this spring because of what manager A.J. Hinch described Monday as general soreness.
McHugh was already on an individualized throwing program entering camp, but Hinch said he came to camp not feeling 100 percent in his throwing program. McHugh played catch Monday morning at 150 feet, but won't throw his first bullpen until next week, he said.
McHugh categorized it as "general dead arm," which he says usually happens later in camp.
"I came into camp a little bit sore. I was not responding as well as I really wanted to the last week leading up to camp, so we shut it down for a few days," McHugh said. "I'm a little bit behind, but as far as the program goes I feel pretty good where we're at moving forward."
McHugh said he would need four or five starts to get ready for the season, and with an extra week of Spring Training, he's confident he can do that. To make matters worse, McHugh stubbed his toe Sunday night and was held out of pitcher's fielding practice Monday.
Meanwhile, Lance McCullers threw his second round of live BP on a back field Monday, throwing 35 pitches to Carlos Beltran, Carlos Correa, Marwin Gonzalez and Garrett Stubbs. Dallas Keuchel is scheduled to throw his second round of live BP on Wednesday.
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Monday marked the third consecutive day of not throwing for catcher Garrett Stubbs, who is dealing with a little shoulder discomfort. "I threw during the offseason almost every day, but once you get in more intense situations and getting into stuff, you can flare things up in your shoulder," he said. "We're going to slow it down so it doesn't linger on for a full season."