Collin McHugh in St. Louis, Scott Atchison Placed on DL

UPDATE – 5:14 PM:

Per the beat writers, the Mets have placed Scott Atchison on the disabled list.   Atchison has inflammation from bone spurs that are aggravating the nerve in his elbow.  He’ll take anti-inflammatories, and will not be able to throw for a week.  According to Mets assistant GM John Ricco, there is no new structural damage to Atchison’s elbow (he’s been pitching with a torn UCL since opting to not have Tommy John surgery).

ORIGINAL ARTICLE:

Collin McHugh has been summoned from AAA Las Vegas to St. Louis.  Whether McHugh is activated is contingent upon whether Scott Atchison is placed on the disabled list.

Sep 10, 2012; Flushing, NY,USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Collin McHugh (36) pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports

Atchison, 37, reported both tenderness in his pitching elbow and numbness in his fingers after last night’s game.  He was to be evaluated today.  Atchison missed time while with the Red Sox last year and has been pitching with a partially torn UCL.  That he may land on the shelf is no surprise, especially when you take into account the fact that he’s been overused.

McHugh, 25, has been solid in eight starts for AAA Las Vegas.  In 49.1 innings pitched, McHugh has given up 53 hits and walked 9 batters while pitching to an ERA of 2.74.  In 21.1 innings with the Mets last season, McHugh had an ERA of 7.59.

If Atchison lands on the disabled list, it’s likely that McHugh’s role in the pen will be that of the long man.  His stuff won’t play up in a late inning or one batter assignment role, so asking him to be someone who can eat up innings is probably the best route to take.

As Adam Rubin of ESPN recently pointed out, though, McHugh tossed seven innings Sunday night.  According to Rubin, that would limit McHugh to just one inning tonight if he were to be activated.

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