Astros starting pitcher Collin McHugh has been nothing short of outstanding in his first two starts. Astros pitching coach Brent Strom said McHugh isn't the same pitcher he saw this spring, per The Houston Chronicle.
"He's a different guy than I saw in spring," Strom said. "I didn't know much about him. He was sinking everything. Big sinker … trying to induce ground balls, and he was a high groundball pitcher."
McHugh has recorded 46 outs in his first two starts, but only six have come on groundballs. McHugh has been thriving thanks to his ability to work high up in the strike zone.
"The use of the four-seam fastball has been big for him, especially up in the zone, 'cause it sets up his bigger breaking ball and his little cutter," Strom said. "So he pitched to the plan really well and was very aggressive with this club (vs. Oakland). This is a very difficult team to pitch to because of their discipline, and he forced them to have to make decisions on pitches that looked alike."