Astros' Brad Peacock to start in place of Collin McHugh Thursday

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OAKLAND, Calif. - The Astros will skip Collin McHugh's next turn in the rotation Thursday to give the righthander more time for his right middle fingernail to heal while also letting Dallas Keuchel and Justin Verlander get back into an every fifth game routine.

Brad Peacock will start on regular rest Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels in McHugh's place. McHugh will likely be pushed back a full turn to the Astros' Sept. 19-21 series against the Chicago White Sox at Minute Maid Park.

"Part of that is due to giving him as much as time he can to heal," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said on Sunday. "I don't think he needs that much time. But I also want to get Keuchel and Verlander on regular turn this next time."

McHugh plans to try throwing during Monday's team off day or before Tuesday's series opener at Angel Stadium. The issue, which is the Astros described as an "avulsion," is the same one he dealt with in 2015, that time on his index finger. He didn't miss a start for it then.

Verlander will start Tuesday against the Angels, putting him on track to pitch Sept. 17 against the Seattle Mariners, Sept. 23 against the Angels and Sept. 28 against the Boston Red Sox if the Astros stay in turn. Keuchel, who started Sunday's series finale against the A's, would be in line to next start Saturday against the Mariners, Sept. 22 against the Angels and Sept. 27 against the Texas Rangers.

Hinch chose Peacock over Charlie Morton for Thursday's start because Peacock matches up better with the right-handedness of the Angels' lineup. Morton, who also threw more pitches (110) in Saturday's doubleheader than Peacock (84), will start Friday night's series opener against the Mariners at Minute Maid Park.