McHugh will start the Astros' third Grapefruit League game Saturday against the Mets, Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle reports.
McHugh won a career-high 19 games for the Astros last season while posting a solid 3.89 ERA and 1.28 WHIP over a career-high 203.2 innings. He's the favorite to open 2016 as Houston's No. 3 starter behind Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers.