Back from a stint on the injured list that required patience and hard work, Rays reliever Collin McHugh said he's fully healthy and ready to "rock and roll."

¡°I¡¯m extremely excited,¡± McHugh said. ¡°Nobody ever wants to miss time during the year, especially when they¡¯re feeling good and throwing the ball well. Ever since I had to go on the IL, I was pushing to get back as soon as possible. As soon as my arm felt normal, I was ready to go.¡±

McHugh (right arm fatigue) was reinstated from the 10-day IL on Saturday, and right-hander Louis Head was optioned to Triple-A Durham. McHugh immediately got to work, pitching a scoreless ninth inning Saturday in the Rays' 12-3 victory over the Orioles.

¡°I got a cortisone shot, I felt good about it and I¡¯m ready to rock and roll,¡± McHugh said.

McHugh¡¯s return could not have come at a better time.

The Rays are still without several key relievers, including Pete Fairbanks (right shoulder inflammation), J.P. Feyereisen (right shoulder discomfort) and Nick Anderson (right elbow sprain).

Still, manager Kevin Cash is not going to push McHugh too hard out of the gate.

¡°He feels good, we¡¯re excited to have him back and we¡¯ll kind of work him in,¡± Cash said. ¡°I¡¯d like to get him an inning over the next two days.¡±

Despite the challenges, the Rays' bullpen has been among the Majors' best with a 3.02 ERA.

¡°This staff has been really good and really consistent over the course of the year,¡± McHugh said.

McHugh, 34, signed a one-year contract with the Red Sox last season but was shut down in July while he was recovering from a flexor strain in his right elbow. He signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal with the Rays in February.

Since returning to the club on May 4 from his first stint on the injured list with a lower back strain, McHugh went 3-0 and allowed two runs (one earned) in 19 appearances -- including four as an opener -- with 18 hits and 54 strikeouts.

Tampa Bay is in first place in the American League East with a three-game lead over the Red Sox. McHugh is confident the Rays have the pieces in place for a deep playoff run.

¡°For me, I¡¯ve been part of a lot of good teams before,¡± McHugh said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what it takes, and consistency is a really big, important part of it. Whatever that intangible is, I think we¡¯ve got it, and it¡¯s our responsibility to go out and finish the job."