PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) -Pedro Martinez threw 53 pitches in a simulated game Friday, one day after his first scheduled spring start for the New York Mets was rained out.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner said he felt sluggish, especially at the start of his early morning session – a time when he’s usually stretching and doing his conditioning. He threw the equivalent of two innings and got only two swinging strikes, but declared himself on schedule for the start of the season.
“I didn’t feel as comfortable today as the other day, but still I got good work in,” Martinez said. “My curveball was so-so. As far as my health and my pitches, I’m right there. I’m OK. I just need to see myself in game situations.”
Martinez originally was slated to pitch Thursday night in Viera against the Nationals, but the game was canceled. With the Mets making a two-hour drive to Winter Haven to play the Indians on Friday, Martinez opted instead to stay home and throw a simulated game along with closer Billy Wagner, setup man Aaron Heilman and left-handed reliever Ricardo Rincon.
Martinez is scheduled to throw again Tuesday, when the Mets make a long trip to Fort Myers to face his former team, the Boston Red Sox, so Martinez will again stay back in Port St. Lucie and throw a simulated game that morning.
Wagner continued to work on his breaking ball during his one-inning outing Friday, while Heilman also looked sharp against hitters.
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