MET NOTES
MIAMI – For the first time this season, Pedro Martinez will pitch tonight on normal rest.
Martinez has made three starts so far, but if you throw out the first one (it was Opening Day and he hadn’t started before), he’s made his previous two starts on five days rest. Tonight, he’ll take the mound having had just four days off since throwing 107 pitches on Saturday.
The Mets are hardly worried.
“I expect the same that we’ve seen all season,” pitching coach Rick Peterson said. “We’ve been able to keep him fresh with the schedule and the pitch counts and volumes. To me it’s a nonissue.”
Last season Martinez posted a 2.98 ERA in 16 starts with at least five days rest but just a 4.77 ERA in 17 starts with four days rest.
Peterson, however, implied that the data on the latter is somewhat misleading since Martinez had a few starts on four days rest that were particularly poor and skewed the numbers.
In 2003, he had a 1.93 ERA on four days rest, a 2.05 ERA on five days rest and a 3.62 ERA on six-plus days rest.
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Kris Benson’s strained right pec may be behind him. The righty, who’s been on the DL all season, long-tossed again yesterday and felt good.
Another good test will come today when Benson throws 35-40 pitches in the bullpen. Benson said he will still need a couple of rehab starts before he can come back, so he’s likely at least two more weeks away.
Meanwhile, Mike Cameron said the tendinitis in his left wrist has improved and he might be able to take some swings at the end of this week.