PORT ST. LUCIE — John Maine took an encouraging step forward today by throwing 40 pitches of live batting practice in separate 20-pitch segments. The young right-hander had not faced hitters since undergoing surgery to shave down a large bone spur in his pitching shoulder last September.

Maine liked how he felt physically after the session but wasn’t pleased with his mechanics, especially while throwing his change-up and the curveball he is dusting off for the first time in three years.

“It was weird to see a couple of hitters in there, so I felt a little anxious the first 20 pitches,” Maine said. “But I settled down the last 20 and threw a lot better.”