GLENDALE, Ariz. -- A little over two weeks after getting a lubricating injection in his right elbow, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Zack Greinke threw off a mound to hitters Friday and said afterward he has not had any problems with his arm since receiving treatment.
"It's doing good," Greinke said.
The Dodgers have a lot riding on a healthy starting rotation and so far have dodged a few health scares this spring. Greinke's elbow soreness was one, Hyun-Jin Ryu's stiff back was another. Brett Anderson, returning from surgery to repair a ruptured disc, has already thrown to hitters.
Greinke said he threw with near-maximum effort while facing minor league hitters on a back field and threw all his pitches without pain. He threw about 30 pitches total over two innings.
If nothing further crops up, the Dodgers' opening week rotation begins to turn on Tuesday, when Clayton Kershaw makes his second spring start against the Colorado Rockies. Greinke, the No. 2 starter, is set to make his Cactus League debut Wednesday, followed by the first spring outings for Ryu, Brandon McCarthy and Anderson.
Unlike Kershaw, who judges his effectiveness based on spring results from the first inning of his first start, Greinke said he begins the spring tinkering with his approach and looks to get better results as the spring moves along.
"You start mixing things in a little more and try to get outs a little more as time goes on," Greinke said. "I'm working on my pitches early and trying to get outs later on."