After Minors start, Miller ready for regular season

CINCINNATI -- Shelby Miller joined the Cardinals in Cincinnati on Saturday evening after throwing an estimated 70 pitches in a Triple-A game at spring camp. The start was Miller's fifth and final of the spring and puts him on schedule to start for the Cardinals in Friday's series opener against the Pirates.

"I threw well," Miller said a day after the outing. "Curveball was great. My fastball command was excellent."

Miller allowed one run on six hits and a walk in four innings. He struck out two. Three of those hits, Miller said, came in succession during his final inning of work -- all on a cutter that Miller said was having a tough time breaking in windy conditions.

Conversely, Miller described his curveball as the best it has been this spring.

"I figured my grip out and got my arm where I wanted it to be," Miller said. "That pitch is coming along way better."

In his four Grapefruit League starts, Miller allowed nine earned runs on 12 hits in 13 2/3 innings. He walked six and struck out 13.