Twins’ Pelfrey in contention to start

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Tim Stauffer dropped out of the running for a spot in the Minnesota Twins’ rotation Wednesday, but Mike Pelfrey’s chances remain very much alive.
The veteran right-hander turned in four solid innings against the Boston Red Sox, using a four-pitch mix and hitting 93-94 mph with his fastball on the JetBlue Park radar gun.
“He’s kind of added pitches, if you will,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said, referring to Pelfrey’s rarely used curveball and split-change. “Velocity seems to be doing OK, too. He had a good day, I’d have to say. It’s still a battle.”
Through nine spring innings, Pelfrey’s earned-run average is 1.00. He gave up a run-scoring single off the faux Green Monster in the first inning to Hanley Ramirez, but Pelfrey settled in to face the minimum over his final three innings.
So efficient was Pelfrey in his 50-pitch outing that he headed to the bullpen to throw another 12-15 pitches to reach his planned allotment.
Still due $5.5 million this year in the final year of his contract, Pelfrey is up against left-hander Tommy Milone
($2.775 million) and a pair of young right-handers making the minimum in Trevor May and Alex Meyer for the last rotation spot.
Pelfrey said he doesn’t think about a possible trade.