"Opening Day starter Derek Lowe gave up three runs in 5 1/3 innings against the Astros Sunday in his second-to-last start of spring training. He came away pleased with the work he did stretching out to 95 pitches, battling through fatigue.

"I felt it the last inning and a half," said Lowe, who gave up seven hits, walked one and struck out five. "But you need that feeling, the fifth and the sixth where your legs are tired and you run the bases. You take that as a positive."

He's allowed only one run in 14 innings in his first four starts of spring. Overall he has a 1.86 ERA (four runs in 19 2/3 innings).

Lowe will make one more tune-up start on Saturday, going three or four innings against the Mets. Then he's set to make his third straight Opening Day start for the Braves on March 31 against the Nationals."