Levine: Cubs' Jon Lester Looks Good In Minor League Start

By Bruce Levine--

(CBS) -- All systems seem to be a go for Cubs left-hander Jon Lester as he builds his arm strength for his Opening Day assignment on April 5.

On Thursday, Lester threw 54 pitches in a minor league game. This came after Lester ran into some troubles on March 16, when he made 71 pitches in a start against the Mariners in Peoria, Ariz., and then was shut down the next day with arm fatigue and a tired body.

After resting for a week, he threw 60 pitches in a simulated game. Lester was asked if too much had been made of his weakened state and missed time on the hill.

"No, I don't think so," the candid Lester said. "I think any time you miss a start, there is obviously a concern. Everybody just sat around discussing that we had the time. There was no point to push through something we didn't need to."

Lester will make his final spring start on March 31. He's likely to pitch in a minor league game again, and the goal is to build up to 80 pitches.

"Today was a normal day for me," Lester said. "Come back tomorrow and go back to work."

Lester allowed one hit and one walk while striking out three hitters. He said he had  good fastball command and erratic cutter and slider control.

"Anytime you get this late in spring training (dead arm) is not normal," Lester said. "I usually get it early in spring training or in mid-April. Anytime you miss a start things can get blown out of proportion. During the regular season, this would not have been a problem. I would have made my regular start and kept going."

If all goes according to plans in his last spring start, Lester may have an 80-to-90 pitch count ceiling against the Cardinals on April 5.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.