Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Scott Baker pitched in the bullpen during spring training at Lee County Sports Complex in Fort Myers, Florida, Tuesday, February 28, 2012. (Pioneer Press: Chris Polydoroff) (Chris Polydoroff)

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Minnesota Twins right-hander Scott Baker needs to get back on the mound soon, and pain-free, or he might not be ready to start the home opener April 9, as scheduled.

It’s all about the math. And his right elbow.

Baker missed Thursday’s start with inflammation. He has bullpen sessions scheduled for Saturday, March 17, and the following Monday. Pitching coach Rick Anderson wants Baker to successfully pitch two bullpen sessions before starting another game. That means the earliest Baker would start is March 22.

Even at that, he’d probably only be allowed to throw 30-40 pitches. That would leave him less than three weeks to stretch out his arm enough to start the first Target Field game.

“I would love to

make a home opener start, and as far as I know, that’s still the case,” Baker said. “But you’ve got to do what’s smart and wise, and do whatever it takes to get ready for a long season.”

First, Anderson wants Baker to play long toss Saturday before even throwing the bullpen session.

This is hardly Baker’s first go-round with elbow trouble. He made just two starts in the final two months of the 2011 season because of an elbow strain, and he had minor surgery after the 2010 season, when he was unable to start in the American League Division Series.

Actually, the Twins won’t need a fifth starter until April 14. That might give him enough time to build up his arm strength and slip into the back of the Twins’ rotation after the first two

series of the season.

“He doesn’t think it’s anything, and the trainers don’t think it’s anything to be alarmed,” Anderson said. “It’s more precaution. Why push it now? If it was in the season, he would probably still be pitching. But you’ve got spring training. Do it right now, so we can have 30 starts.”

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NEW YORK (AP) Two minor league pitchers in the Minnesota Twins organization have been suspended 50 games each under baseball’s minor league drug program.

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday that Yeison Florentino and Ezequiel Zarzuela each tested positive. They both play on the Twins’ team in the Dominican Summer League.

Florentino tested positive for metabolites of Nandrolone and Zarzuela tested positive for metabolites of Stanozolol.

The suspensions are effective at the start of this season.

There have been 23 suspensions this year under the minor league drug program.

NEW YORK – Two minor league pitchers in the Minnesota Twins’ organization have been suspended 50 games each under baseball’s minor league drug program.

Major League Baseball announced Tuesday, March 13, that Yeison Florentino and Ezequiel Zarzuela each tested positive. Both play on the Twins’ team in the Dominican Summer League team.

The suspensions are effective at the start of this season.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Ryan Doumit showed another facet of his game today in Port Charlotte. Likely to be the Twins’ primary designated hitter this season, Doumit started behind the plate and threw out two runners.

Twice Doumit fired to second to catch Matt Joyce, who stole 13 bases in 14 attempts last season. He got him in the second and fourth innings. Desmond Jennings did steal second in the third inning on a pitchout that appeared to be a little hard to handle.

“Doumit, you saw, he’s got a good arm, a really good arm. So we’re excited,” manager Ron Gardenhire said. “I think he was pumped up about it, made some really nice throws. Even on the pitchout, he threw the heck out of that one but just threw it a little high or we

would have got him, too.”

“Sometimes for me it has been a footwork issue,” Doumit noted. “But the more you do it the more comfortable you feel, the muscle memory, and we’ve been doing a lot of throwing this spring and it has been good for me. It paid off today.

“Catchers always know the running teams. I knew coming into today the Rays were one of them. Get ready for the season, that’s the way it’s going to be in the regular season, and I was glad to be tested today.”

Having your backup catcher in the lineup as the DH can create problems. If anything happened to Joe Mauer during a game, Doumit would have to move behind the plate. That vacates the DH spot for the remainder of the game, leaving pitchers to bat. So no matter how well

Doumit hits or fields, Gardenhire probably will have to carry three catchers.

“I’m going to use Doumit,” Gardenhire said. “That’s almost a given, but not totally a given. I’m counting on him in the lineup along with Joe. So when you play both catchers…I’m trying to see if there’s any way around not keeping three, but it’s really hard for me to do that.”

Doumit, 31, a former Pittsburgh Pirate, was signed a free agent during the offseason.