MLB

Colon, Niese, Parnell all feeling healthy after first game action

PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets’ chances of having a full pitching arsenal for Opening Day took a significant step forward on Thursday, when Bartolo Colon, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell participated in their first “game” action this spring.

In an intrasquad scrimmage at Tradition Field, the trio matched up against David Wright, Daniel Murphy, Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada over three innings.

Colon, who had been bothered by calf tightness, threw 54 pitches and later said he expects to see Grapefruit League action by early next week.

“The most important thing is I felt fine and I’m working hard to make sure I’m ready for the year,” said Colon, who in December signed a two-year contract worth $20 million with the Mets.

The right-hander allowed one run on four hits and a walk over the three innings. The final batter he faced, Wright, homered over the left-field fence.

“I just wanted to locate today and work on my pitches,” Colon said.

Niese, who had an MRI exam last week because of pain in his left triceps — the test was negative — has battled soreness in his scapular [back] muscles. The lefty threw 37 pitches over two innings on Thursday and seemed thrilled with the outcome.

“I felt great,” Niese said. “That’s a great feeling to go out there and not feel any pain. It was a great step forward to go out on the mound and feel very close to 100 percent.

“I felt good all week. but the first time off the mound in a game situation, there’s always that concern, but I’m glad that thought is out of my head now being that I can go out there without any pain.”

Niese allowed four straight hits in his first frame — pitching coach Dan Warthen then signaled a conclusion to the inning — before working a 1-2-3 second. Niese said he probably will pitch Tuesday in a Grapefruit League game.

Manager Terry Collins has said he wants Niese to pitch the regular-season opener on March 31 against the Nationals at Citi Field.

“That’s what I’m getting ready for, so that would be a great honor, just like last year,” said Niese, who replaced injured Johan Santana as the Opening Day starter in 2013.

The Mets are paying careful attention to Niese, after he missed seven weeks last season with a partially torn rotator cuff. But upon returning to camp last week, Niese said the MRI exam showed his shoulder is cleaner now than it was last year. He is still trying to build strength in the shoulder.

“The more I throw, the more strength I’ll get in my shoulder and the easier it will come out and the more accuracy I will have,” Niese said. “Today was like a feel day.”

Parnell, who underwent surgery last September for a herniated disk in his neck, pitched a scoreless inning on Thursday. It was his first game action since last July.

“Everything felt good,” Parnell said. “Coming into it, my routine was good and my arm was strong. I felt like I came out there throwing strikes, so I’m happy with it.”

In addition to the comeback from surgery, Parnell has battled soreness in his left quadriceps early in camp. But he doesn’t anticipate having a problem getting enough work before Opening Day.

Collins has suggested the Mets might take it slow with the righty, limiting his usage and not deploying him for back-to-back appearances until the final week or 10 days of spring training.

“It’s still way early in spring, so I have plenty of time to get it going,” Parnell said. “I feel like I’m ready to go.”