Center fielder Cameron Maybin, a guy who's historically a slow starter, didn't exactly get off to a solid start this spring.

Maybin sat out a handful of games to rest his strained left groin, an injury that occurred March 7 when he was running the bases.

Maybin wasn't the only Marlins player battling an injury. Right fielder Cody Ross missed several games with a strained left groin, and catcher John Baker missed time because of a sore right forearm.

Both Ross and Baker were expected to return to action first in the designated hitter slot. If that went well, they were to play the field a day or two later.

Right-handed reliever Derrick Turnbow had been slowed by shoulder tightness.

The biggest question was Maybin.

John Maine struck out the final batter he faced, which made it easier to leave the game in the middle of an inning. Maine threw 1 2-3 innings in his spring debut Monday, finishing with four strikeouts in the New York Mets' 11-2 victory over a Florida Marlins split-squad. "I was pleased," said Maine, who allowed one run, two hits and one walk.

Marlins ace Josh Johnson started earning his $39 million contract Saturday: He struck out Albert Pujols looking to end a perfect first inning. Making his first start since signing his four-year deal in January, Johnson allowed two earned runs in two innings in Florida's 6-5 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Anibal Sanchez says it's been five years since he felt this healthy in spring training, which is why he was grinning after his first spring training start Thursday. Sanchez struck out three in two innings to help the Florida Marlins beat the Washington Nationals' split squad 10-4. The right-hander has been plagued by injuries and spent two stints on the disabled list last year.