PORT ST. LUCIE — Justin Verlander took a comebacker off each leg Sunday and was visited by the trainer on both occasions, but managed to complete his final tuneup before the regular season.
The Mets co-ace scuffled with his control for a second straight start and allowed three earned runs on eight hits and four walks with three strikeouts over five innings.
Verlander was removed after 95 pitches in the Mets’ 3-3 tie with the Marlins in their Grapefruit League finale.
“I don’t particularly like the way I am pitching right now, so figure it out,” said Verlander, who walked six batters over 4 ²/₃ innings his previous start, against the Nationals.
On this day he averaged 92.3 mph with his fastball — a drop from where he normally sits at 95. Verlander indicated to The Post the dip in velocity might have been related to mechanical issues and repeated he’s got to “figure it out.”
Verlander got hit with grounders through the box behind his right knee and left ankle. Two starts earlier he was hit by a batted ball on the left calf.
Though the right-hander is scheduled to face the Marlins in his first two starts of the regular season — on Saturday and then in the home opener — Verlander said he was fine pitching in the Grapefruit League game Sunday instead of against minor leaguers because Miami’s lineup was non-representative of the one he will face when it counts.
Max Scherzer will start Thursday’s season opener in Miami.
“I have been fortunate enough to throw a bunch of opening days in my career,” Verlander said. “Some of the most enjoyable opening days are the ones you didn’t pitch — you can sit back and enjoy it. I’m really looking forward to Max taking the ball, quite honestly — a Hall of Fame pitcher on Opening Day and I can sit in the dugout and watch him pitch and enjoy the festivities, which is something I tried to cherish.
“To have the home opener on the backside is an honor as well and something I’m looking forward to as well. I am going to try to introduce myself to the Mets fans and I can promise the fans I can give everything I have got every single time out there. These fans are passionate and so am I.”
Danny Mendick was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse, leaving Darin Ruf and Tim Locastro as the final position players with unsettled status. The Mets are likely to carry one or the other. Buck Showalter still has not officially named a starter to the rotation between David Peterson and Tylor Megill.