KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte took another step toward starting the regular season on time and healthy when he threw a three-inning simulated game Tuesday morning at Osceola County Stadium.

Battling heavy winds that reached 24 mph, Pettitte threw 51 pitches, up from 29 in his last simulated game. He said he felt comfortable enough to try all of his pitches, something he was not ready to do last week during a two-inning simulated contest.

"I feel like I'm getting there," he said. "I threw a lot more curveballs and cutters and I threw some changeups today. I'm progressing."

Pettitte guessed his coaches would be "thrilled" with the outcome of the game, but Pettitte is trying not to get too excited, yet. He was encouraged by his progress but won't fully believe he's recovered from last year's elbow surgery until he's facing real opponents, during a real game.

"I'll be a lot happier when it's the end of the year and I've pitched a full season," he said. "But this is what I've been trying to get ready for, and I'm just looking forward to continue to move forward."

He did so on Tuesday. Although it was a simulated game and he was pitching to teammates, Pettitte treated this more like a regular start. He waited longer in the dugout in between innings, as he would during a regular game. He used his full arsenal of pitches and his teammates gave him positive feedback when the game was complete.

"The hitters are saying the ball's coming out pretty good," he said. "I didn't feel like it was. Hopefully they're not lying to me."

For Pettitte, these simulated games are simply a tool to evaluate where he is in his comeback quest.

"I feel comfortable enough now to throw a few more curveballs and some changeups," he said. "All that's telling me is that I'm moving forward. It was a tough day. The wind was blowing about 40 miles an hour. It was a tough day to try to get some rhythm. That [third] inning, it was a little rough getting loose, but after I got loose, I felt like I got in a little bit of a rhythm."

Said manager Phil Garner: "He had good location, he kept the ball down and he had good finish on his pitches. I liked that."

Pettitte will rest for a couple of days before any decisions are made on his next start. He may throw one more simulated game, although the Astros would like Pettitte to make as many as five spring starts against live opponents. That would mean he would have to start Sunday's game -- a home contest against the Yankees.

"We'll see how I feel [Thursday]," Pettitte said. "I might throw another simulated game. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. I'll probably be a little sore tomorrow. We'll make a judgement then."