KISSIMMEE, Fla. -- Derek Lowe proved to be perfect during a four-inning effort against the Astros at Osceola County Stadium on Tuesday afternoon. But it was Rafael Soriano's scoreless fifth inning that proved to be the most significant development for the Braves during their 7-4 victory.

Less than four weeks before the start of the regular season, the Braves feel good about their new-look starting rotation, which will be anchored by Lowe's patented sinker. In regards to their bullpen, optimism is increasing as both Peter Moylan and Rafael Soriano prove that their surgically-repaired right elbows are healthy.

After watching Moylan throw a scoreless inning against the Phillies on Sunday, Braves manager Bobby Cox said that the Australian right-handed reliever "couldn't have looked any better."

Cox provided similar praise on Tuesday afternoon, after watching Soriano surrender one hit and record a strikeout in a scoreless inning against the Astros. The right-handed reliever, who threw eight of his 11 pitches for strikes and recorded his strikeout at Hunter Pence's expense, was making his first appearance since Aug. 2.

"Soriano was really good today," Cox said. "He was really popping some balls out there. I really didn't know what to expect. But he looked good."

With Moylan and Soriano serving as the top setup men for closer Mike Gonzalez, the Braves have the potential to have one of the game's strongest bullpens.

There was similar optimism at this time last year regarding Atlanta's relief corps. But Moylan was lost less than two weeks into the season and Soriano was never able to battle through the right elbow discomfort that was present when he arrived at Spring Training.

MRI exams and a series of other tests didn't show any structural damage in Soriano's elbow. But during an August evaluation, Dr. James Andrews suggested that the right-hander might need to have his ulnar nerve transposed. Three weeks later, the surgical procedure was performed.

Soriano, who limited opponents to a .181 batting average and a .232 on-base percentage in a career-high 71 appearances for the Braves in 2007, is still looking to optimize his arm strength. But he believes he'll have plenty of time to do so before the start of the regular season.

"I wouldn't say that I'm 100 percent, but I'd say I'm very close," Soriano said.

It would have been difficult for Lowe to have been any better than he was on Tuesday, when he recorded six strikeouts and registered six groundouts in four perfect innings. While throwing 41 of his 57 pitches for strikes, the veteran sinkerballer didn't allow a fair ball to leave the infield.

"That's about as good as you can humanly pitch," Cox said. "Six strikeouts and six weak ground balls. That was fun to watch."

Lowe, who had been inconsistent with his location during his previous two Grapefruit League outings, ended his impressive start by getting Lance Berkman to look at a called third strike.

"That's about as good as I can do, as far as command and being able to throw my pitches for strikes," Lowe said. "But it's Spring [Training], and we're not going to do cartwheels out of here."