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Nationals-Marlins Preview

Jul 17, 2010 - 4:26 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Washington (39-50) at Florida (42-46), 7:10 p.m. EDT

Florida Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez is concerned about his team's lack of offense. He hasn't had to worry about starter Josh Johnson.

Making his first start since a dominant performance in the All-Star game, Johnson looks for another solid outing Saturday when the Marlins try to prevent the Washington Nationals from winning their first series on the road in more than two months.

Near the bottom of the NL East with the July 31 trade deadline approaching, Florida (42-47) doesn't have much time to improve before likely opting to make some roster changes.

A 4-0 loss to Washington (40-50) on Friday was not a step in the right direction. The Marlins had four hits en route to their fourth shutout loss of the season. They are batting .228 this month while scoring fewer than four runs in seven of 11 games.

Reigning NL batting champion Hanley Ramirez has one RBI in his last 10 games, while power-hitting second baseman Dan Uggla has no homers and three RBIs in his last eight.

"We have the talent to have a way better record," Rodriguez said prior to Friday's loss.

The Marlins might not need much offense the way Johnson (9-3, 1.70 ERA) has performed. The right-hander, who owns the best ERA in the majors and ranks among the NL leaders with 123 strikeouts, has allowed one run or none in 10 of his last 11 starts.

Making his All-Star debut Tuesday, Johnson struck out two and retired all six batters he faced in the NL's 3-1 victory.

He just missed his first career shutout in his last regular-season outing, throwing eight innings of six-hit ball in a 4-0 win at the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 7.

"It's one of those things that I put on myself - to go out there every time and give my team a chance to win no matter who I'm pitching against or what team I'm facing," said Johnson, the June NL pitcher of the month.

Johnson is 1-0 with a 3.75 ERA in two starts against the Nationals this season and 6-0 lifetime. He will try to prevent Washington, which is 15-29 on the road, from winning its first series outside the nation's capital since taking two of three May 10-12 at the New York Mets.

The Nationals will give the ball to Livan Hernandez (6-5, 3.37), who is looking to bounce back from one of his roughest outings of the season. He lasted five innings in Sunday's 6-2 loss to San Francisco, giving up five runs.

"I don't feel too good," said Hernandez, the 1997 World Series MVP for the Marlins. "My body don't respond perfect. It's no excuse. ... I tried to keep the ball down and it didn't happen."

In a 3-2 victory over the Marlins on May 9, Hernandez surrendered one run over seven innings and did not earn a decision. He is 13-8 with a 3.52 ERA in 29 starts versus his original major-league club.

Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn went 2 for 3 on Friday and is batting .457 with five homers and 12 RBIs in his last nine games. He is 4 for 21 with a homer lifetime against Johnson.

Despite Friday's loss, Florida has won 26 of its last 35 home matchups with Washington.