Ben Goessling The Washington Times - August 4, 2009, 06:04PM

We’re back at Nationals Park tonight, where the Nats start a six-game homestand after a 4-4 road trip, one of their best showings away from home this season. Things get a little tougher tonight against the Marlins, who have swept Washington three times this year and have won 23 of their last 26 against the Nats.

Before we get to lineups, a couple pregame news items:

SEE RELATED:

—Ryan Zimmerman is out of the lineup tonight with a sore left shoulder, an injury lingering from the pitch that Pittsburgh’s Charlie Morton hit him with on Monday night. Zimmerman said he’d probably have played if he could. He thought it was better to treat the injury all day Tuesday and see how he feels on Wednesday.

—Austin Kearns is also out of the lineup — and out of the ballpark — because of his injured right thumb. Kearns was seeing a hand specialist on Tuesday, and interim manager Jim Riggleman said the Nationals would know more about the outfielder’s status on Wednesday.

—Jordan Zimmermann makes a rehab start for Class A Potomac tonight, and it will be determined after that whether he’s ready to return from elbow tightness or whether he’ll need another rehab start.

—Lastly, Nick Johnson is back at Nationals Park. Only he’s in the visitors’ clubhouse for the first time since being traded to the Marlins on July 31. Johnson said he came to Washington last night and was able to sleep at home. His wife is in the process of moving his family to Florida, while Johnson adjusts to playing for a new team. “It’s a little different,” Johnson said of facing the team he’d been with since its days in Montreal. “But you get over it pretty quick. It’s about winning a ballgame.”

That’s all in the way of pregame news. Here are the lineups:

Marlins:

Coghlan LF

N. Johnson 1B

Ramirez SS

Cantu 3B

Uggla 2B

Hermida RF

Ross CF

Baker C

J. Johnson P

 

Nationals:

Morgan CF

Guzman SS

Willingham LF

Dunn 1B

Dukes RF

Harris 3B

Gonzalez 2B

Nieves C

Martin P