Marlins ace Josh Johnson could miss Opening Day start with flu

Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports that Josh Johnson could miss his Opening Day start because of “a stomach virus that has worked its way through the Marlins clubhouse the past couple of weeks.” Johnson was scratched from his scheduled start Friday, with manager Fredi Gonzalez explaining: “We had to kick him out of the clubhouse.” However, according to Gonzalez there’s merely “an outside chance” of Johnson being unable to take the mound for the season opener on April 5. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Gonzalez said, adding that Ricky Nolasco would get the Opening Day nod if Johnson can’t pitch. Johnson made his first All-Star team last season and has pitched brilliantly since returning from Tommy John elbow surgery in mid-2008, going 22-6 with a 3.34 ERA and 268/85 K/BB ratio in 296.1 innings spread over 47 starts.