Marlins shut down Johnson for rest of season
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}MIAMI (Reuters) - Florida Marlins ace Josh Johnson will miss the rest of the Major League Baseball season with a nagging back strain, the team said on Monday.
The two-time All-Star pitcher has battled back problems and shoulder inflammation since July and was scratched from a start last week.
"It's the smart thing to do," Johnson told the team's website (florida.marlins.mlb.com). "I had a little bit of it going on in the beginning of the year, and (hoped) that it would go away. It's not fun being on the sideline."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The top performer on Florida's rotation this year, Johnson finished with an 11-6 record, a 2.30 ERA and 186 strikeouts.
Johnson underwent reconstructive arm surgery in 2007 but recovered quickly and earned selections to the National League's All-Star team in 2009 and 2010.
(Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)