"Marlins ace Josh Johnson is heading to Alabama to have his injured right shoulder examined by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, casting his season in further doubt.

Johnson will have his shoulder examined Wednesday, possibly signaling yet another even more significant setback in his recovery from an injury that landed him on the disabled list in May.

"Not great," said Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations. "He threw a [bullpen session] on Friday and reported a little bit more stiffness and just didn't feel right. Obviously it's not what we were looking for in the progression."

The Marlins placed Johnson on the 15-day DL with inflammation in his right shoulder in mid-May. They later transferred him to the 60-day DL and targeted a mid-July return to the mound.

"That was the thought even with the 60-day because we wanted to make sure we made every step and didn't cut any corners to make sure he was right, but he just wasn't ready to push through that right now," Beinfest said.

Johnson resumed throwing June17 as he began to work his way back from the injury. His last throwing session was Friday in Jupiter.

"He had been feeling well and was right on the throwing progression to come back that first week after the All-Star break," Beinfest said. "That's obviously in jeopardy now."

Losing Johnson to injury after only nine starts represented a major blow to the rotation. Now, there's a possibility he could miss the rest of the season if the shoulder doesn't check out clean with Andrews.

Johnson is in the second year of a four-year contract paying him $39?million."