"Manager Edwin Rodriguez was able to keep his sense of humor in light of the most troubling development of the young season for the Marlins. Asked if he thought that losing ace Josh Johnson to the disabled list with inflammation in his right shoulder was akin to Armageddon, Rodriguez didn't miss a beat.

"Armageddon is at 6 p.m.," Rodriguez joshed, referring to a California preacher's doomsday prediction, as he spoke to reporters.

The world didn't end Saturday.

But Marlins nation was rattled a bit when Johnson was placed on the DL with what the manager described as a "mild" case of inflammation.

If the Marlins are lucky, Johnson will miss only two starts and return June 1 in Arizona. "They don't think it's too serious," Rodriguez said.

But, with any injury involving a pitcher's primary limb, no one knows for certain.

"You never know with these things," Johnson said. "[The shoulder] is going to tell me."

Johnson revealed to reporters Saturday — and to club officials Thursday — that the shoulder has given him problems all season. But he said he was always able to get the shoulder loose during pregame warm-ups and it hasn't affected him in games.

With a 3-1 record and league-leading 1.64 ERA, Johnson has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors this season. But his fastball velocity dipped Monday in New York, a game in which he was lifted shortly after being struck in the right forearm by a hard, one-hopper."