The Nationals have made a change to their pitching rotation this weekend. Jordan Zimmermann, who has been fighting inflammation in his right shoulder, will be pushed back a day. He will now start on Saturday night against the Miami Marlins.

With the day off this past Monday, Washington manager Davey Johnson was able to keep Gio Gonzalez on regular rest. He will take Zimmermann’s place in the second game of a doubleheader on Friday against Miami. John Lannan will be recalled from Triple-A Syracuse as expected to start the first game of that doubleheader.

“Giving [Zimmermann] another day,” Johnson said. “He’d probably be fine to go Friday. But he’s taken some medication for the slight inflammation. I mean, he’s throwing 97.”

That’s according to the radar gun at Miller Park, where Zimmermann allowed just one run in six innings on Saturday and now has quite a streak going. In nine consecutive games he’s allowed two earned runs or less. He hasn’t pitched fewer than six innings in any start this season.

The numbers don’t show much of an issue: An 8-6 record and a 2.28 ERA. But Zimmermann didn’t get much rest to start the second half. He started July 8 at home against Colorado and was tabbed by Johnson to open the second half on July 13 on regular rest. This is a chance to get him some.

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