Marlins ace Josh Johnson was scratched from Sunday's final home start after coming down with flulike symptoms overnight.

Chris Volstad was given the emergency start after Johnson arrived at Land Shark Stadium this morning with what manager Fredi Gonzalez called a ``pretty good fever.'' Gonzalez sent Johnson home within an hour when it became obvious he was too weakened to start.

``He wasn't looking real good,'' said Gonzalez, adding that he's unsure whether Johnson (15-5) will accompany the team on its flight to Atlanta this evening.

``He's going to see the doctor and be under doctor's supervision. I don't know whether he'll fly with the team or not. He may meet us in Atlanta.''

Volstad (9-12) is making his first appearance since Sept. 13, when he lasted just three innings and was tagged for five runs in a loss to Washington. He has walked 18 batters in his past 22 2/3 major-league innings, sandwiched around a one-start demotion to Triple A New Orleans.

Gonzalez says first baseman Nick Johnson also remains home as he recovers from the flu bout. Infielder Jorge Cantu and catcher John Baker also were under the weather last night, but Gonzalez says both are feeling better today.

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