The 2006 season was a frustrating one for Nationals right-hander John Patterson. He missed most of the season because of a pinched nerve in his right forearm.

Patterson would have surgery on July 20 to correct the problem and is now ready to pitch the opener against the Marlins on Monday. It will be Patterson's first Major League game since July 9 against the Padres.

Patterson will become the second starting pitcher in Nationals history to pitch the opener. Livan Hernandez had the honor the previous two seasons.

"I thought about it a lot, the whole magnitude of it. It's really neat. It's a big honor," Patterson said. "Hopefully things go well this season. And, next year, it would be really awesome to pitch Opening Day [in the new stadium] next year."

This is also the first year that Patterson will be the ace of the Nationals, but it was a rough road to get to that point. Besides the forearm injury, elbow reconstruction and a right groin strain has forced Patterson to be on the DL for a long period of time.

The 2005 season is the only year that he has been virtually injury free. That year, Patterson was 9-7 with a 3.13 ERA in 31 games.

"I definitely have not had an easy road, but I'm pretty proud of the fact that I never gave up." Patterson said. "I've done the best I can do. I tried as hard as I can try. I'm finally going to get rewarded a little bit."

Patterson will face the Marlins for the ninth time in his career. He is 2-4 with a 3.72 ERA against them. Patterson's best game of '06 came against Florida. Patterson pitched a complete game and struck out 13 batters on April 15.

This year, Patterson will face the likes of Miguel Cabrera and Hanley Ramirez who are a combined 0-for-10 against the right-hander.

"I think they are a talented team. I think they showed that last year. They got by on talent and grit," Patterson said. "I never let down for any team, especially not Opening Day. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Pitching matchup
FLA: LHP Dontrelle Willis
• 12-12, 3.87 ERA in 2006
• 1-1, 5.09 ERA in 2006 vs. WAS
• 9-4, 3.46 ERA lifetime vs. WAS

WAS: RHP John Patterson
• 1-2, 4.43 ERA in 2006
• 1-0, 2.08 ERA in 2006 vs. FLA
• 2-4, 3.72 ERA lifetime vs. FLA

On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
•  Gameday
•  Official game notes

On television
• FLA: Sun Sports
• WSH: MASN

On radio
• FLA: WQAM 560 AM, WQBA 1140 AM(Español)
• WSH: WTWP 1500

On deck
• Tuesday: vs. Florida, 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: vs. Florida, 1:05 p.m. ET
• Thursday: at Arizona, 7:05 p.m. ET