NORFOLK, Va. -- The word went out Friday, and manager Manny Acta knows that it's going to make some Nationals unhappy.

That's OK.

"You know what? I'd rather have two or three guys that are unhappy on the bench that are talented and I know I can go to them and help me win, than to have three guys who are happy but who aren't talented," said Acta.

His reference is obvious. With five outfielders who are used to playing every day, and with only three spots available, the issue becomes who is left standing after the music stops playing.

Besides the composition of Washington's bullpen -- another question that will be answered today -- one of the three starting outfielders is the club's only remaining mystery.

Or maybe not. Lastings Millege, who homered Friday in a 6-3 loss to Baltimore in Norfolk, is a fixture in center field, and newcomer Adam Dunn is likely to play left.

That leaves Austin Kearns, who has had a good spring, and talented but enigmatic Elijah Dukes to contest things in right. It may also leave Josh Willingham as the potential odd man out.

With Kearns favored to keep his job in right field, two players who are used to starting are reduced to bench roles until it's pinch-hitting time. Their mental glasses, likely, are half-empty, something Acta is going to have to cope with.

Conversely, Acta's managerial glass is half-full.

"It gives us options," he said. "If a guy goes down, we're going to be able to survive and cover that spot with a big league ballplayer."

Such has not been the case for the Nats over the past three years.

"A lot of people don't understand how the addition of one or two bats can change your lineup because it puts people in the right spot," Acta said.

The addition of Dunn, who signed a two-year $20 million contract in the offseason, adds one of those bats. Willingham brings the other.

Lofty expectations come from that assessment.

"I expect my team to play .500 baseball," said Acta. "I think our lineup is very respectable this year, especially with the addition of Dunn."

Or maybe the expectations aren't so lofty.

"We should have that at least," said third baseman Ryan Zimmerman. Zimmerman, who hit a two-run homer Friday and has three homers in his past two games.

Zimmerman even said the improvement over last season's 59 wins isn't enough.

"Anyone should be looking to win 90 games," Zimmerman said.

Now that is a lofty ambition.