WASHINGTON -- Manager Manny Acta has decided that Austin Kearns will be his starting right fielder when the Nationals open the season against the Marlins on Monday at Dolphin Stadium.

Kearns was given the news about 35 minutes before Washington played the Orioles at Nationals Park on Saturday.

According to Acta, Kearns outplayed Elijah Dukes for the job, hitting .279 with a team-leading four home runs and 10 RBIs this spring. Dukes, on the other hand, struck out 22 times in 52 at-bats.

"Austin really worked hard, not only during Spring Training but in the offseason, too," Acta said. "He made the adjustments during Spring Training. He had a good spring, offensively and defensively. After he led the outfielders in home runs, I think it would have sent the wrong message if we didn't give him the job -- at least to start the season."

With the help of hitting coach Rick Eckstein, Kearns went back to the batting stance that made him one of the top rookies in 2002, when he was with the Reds. Eckstein suggested that Kearns open his stance so that he would no longer be vulnerable to inside pitches. The new stance worked all spring.

"It has helped," Kearns said. "It's just a matter of being consistent, and that's the biggest thing -- putting the work in and have that feel every day. I've taken a different approach this spring. I wanted to get a lot of work in with Eck. ... I looked at it as, if I could get back to stuff that I used to do, things will work out. I have confidence that if I were not going to start here, I was still good enough to be an everyday player."

Kearns had to prove himself this spring because he was coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, hitting .217 with seven home runs and 32 RBIs. It didn't help that he had loose bodies in his right elbow and a stress fracture in his left foot.

Entering Spring Training, it appeared that Dukes was the favorite to start in right field after coming off a solid second half last season. Kearns had no problem having to prove himself.

"We all want to play every day. That's a given. But the big picture is that we want to win," Kearns said. "Manny will probably tell you he doesn't want anyone to be satisfied on the bench. Guys are competitors and want to go out there to be the guy."

According to Acta, Dukes took the news well. The skipper simply told him that he needed to do better.

Dukes, who knew for several days that this news was coming, declined to comment. He will play backup at all three outfield positions and get occasional starts.

"He understood that he didn't have a very good spring," Acta said. "He also understood that it's a very long season, and he can play the three outfield positions. Anything can change if a guy is not producing."

Also starting the season on the bench is outfielder Josh Willingham, who was an everyday left fielder with the Marlins. Willingham acknowledged that he was not happy about his situation, and expressed his feelings to Acta 10 days ago.

On Saturday, he backed up his words with action, driving in all five runs in the Nationals' 5-4 victory over the Orioles. He ended up leading the team in RBIs this spring, with 13.

"I'm not happy about it, but at the same time, I can't control it," Willingham said. "I'm going to focus what I can control, and that's to prepare myself to play. I'm not happy about it, and I hope Manny is glad I'm not happy about it.

"I feel I'm an established player and I deserve to be playing every day somewhere. But that's not how the chips have fallen this year. I'm not going to hang my head to complain about it. But at the same time, I don't have to be happy about it."