23 Chris Johnson, 3B

After hitting .245 against left-handed pitchers in 2012, the Braves had concerns for third baseman Chris Johnson heading into the season. Those concerns seem to have disappeared since Johnson entered Sunday against the Dodgers with a major-league leading .435 average (20 for 46) against left-handed pitchers.

"There's a couple things I've had trouble against lefties with, and I've just been trying to eliminate that and not even worry about that," Johnson said to MLB.com. "It's been working. I've just got to continue focusing on going up the middle and going the other way."

Johnson entered the season with a career .283 average against right-handed pitchers and a .255 average against left-handers. He's now batting .277 in his career against lefties.

"I think I used to just feel more comfortable with lefties out there, rather than having to face a tough righty," Johnson said. "I'd be like, 'Oh, I feel so good, I'm going to homer off this guy.' Then the next thing you know, I'm 0 for 4."

Braves third baseman Chris Johnson had a big performance against his former team Monday against the Diamondbacks. Johnson, who arrived in an offseason trade, was 3 for 4 with one home run, one double and three RBI.

Johnson snapped a 0-for-18 skid with a single in the third inning, the Braves' first hit. He hit a two-run homer to cap Atlanta's three-run fifth inning and added a out-out double in the sixth inning. he now has three home runs, eight doubles and 12 RBI.

Johnson is batting .143 (3 for 21) through seven May games after batting .369 in 22 April games.

Braves third baseman Chris Johnson was in the starting lineup for Monday's series opener at Arizona after seeing limited playing time in the previous four-game set against San Francisco. Johnson, who has yet to record a hit in 17 at-bats this month, was dropped to eighth in the batting order for the first time this season.

The 28-year-old has been rotating at third base with Juan Francisco, but his recent struggles have apparently crippled his time on the field. Monday represented just the second time in the past seven games Johnson has been in the starting lineup as his batting average has dropped to .307.