ATLANTA -- Chipper Jones has been Major League Baseball's most consistent hitter throughout this season. But entering Saturday afternoon's game against the Diamondbacks, he couldn't say he has been his team's most consistent hitter in May.

Instead, he had to concede that distinction to Brian McCann, whose .426 (29-for-68) batting average in May ranked second in the National League, trailing only Astros first baseman Lance Berkman, who was hitting .500 (40-for-80).

As for Jones, he entered Saturday afternoon's game against Randy Johnson and the Diamondbacks hitting a Major League-best .415 this season and .423 (30-for-71) this month.

Unlike the left-handed-hitting McCann, who got a day off, Jones was going to test his average against the left-handed Johnson, who was making his first start at Turner Field since May 18, 2004, when he victimized the Braves with a perfect game.

"It doesn't bother me [to face Johnson]," said McCann, who has hit .375 against left-handed pitchers this season. "It really doesn't matter who you face. You've still just got to go out there and hit the ball. It had nothing to do with who is on the mound."

Because Jorge Campillo had success working with Corky Miller on Tuesday, Braves manager Bobby Cox took advantage of forming this same battery again on Saturday. But while sitting McCann, Mark Kotsay and Kelly Johnson, he proved he wanted to compile as many right-handed hitters as possible against Johnson.

With this trio out, the only left-handed bat in the lineup was Gregor Blanco, who played center field and hit eighth.

Since being moved out of the leadoff spot last week, Johnson has proven to be one of the game's top hitters. In fact, his .381 (24-for-83) batting average in May ranks ninth in the NL. Most of this damage has occurred in the bottom portion of the lineup.

In the nine games he's played since leaving the leadoff spot, Johnson has hit .452 (14-for-31).

"Kelly is swinging the bat with more aggression since we moved him down in the lineup," Cox said. "He looks good up there."

Kotsay has hit a strong .307 this month and even recorded eight hits in 27 at-bats against left-handed pitchers. But he's still hit just .215 (14-for-65) against lefties this season and Johnson certainly still ranks as one of the toughest pitchers for left-handed hitters.

Or at least he's still regarded that way. Entering Saturday, he had allowed one hit in the 17 at-bats left-handed batters had registered against him this year. In his career, he's limited left-handed hitters to a .200 batting average.