Cox gives Kelly Johnson day off

Braves manager Bobby Cox rested second baseman Kelly Johnson and first baseman Casey Kotchman on Sunday, sticking to a plan to rest them despite Johnson’s three-hit games Friday and Saturday.

Utility man Omar Infante filled in for Johnson and went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored from the leadoff position.

Martin Prado, who had just one at-bat before Sunday, filled in for Kotchman and contributed an RBI single in the three-run fourth inning. Prado’s fielding error in the fifth let in the third Washington run of the inning.

Kotchman replaced Prado for defense in the top of the eighth, and ended up driving in a run with a single in the bottom of the inning.

Ross due to start rehab stint

Catcher David Ross is scheduled to complete a short injury-rehab assignment Tuesday and Wednesday with Class A Rome and be activated Thursday, the first day he’s eligible to come off the disabled list.

The veteran backup has been on the DL after straining his right groin in the final week of spring training.

Ross hit .267 with three homers in 40 at-bats in Grapefruit League games, after signing a two-year, $3 million free-agent contract in December.

Catcher Brian McCann has caught every inning of all six games so far. The Braves haven’t required the services of backup catcher Clint Sammons because of two off days in the opening week.

Cox said he hadn’t decided whether he would assign Ross to catch all of a specific starting pitcher’s games, as the manager’s done with his backup catcher in some seasons.

Anderson expected back

Left fielder Garret Anderson (left calf strain) could be ready for the Florida series that starts Tuesday. He has missed four games since tweaking the same muscle he pulled in spring training.

Left fielder Matt Diaz is 4-for-14 with a home run, four walks and four RBIs in four games while Anderson’s been out. Diaz has a career-best .425 average with seven homers and 21 RBIs in 36 games against the Marlins.