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Hudson, Braves face Dodgers, look for continued success

May 5, 2007 - 2:46 PM LA Dodgers (17-12) at Atlanta (18-10) 7:05 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Led by Tim Hudson, the Atlanta Braves' starting pitching has been carrying them this season. They hope for another solid performance from their ace against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hudson will look to remain unbeaten when the Braves take on the Dodgers in the second game of three-game series on Saturday.

In their last contests, John Smoltz continued to throw well, hurling seven outstanding innings, as Atlanta posted a 4-0 victory in the series opener on Friday.

With the win, the Braves improved to 11-2 in games started by Hudson or Smoltz.

They will look to improve that mark Saturday behind Hudson (3-0, 1.40 ERA), who has been an early-season National League Cy Young candidate this campaign. He yielded two runs and four hits in eight innings but did not figure in the decision in a 5-2 win over Philadelphia on Monday.

The veteran righthander has gone at least seven innings in all six of his starts this season - five of them Braves wins.

He will be opposed by Derek Lowe (2-3, 4.62), who will look to get back on track after three shaky outings. Lowe has allowed 13 runs - 11 earned - and 25 hits in 18 innings during that span.

Los Angeles has won three of its last five games.