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Braves' Hudson tries to get back on track vs. Brewers

May 30, 2007 - 2:34 PM Atlanta (29-23) at Milwaukee (29-23) 1:05 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Braves' slumping starter will look to quiet the re-awakening offense of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Struggling Tim Hudson takes the mound as the visiting Braves go for the series win in the rubber game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

Hudson (5-3, 2.79 ERA) was one of the surprise stories in all of baseball through the first month and a half of the season, compiling a 5-1 record with a 1.77 ERA over his first eight starts. Over his past two outings, however, the veteran sinkerballer has yielded 11 earned runs in 11 1/3 innings - both losses.

His initial success came on the heels on a 13-12 record in 2006 with a 4.86 ERA - his worst mark as a major-leaguer.

Hudson will be trying to pick up a staff that watched ace John Smoltz leave the game on Tuesday after straining his right shoulder during fourth-inning warmups and re-injuring his right pinky finger while swinging the bat in the top half of the fourth.

The Brewers will be a challenge for the righthanded Hudson. Milwaukee snapped a six-game losing streak on Tuesday with 15 hits against Atlanta on Tuesday, and its young offense - highlighted by emerging stars Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy - boasts three hitters with double-digit homer run totals.

The Brewers will counter with their own struggling starter, righthander Dave Bush (3-5, 6.13). The 27-year-old righthander has allowed 12 runs in his past 12 1/3 innings over two starts - both losses.

Bush has never faced Atlanta, and will likely not have to face Chipper Jones. The Braves' All-Star third baseman has missed the last six games with a sore right hand.