Tim Hudson's role with Braves undecided

By David O’Brien

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

When Tim Hudson went to the mound to begin a rehab start Thursday at Class AAA Gwinnett, the veteran pitcher was surprised to see a couple of familiar faces in the front row: Braves catcher Brian McCann and first baseman Adam LaRoche.

“That’s probably not going to happen anywhere else,” Hudson said of the show of support on a day off for the Braves. “It says a lot about your teammates, taking the time to come out, cut up a little bit, watch you pitch.

“I definitely didn’t expect that. It was cool.”

Hudson, nearing the end of his year-long recovery from ligament-transplant elbow surgery (aka “Tommy John” surgery), was charged with two runs and five hits in four innings. All but one hit came in the first, as he worked to get into a rhythm after missing one start with a minor hamstring strain.

He has made four rehab starts and probably will have two or three more before he’s activated. His next outing is set for Tuesday, either on the road with Gwinnett or at home with the Braves’ Class AA Mississippi affiliate.

The Braves haven’t said if Hudson would immediately displace a current member of the rotation once activated, or pitch out of the bullpen, or perhaps be part of a six-man rotation when rosters are expanded Sept. 1.

Before Friday night’s series opener against Philadelphia, Braves pitchers had a major league-leading 3.03 ERA since the All-Star break, and the team’s starters ranked second in the majors with a 3.64 ERA for the season.

The Braves hold a $12 million option on Hudson’s contract for 2010 and presumably want to see him pitch plenty in September before deciding whether to exercise the option (Hudson also has the right to veto the option).

Hudson has worked out with the Braves since spring training and made some road trips, but having teammates there for his start Thursday added something to the prolonged rehab program.

“You feel such a disconnect with your team through the whole process,” he said. “So it’s pretty cool to know they’re there, and to see how much the fans care.”

McLouth back in lineup

Center fielder Nate McLouth returned to the lineup for Friday’s highly anticipated series opener against Philadelphia after missing three starts for a strained left hamstring. He took batting practice and said all was well.

McLouth had actually missed four consecutive starts, including the Saturday game at Los Angeles when he was given a day off to rest various aches and pains while the Braves were facing Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw, who has been devastating against left-handed hitters this season.

Because the Braves were off Monday and Thursday, McLouth had a full week of rest since his previous game.

Another time change

Another Braves-Phillies game — Aug. 30 at Philadelphia — has been switched from afternoon to an 8:05 p.m. start to accommodate ESPN.

Sunday’s finale of this weekend’s Braves-Phillies series at Turner Field was moved to an 8:05 p.m. start for ESPN. So was an Aug. 2 home game against Los Angeles, before the Braves flew cross-country to play at San Diego the following night.