Denver — Though they didn't want to make an extra one-day trip to Denver in June, the struggling Braves admitted Thursday's snowed-out game at Coors Field came at a perfect time.

"It probably does," manager Bobby Cox said. The Braves lost the first three games in the series against Colorado. They would have pitched Tim Hudson, who'd been sick all week, in Thursday's series finale.

The snowed-out game will be made up June 16 in Denver, on what was a scheduled off day between Braves' games at the L.A. Angels and Texas.

Hudson is now scheduled to start Friday in the opener of a three-game series at the new ballpark in Washington, D.C., where he pitched opening day March 30 and allowed two runs in seven innings for a no decision in a 3-2 Braves loss.

"Definitely can benefit from not going out there with 25 degree weather and snow flurries," Hudson said in a croaky voice, then he turned and coughed. "The last couple of days I've felt a little better. But another day will help me, and getting out of this climate, getting to some warmer weather."

John Smoltz and Tom Glavine will move back a day to pitch Saturday and Sunday against the Nationals. Jair Jurrjens will pitch Tuesday's series opener at Florida, after an off day Monday. Jurrjens had been scheduled to pitch Sunday.

The postponement not only allows Hudson, Smoltz and Glavine an extra day's rest, it enables Cox to skip a fifth starter on what would have been that pitcher's next turn Tuesday against the Marlins.

The Braves optioned fifth starter Chuck James to Class AAA Richmond on Thursday, and filled the roster spot with reliever Jorge Campillo from Richmond.

With Monday's off day, the Braves won't need a fifth starter until the April 19 home game against the L.A. Dodgers.

For Hudson, the postponement meant a welcome change in venue for his next performance. Instead of pitching at Coors Field, where he he's 0-2 with a 13.00 ERA in two starts, he'll face the Nationals, against whom he's is 5-1 with a 1.25 ERA in nine starts.

That includes 4-0 with a 0.97 ERA and .174 opponents' average in his past five against them.

"Obviously nobody likes canceling and having to come back later in the year for one game," Hudson said, "but with the conditions ..."

Thursday's scheduled 1:05 p.m. game was called at 9:45 a.m. after 2-3 inches of snow fell overnight and throughout the morning in Denver.

"I mean, I'd rather play," Cox said in the visiting manager's office at Coors, where the team waited several hours for its chartered jet to arrive at the Denver airport. "So would the players. It's going to be a hectic off day [June 16]. You always rather play the games [as scheduled].

"But it's impossible. We can't play in [the snow]."