Smoltz may be lucky he won’t make Red Sox debut in Atlanta

It appears John Smoltz won’t be pitching for the Red Sox when they visit Turner Field the weekend after next, which could be a blessing for both the iconic right-hander and his former team.

Smoltz was still a Brave the first time his old golfing buddies and fellow Cy Young Award winners Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux took the Turner Field mound as opponents.

Their homecomings didn’t go so well.

Glavine’s was especially rough. The future Hall of Famer was showered with boos as Braves fans got their first look at him in a Mets uniform on May 24, 2003. Glavine’s old teammates were nearly as unkind, scoring six runs before he exited in the fourth inning. The Braves, behind Horacio Ramirez, coasted to a 10-4 win.

Greg Maddux, back with the Cubs, fared slightly better in his return July 5, 2005, giving up eight hits and five runs in six innings. He was outdueled by fringe prospect Roman Colon, who allowed but one run to record his third career win (he’s won only three since, leaving him 349 behind Mad Dog).

Of course, Glavine and Maddux were facing much better Braves teams with more potent offenses. And the Turner Field crowds were squarely in the Braves corner for those games — no sure thing when the Red Sox invade.

Add to that a legion of Smoltz loyalists and you’d have anything but friendly confines for the Braves.

Of course, a rainout or a change of heart by Boston skipper Terry Francona could change everything. For now Smoltz is scheduled to start his first game as a Red Sox in Washington on June 25 — one day before the his new team faces his old one in Atlanta.