Cox says Hudson is ‘ready to go’

Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox went out to the bullpen beyond right field to watch Tim Hudson’s 90-pitch session Thursday afternoon and came back impressed.

“He’s ready to go,” Cox said of Hudson, who is 10 months into what is typically a 12-month rehabilitation from ligament-transplant elbow surgery. “He’s really come along. He’s got major-league stuff right now, his normal stuff.”

But Cox quickly added that the Braves will not rush the timetable on Hudson’s return, which is scheduled for mid- to late-August. The next step is facing hitters, which Hudson is set to do next week when he throws batting practice while the Braves are in Chicago to face the Cubs.

Hudson’s first minor-league rehab start is tentatively scheduled for July 19 at Class A Myrtle Beach.

Escobar in, McLouth not

Shortstop Yunel Escobar returned to the lineup Thursday, while center fielder Nate McLouth missed his fifth consecutive game since straining his left hamstring.

Escobar, who had missed five starts with a sore right hip flexor, doubled in his first at-bat in the second inning Thursday. He had been limited to pinch-hitting duty in the first two games of the series, after missing the Boston Red Sox series last weekend.

McLouth had originally expected to miss only a game or two, but what he thought to be “just a cramp” was actually strained muscle. He took batting practice Thursday, but Cox wanted to give him at least one more day to rest and make sure the hamstring was healed before playing again.

With the Braves on a three-game winning streak and center fielder Gregor Blanco totaling six hits in the past four games before Thursday, the decision to be cautious with McLouth was easier for Cox.