Philadelphia @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 31, 2012 ) Philadelphia 8, Atlanta 5

As September dawns, Atlanta turns to its ace to continue the Braves’ push for the playoffs. Tim Hudson has not lost since July 1, going 7-0 in his past 10 starts. The Braves are 17-5 in Hudson’s starts this season and will need more good work from the 37-year-old to maintain their lead atop the National League wild card standings. Philadelphia rallied in the ninth in the series opener, then scored three runs in the 10th to win 8-5.

Philadelphia has won nine of its past 13 games and is just six games below .500. Cliff Lee, who has pitched well in starts away from Citizens Bank Park, gets the start in the middle game of the series. Despite Friday’s loss, the Braves saw an encouraging sign from struggling second baseman Dan Uggla. Mired in a miserable slump in which he is hitting .150 in his past 71 games, Uggla hit his 17th homer and has hits in four consecutive games.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox (nationwide).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Philadelphia LH Cliff Lee (3-7, 3.67 ERA) vs. Atlanta RH Tim Hudson (13-4, 3.57).

Lee earned his first home victory of the season in his last outing, holding the Nationals to one earned run on seven hits in seven innings. His ERA is nearly a run lower in road games (3.24) than at home (4.14). Lee is 2-2 with a 3.22 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break.

Hudson is 2-0 against the Phillies this season with a 4.24 ERA. He blew a 6-1 lead Aug. 8 at Philadelphia, but the Braves rallied to win. He held San Francisco to five hits and one run in seven innings in his last start Sunday.

WALK-OFFS

1. Atlanta SS Andrelton Simmons, on the disabled list since early July with a broken right pinkie finger, has been cleared to begin a minor-league rehab assignment.

2. Philadelphia C Erik Kratz went 3-for-5 Friday, including a game-tying ninth-inning homer off Atlanta closer Craig Kimbrel.

3. Atlanta acquired utility infielder Jeff Baker from Detroit on Friday for a player to be named later. The Braves also released SS Jack Wilson.