Colorado @ Atlanta preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2012 ) Colorado 0, Atlanta 1

Hopes of winning the NL East have just about disappeared for Atlanta, but there still is a wild-card berth to play for as the Braves and Colorado close out a four-game set at Turner Field. Atlanta holds a three-game lead on St. Louis for the top spot in the NL wild-card race. Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez brought in closer Craig Kimbrel for a four-out save in Wednesday’s 1-0 victory. Colorado plays for a split in the four-game series with Jhoulys Chacin on the mound. The right-hander has won two of his three starts since returning from the disabled list.

Tim Hudson starts the series finale for Atlanta, looking to rebound from his first loss since July 1. The Braves are 17-6 in games Hudson has started this season and need a victory to finish their seven-game homestand above .500. The Rockies are 1-2 during a difficult stretch in which they play 14-of-17 away from Coors Field. Colorado finished with just two hits Wednesday, after scoring six or more runs in six of its previous eight games.

TV: 12:10 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Atlanta)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jhoulys Chacin (2-4, 4.85 ERA) vs. Braves RH Tim Hudson (13-5, 3.76)

Chacin’s return from the disabled list in late August gave the Rockies a fifth starter, but Chacin has pitched like an ace to this point. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in his first three starts since returning. He pitched seven innings in his last start, allowing one run on five hits in a victory over San Diego.

Hudson had pitched so well for so long, he was due for a rough outing. It happened Saturday against Philadelphia, when the right-hander gave up five runs on nine hits in five innings. Hudson is 9-2 in his past 14 starts and has not lost two decisions in a row all season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Three days after benching 2B Dan Uggla, Gonzalez started him Wednesday. Uggla went 0-for-3 and is hitting just .206.

2. Atlanta hopes SS Andrelton Simmons, sidelined since early July with a broken right pinkie, can join the team this weekend.

3. Colorado 1B Jordan Pacheco, who made his major-league debut exactly one year ago, is hitting .313 for the Rockies. He broke up Mike Minor’s no-hitter in the seventh inning Wednesday to extend his hitting streak to 14 games.