There’s no urgency with the Braves, far ahead in the wild card and far behind the Phillies in the division, and they’re playing like it, losing seven of ten games. This is their eighth straight road game and Tim Hudson is in a slump, 1-2 with a 4.46 ERA his last three starts and walking nine in 18 innings. The Braves are 0-6 in their last six road games against a team with a winning record and 3-8 in Hudson’s last 11 road starts vs. a team with a winning record. He faces a deadly St. Louis offense, one ranked sixth in runs, third in on base percentage and fifth in slugging. The Cardinals have made a run, pulling to within six games of Milwaukee winning four in a row and nine of 12. The Cardinals are 7-0 in their last seven against the National League East and 4-0 in their last four vs. a team with a winning record. "I like our demeanor," said right fielder Lance Berkman. "Guys are playing loose.” Veteran Jake Westbrook, going today, has been in pennant races and thrown in World Series. The Cardinals are 5-1 in Westbrook’s last six starts with five days of rest and 4-1 in his last five starts as an underdog. The Braves are 1-4 in Hudson’s last five starts vs. Cardinals and St. Louis is 5-1 in the last six meetings overall head to head. Play the Cardinals.
