Tim Hudson

1. Roy Halladay, Phillies       2. Tim Hudson, Braves 3. Tim Lincecum, Giants       4. Joey Votto, Reds

  Friday at 7:35 p.m. RHP Kyle Kendrick (10-10, 4.76 ERA) vs. Atlanta RHP Brandon Beachy (0-1, 2.89).   Saturday at 4:10 p.m. Phillies TBA vs. Atlanta RHP Tommy Hanson (10-11, 3.41).   Sunday at 1:35 p.m. Phillies TBA vs. Atlanta RHP Tim Hudson (16-9, 2.76).

Tim Hudson agreed to a $28 million, 3-year contract with the Atlanta Braves yesterday, giving the team a wealth of starting pitching and setting up a likely trade to bolster the offense. The 34-year-old Hudson could have returned to the Braves under a $12 million option, but the sides focused on a longer deal after the righthander showed he had overcome major elbow surgery. His new deal calls for salaries of $9 million in each of the next three seasons, and the Braves get a $9 million club option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout.

Tim Hudson agreed to a $28 million, three-year contract with Atlanta yesterday. Hudson could have returned to the Braves under a $12 million option, but the sides focused on a longer deal after the righthander showed he had overcome major elbow surgery. His new deal calls for salaries of $9 million in each of the next three seasons. The Braves get a $9 million club option for 2013 with a $1 million buyout. Nationals. Jim Riggleman shedded the interim title and was introduced as Washington's manager.

The Atlanta Braves took another major step toward solidifying their pitching staff for next season, agreeing yesterday to a $7 million, 1-year contract with closer Billy Wagner. "The bullpen is one of the areas we needed to upgrade to get where we want to go," Braves general manager Frank Wren said during a news conference at Turner Field. "Billy was at the top of our list. The first day of free agency, we gave him a call. " The six-time All-Star gets $6.75 million in 2010, and his deal includes a $6.5 million club option for 2011 with a $250,000 buyout.

CHRIS CAPUANO struck out nine while combining with two relievers on a four-hitter, James Loney drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single and the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the visiting Washington Nationals with a 2-0 victory on Sunday. Capuano (3-0) allowed three hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings, helping send the Nationals to their fourth straight loss after they entered the series with an NL-best 14-5 record. At 16-6, the Dodgers matched their best start since 1981 and moved 10 games over .500 for the first time since July 11, 2010.

Some quick-hitting rankings around the National League East, which promises to be much more competitive than it has been in recent years: THE LINEUP 1. Braves 2. Marlins 3. Phillies 4. Nationals 5. Mets Atlanta's Dan Uggla somehow had a 33-game hitting streak in a season in which he hit .233. He also set a career high with 36 home runs and says he should be more comfortable in his second season with the Bravos . . . The addition of Jose Reyes gives the Marlins exceptional speed at the top of the lineup.

At Turner Field.   Monday at 7:10 p.m. LHP Cliff Lee (16-8, 2.38 ERA) vs. Atlanta RHP Randall Delgado (1-1, 2.70)   Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. RHP Roy Oswalt (8-10, 3.86) vs. Atlanta RHP Derek Lowe (9-16, 4.92)   Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. TBA vs. Atlanta RHP Tim Hudson (16-10, 3.23)

It was late October weather, wet and raw, so it could have been viewed as typical for postseason baseball. There was another aspect to Tuesday's Phillies-Braves game that channeled late October: They were going to get this game in if the players had to perform in kayaks. If not, the Phillies would have been burdened with three split doubleheaders and 25 games in the final 22 days of the regular season. "Doubleheaders at this time of the year - we got two already," manager Charlie Manuel said.

Tim Hudson was very impressed with his speedy new teammate, George Costanza. Er, make that Jose Constanza. Kid about "Seinfeld" now. The way this rookie is playing soon no one is going to get his name wrong. Constanza had an RBI triple and made two outstanding catches in the outfield to back Hudson, Dan Uggla extended his career-best hitting streak to 26 games with a two-run single in the eighth inning and the Atlanta Braves beat the host New York Mets, 4-1, last night. "Costanza, Georgie, came in, he's doing well . . . that's his name right?"

ATLANTA - Freddie Freeman hit a three-run homer, his fourth of the series, and the Atlanta Braves beat Colorado, 6-3, Thursday to complete their first four-game sweep of the Rockies in 18 years. Jason Heyward also homered for the streaking Braves, who have won nine of 10 and 14 of 17 as they head into a series with the NL East-leading Phillies trailing by just 21/2 games. Freeman, the rookie first baseman, hit four homers and drove in seven runs in the series. His third-inning homer was the highlight of a five-run inning that knocked Juan Nicasio (3-2)

Two weeks ago in this space, the Phillies - as if they hadn't been paying attention - were informed that a great opportunity lay before them heading into the all-star break. If they could bear down and win 12 of the 18 games remaining until the break, that would launch them into the rest of the schedule with a 57-34 record and require them to do nothing more than play .500 ball the rest of the way to reach a baseline of 93 wins. That kind of push would also, no doubt, put some distance between the Phils and their rivals and essentially secure the division title without drama.

Two weeks ago in this space, the Phillies - as if they hadn't been paying attention - were informed that a great opportunity lay before them heading into the all-star break. If they could bear down and win 12 of the 18 games remaining until the break, that would launch them into the rest of the schedule with a 57-34 record and require them to do nothing more than play .500 ball the rest of the way to reach a baseline of 93 wins. That kind of push would also, no doubt, put some distance between the Phils and their rivals and essentially secure the division title without drama.

ATLANTA - Tim Hudson pitched eight scoreless innings and hit his second career home run in the Atlanta Braves' 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night. Hudson (6-6) allowed two hits, one walk and struck out a season-high eight, including the 1,600th of his career. He took Ricky Romero (6-7) deep to make it 2-0 with two outs in the sixth. Toronto has lost two straight and five of seven. Hudson retired 20 straight batters before Mike McCoy walked to lead off the ninth and advanced to second on Yunel Escobar's infield single.