(Sports Network) - Right-hander Tim Hudson takes the mound for the suddenly streaking Atlanta Braves when they head to New York to begin a three-game series with the homestanding Mets at Citi Field.
The Braves have won nine of their last 11 games to both pull back into fringe contention in the National League's East Division - where they trail Philadelphia by six games - and strengthen their hold on the wild card lead, which they've pushed to 9 1/2 games over San Francisco.
Hudson, a veteran of 370 major-league outings, has won four straight decisions and seven of eight in his last 10 starts since opening the season at 6-6.
He spun seven shutout innings of three-hit ball in his last appearance on Aug. 21 against Arizona, striking out seven in a 1-0 victory.
The Braves are 8-2 in his last 10 outings since July 2, a stretch in which Hudson has allowed three runs or less nine times and pitched six or more innings in all 10 games.
He beat the Mets, 4-1, in New York on Aug. 5 to improve to 14-8 against them in 23 career meetings.
Atlanta finished a four-game series with the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Thursday when Brian McCann hit a pair of homers and drove in four runs in an 8-3 win.
Michael Bourn and Martin Prado both scored twice for the Braves, who won three of four games in the set.
Brandon Beachy (7-2) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on six hits over six innings to improve to 4-0 over his last seven starts. He struck out eight for Atlanta.
On Wednesday in Philadelphia, Nick Evans hit a three-run homer and drove in four, as the Mets avoided a three-game sweep at the hands of the Phillies with a 7-4 win.
David Wright went 3-for-4 with a solo home run and two RBI while Lucas Duda drove in a run and scored once for the Mets, who snapped a five-game losing streak.
Mike Pelfrey (7-10) got the win after giving up just three runs on nine hits, with two walks and two strikeouts, over six innings.
Tonight, the Mets will rely on lefty Chris Capuano, who's not won since July 28 in Cincinnati - going 0-1 with three no-decisions in four subsequent starts.
The 33-year-old recorded his ninth win of the season against the Reds, his highest total since he went 11-12 with Milwaukee in 2005 and established a career-high with 18 wins in 2005.
The Massachusetts native has pitched six innings or more in seven of 10 outings and allowed three runs or less three times.
He's 2-3 in his career against the Braves with a 3.35 earned run average in 40 1/3 innings.
The Mets have split their 12 meetings with the Braves this season.