PLAYING TIME: NL playoff rotations start to take shape

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Likely playoff teams begin to alter rotations

With three of the National League's playoff spots sewn up and a fourth likely headed the Braves' way, teams have begun manipulating their pitching rotations to set them up for the postseason.

For the Braves, that means extra rest or perhaps even a skipped final start for Tim Hudson (RHP, ATL). If Hudson's September 23 outing was his last one of the regular season, it was a good one: a PQS-4 in which he gave up one unearned run over 7.1 IP. The rest might not be a bad idea for Hudson, whose skills have slipped noticeably in the second half; his Dom dipped from 6.3 to 4.2, and his xERA rose from 3.56 to 4.42. His age and second-half fade suggest a bit of restraint might...

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