Tim Hudson while pitching for the Braves.
photo by Tim Evearitt
SAN FRANCISCO -- Former Atlanta Braves' pitcher Tim Hudson had planned to take a fishing trip during the All-Star break. The trip is going to have to wait -- he has a baseball game Tuesday night.
All-Star Madison Bumgarner starting Sunday gave him the option to be ineligible for Tuesday's Midsummer Classic, and National League manager Mike Matheny didn't have to look far -- one locker stall to the left, to be exact -- to find a replacement, naming Hudson to the squad.
The 38-year-old is 7-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 18 starts. He's thrown seven or more innings in 11 of those outings and has allowed two earned runs or fewer 13 times. This marks the fourth All-Star selection for Hudson, and his first since 2010 (2000 and 2004 were the others). Not bad for a veteran whose 2013 campaign ended in agony with a broken ankle while covering first base.
Manager Bruce Bochy anticipated getting a pitcher that'd consistently give the Giants a chance to win, so he hasn't been too surprised by Hudson's success. Hudson's still been better than they had expected, though. Same goes for the ankle, which Bochy said is no longer a concern after some early-season soreness.
--- Source: MLB.com