ByChris Girandola/Special to MLB.com|05/20/12 3:00 PM ET

ST. PETERSBURG -- David Ross was behind the plate on Sunday as the battery mate for Tim Hudson for good reason.

For one, it allowed Brian McCann a chance to rest after the 28-year-old catcher played six consecutive days and 11 of the past 12 games.

It also gave Hudson another chance to connect with Ross. The two combined to go 8-5 as a duo last season.

"They have a pretty good history, a really good history," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Ross started Hudson's May 9 start in which the 36-year-old right-hander made his season debut and tossed just 73 pitches over seven innings in a 1-0 loss to the Cubs.

McCann caught Hudson in his last start on May 15, when Hudson allowed two runs over seven innings in the Braves' 6-2 win over the Reds.

With Jack Wilson making the start at shortstop, Gonzalez somewhat joked that Hudson also had a personal shortstop.

"I like it like this because you play [Tyler Pastornicky] and you develop him," Gonzalez said. "You play Jack, you give Tyler a breather, keep Jack fresh. And you know you're going to get a lot of ground balls with Huddy. It's a good mix."

ST. PETERSBURG -- Chipper Jones was out of the lineup once again on Sunday because of a bruise on his left calf. Manager Fredi Gonzalez did not sound too optimistic about Jones' chances for playing on Monday when the Braves begin a four-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati.

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Hudson has good chemistry with Ross, Wilson