ATLANTA — Tim Hudson relishes the chance to pitch in such an important game.

His team would’ve preferred it didn’t come down to this.

For the Atlanta Braves, a once-commanding lead in the NL wild-card race has been frittered away. They’re on the brink of a historic September collapse, heading to the final day of the regular season tied with the St. Louis Cardinals for the final playoff spot.

“It’s like living out a bad dream,” Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said.

Atlanta took sole possession of the NL wild-card lead on June 20, according to STATS LLC, and held it until Tuesday’s 7-1 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Just three weeks ago, the margin was a comfortable 8Z\x games.

While the Braves slumped, St. Louis got hot and won 21 of 29, the latest a 13-6 triumph at Houston after spotting the last-place Astros an early five-run lead.

Now, the Cardinals are trying to become the first team to wipe out a lead of at least eight games in September, though they’ve got some competition. The Boston Red Sox have fallen apart just like the Braves, allowing Tampa Bay to pull even in the AL wild-card race going to the 162nd game.

“It’s kind of fed us here the last few days, 120 years of baseball and this is one of those historic runs to tie,” St. Louis manager Tony La Russa said. “But there’s a different story between tying and finishing it off.”

At least the Braves still had their ace in reserve. Hudson (16-10) was set to face Philadelphia’s Joe Blanton (1-2) with the season on the line.

“There’s no other place I’d rather be than on the mound when the game means something,” Hudson said.

Atlanta has lost four in a row — scoring just four runs in that span — and eight of 11 to put itself in this predicament.

Hudson tried to stay upbeat.

“It’s no secret what’s going on,” he said. “We’ve had some tough games. But once this is all over and, hopefully, we win and we’re going to the next level, I think there will be a lot of weight off our shoulders. Hopefully we can get in there and it will be a different tune come playoff time.”

If the teams are still tied after Wednesday, there will be a one-game playoff the following day in St. Louis. The Cardinals earned the home field with a 5-1 lead over the Braves in the season series.