Wire Taps: Washington Nationals In Atlanta, Livan Hernandez Takes On Braves' Jair Jurrjens.

• Programming Notes: The Washington Nationals send Livan Hernandez to the mound tonight in Turner Field to take on the Atlanta Braves and right-hander Jair Jurrjens. The Nats have knocked Jurrjens around in two starts this season, collecting 15 hits and 11 runs in 10.0 innings against the 25-year-old Curacao-born starter. Last time out against Atlanta, Livan Hernandez held the Braves to a run on six hits in 6.0 IP of a 5-3 Nats' win. Washington is trying to snap a six-game losing streak tonight, Atlanta hasn't played since Friday when they lost to New York. MASN HD, MLB.tv, 106.7 the FAN in D.C., 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 184. Who's Watching The Nationals?

• LINKS AND LINKS AND...

• NATS BEAT: 

• "Asked about the possibility of sitting to give experience to others, Espinosa was emphatic about the work he and Desmond had put in." - "Nationals' infield combo may be tweaked" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Zimmermann’s excellent comeback season made him — and this is just in my estimation — a candidate for a contract extension." - "What’s next for Jordan Zimmermann?" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Tom Milone and Brad Peacock, the Nationals' top two pitching prospects at Triple-A Syracuse, were each pulled after pitching five shutout inning in separate legs of the Chiefs' doubleheader..." - "Milone, Peacock could be in line to pitch for Nationals on Saturday" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said on draft night that they felt the 6-foot 195 lb., Goodwin had a 'huge upside'." - "Boras: Goodwin could be a Michael Bourn-type center fielder" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "I agree that the Nationals need another power hitter in the middle of the order, but I was told last week that Fielder is not a priority during the offseason." - "Nationals Inbox: Pondering the possible return of Chien-Ming Wang" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "If he remains on a five-day schedule, Strasburg will be scheduled to pitch in Washington on Sept. 6, against the Los Angeles Dodgers." - "Strasburg will start Thursday for Double-A Harrisburg" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Every once in a while, sprinkled amid the e-mails complaining about overpriced D.C. sports tickets and bad game-day experiences and losing teams, I get a note about something nice." - "Nats vendor performs Heimlich on choking child" - Dan Steinberg, DC Sports Bog - The Washington Post

• "The Nationals have given no public indication of when Strasburg will make his debut..." - "Stephen Strasburg set to make his next, and likely last, minor league rehab start in Harrisburg" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Stephen Strasburg's tour of the Nationals' minor league affiliates will likely make its last stop Thursday night." - "Stephen Strasburg will start for Double-A Harrisburg on Thursday" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "'Desmond and I have busted (it) all year and I think we need the opportunity to finish our years.'" - "A few thoughts on Espinosa, Desmond and their freshman and sophomore seasons" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Zimmerman’s representative has remained in constant dialogue with the Nationals for the past year, but because of Zimmerman’s injury, nothing substantive has happened." - "Ryan Zimmerman returns to form, looking for a deal" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "The more contact we have with one another and the more we come to understand each other’s values, the greater will be our mutual respect." - 

• NATS MINOR LEAGUES: 

• Class-A Auburn: "With the loss, the Doubledays lead for first place in the Pinckney Division of the New York-Penn League shrunk to two games..." - "Bottom of the Ninth Dooms Auburn" - Auburn Doubledays News

• Class-A Hagerstown: "[A.J.] Cole struck out nine batters in the first three innings pitched, including a string of eight consecutive Ks." - "Corey Dickerson's Pinch Hit Game Winning 2-Run Blast is Dagger for Hagerstown" - Hagerstown Suns News

• Class-A Potomac: "The Potomac Nationals are excited to announce that tickets for the 2011 Carolina League Playoffs are on sale now!" - "PLAYOFF TICKETS ON SALE NOW!" - Potomac Nationals News

• Double-A Harrisburg: Derek Norris - 1 for 4, HR, RBI, BB, K; Daniel Rosenbaum - 7.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K's - Harrisburg Senators Scoreboard

• Triple-A Syracuse: Roger Bernadina - 1 for 4, HR, RBI; Tom MIlone - 5.0 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K's - Syracuse Chiefs Scoreboard

• Triple-A Syracuse: Corey Brown -2 for 3, 2 2B; Brad Peacock - 5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K's - Syracuse Chiefs Scoreboard

• "Tuesday’s News & Notes" - NationalsProspects.com

• "Sammy Solis: Solis was phenomenal on Sunday, giving up one unearned run on four hits in five innings while striking out eight. His groundball to flyout rate is still great (1.57)." - "Nats Farm Report for Week Ending August 28" - Tyler Radecki, Nats News Network

• NL EAST UPDATES: 

• Braves: "More reinforcements are on the way when rosters expand Thursday. Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said [Randall] Delgado and [Julio] Teheran will be among the call-ups." - "Braves' major developments in minors" - Carroll Rogers, ajc.com

• Mets: "A handful of days and a pair of running tests will decide whether Mets first baseman Ike Davis requires surgery to repair the bone bruise in his left ankle..." - "Mets' Ike Davis testing ankle before decision on surgery" - Andy McCullough, NJ.com

• Mets/Marlins: "R.A. Dickey and Dillon Gee made for a perfect storm against the Florida Marlins." - "Gee pitches Mets past Marlins 5-1 for DH sweep"- AP/SI.com

• Phillies: "[Davey] Lopes likes the addition of Hunter Pence. (Who doesn’t?) The Philllies are 11-1 since Pence joined the team." - "From afar, Lopes sizes up better-than-ever Phils" - Jim Salisbury, CSNPhilly.com