Wire Taps: Chien-Ming Wang Looks To Continue Washington Nationals' Winning Ways.

• Programming Notes: The drive for five starts at 1:05 pm EDT in D.C. with Chien-Ming Wang in his second start of the season taking on the Braves' Brandon Beachy. Washington and Atlanta finish up their three-game series this afternoon in Nationals Park. Can Rick Ankiel hit another one? Will Michael Morse continue to crush it? Is Jayson Werth's surge for real? Can Ian Desmond keep improving at the plate? One more at home with the Nats looking to win five-straight before heading out on the road to take on the Rockies...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 BEATS: 

• "This much we know or has been reported by various people closer to the halls of power in Washington: Strasburg has served his time in Viera, he's done, outta here. One year, 11 months and 29 days after he first sweated in Nationals colors..." - "Nationals' big secret out, like Strasburg" - Mark DeCotis, floridatoday.com

• "This past Saturday, the Nationals had a chance to acquire then-Astros center fielder Michael Bourn, but Houston wanted left-hander Ross Detwiler to be part of any deal..." - "Chance to acquire Bourn didn't work out for Nats" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com

 • "[Davey] Johnson said [Pudge] Rodriguez was ready to test out his body again. Once they all consult with Nationals trainer Lee Kuntz, they could decide to keep Rodriguez in Miami at home rehabbing and receiving physical therapy." - "Stephen Strasburg throws another simulated game, no rehab start announced yet; Ivan Rodriguez improving" - James Wagner, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "'This was my kind of game,' Johnson said with a toothy grin. 'I haven't had any yet. I've been here five weeks, and I've been waiting for one like this.'" - "Nationals' offense springs to life in 9-3 win over Braves" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "'I was excited and a little too happy to get back on the mound,' Wang said. 'I was a little bit out of control, so the balls weren't down in the zone.'" - "Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals: Wang can shake rust for good as Nats eye sweep" - Cash Kruth, | MLB.com Preview

• "Once he begins the rehab assignment, Strasburg will have 30 days before he must either be activated off the disabled list or shut down with a new injury." - "Strasburg ready to leave Viera" - Mark Zuckerman, NatsInsider.com

• "There was a time, nearly 10 years ago, that [Freddie] Freeman and [Danny] Espinosa weren’t major league infielders but teammates on a high school travel team in Southern California." - "Danny Espinosa, Freddie Freeman: a friendly battle for top rookie" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "While nothing has been made official, Strasburg more than likely will pitch in his first rehab game in the next 'six to nine days,' according to manager Davey Johnson." - "Simulated game preps Strasburg for rehab stint" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "Johnson said the coaching staff talked with Wang, pointing out some mechanical problems they noticed after Friday’s start..." - "Davey Johnson sees a stronger Chien-Ming Wang, but not expecting a long second start" - James Wagner, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "'This is my kind of game,' Johnson said. 'I've been here five weeks and I've been waiting for one like this.'" - "Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals: Ankiel's slam does the trick for Nats in win" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap

• "Through several conversations with pitching coach Steve McCatty, [John] Lannan has come to a better understanding this season of what he is and what he's not..." - "Changeup has John Lannan faring better against lefties" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "John Lannan's rebound tonight went a little unnoticed since the Nationals bats were so loud..." - "Notes and quotes from the Nationals 9-3 'Bombs away' victory" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Entering Tuesday's action, Balester had a 4.61 ERA in eight appearances with Washington in 2011. Balester is expected to be the long man out of the bullpen." - "Balester pleased to be back up in bigs" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "There were no shortage of positive developments for the Nationals during their fourth straight victory, their most-lopsided win since Davey Johnson took over as manager." - "Nats homer past Braves for 4th straight win" - Mark Zuckerman, CSNWashington.com

• "Physical, aggressive baseball is being played this week at Nationals Park. After limping through the start of the homestand, the Nats have got something going again." - "Nationals' "Beast Mode" in full effect" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• "When starter John Lannan chopped a ground ball to first baseman Freddie Freeman with the bases loaded and only one out, Gomes tore down the third baseline towards home plate..." - "Jonny Gomes' first run, signature play for new team" - James Wagner, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "Gomes’ slide did exactly what it was supposed to do: prevent an easy, inning-ending double play. Three pitches later, Rick Ankiel launched a grand slam to straightaway center field..." - "Gomes' slide, then Ankiel's grand slam key Nationals' 9-3 rout of Braves" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "Manager Davey Johnson has been thinking about giving Espinosa a day off, but he is not in favor of taking a break." - "Nats' Espinosa impressing his skipper" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• NATS MINOR LEAGUES: 

• Class-A Auburn: "Auburn used four home runs, two by Jeremy Mayo, to power themselves to a 13-3 crushing of the Connecticut Tigers at Falcon Park on Tuesday night." - "Long Ball Powers Auburn to 13-3 Rout" - Auburn Doubledays News

• Class-A Hagerstown: Sean Nicol - 3 for 4, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI's; A.J. Cole- 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 2 K's - Hagerstown Suns Scoreboard

• "Catcher Adrian Nieto has been moved from advanced Single-A Potomac to Single-A Hagerstown." - "Catcher Nieto determined to make impression in second chance at Hagerstown" - Byron Kerr, MASNSports.com

• Class-A Potomac: Sammy Solis - 7.0 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K's, 2 HR's - Potomac Nationals Scoreboard

• Double-A Harrisburg: "Tim Pahuta drove in Bryce Harper in the second inning to give the Sens a 1-0 lead. After Tuff Gosewisch homered to tie the game in the second, Oliver Perez settled down and pitched effectively for five innings." - "Six-run inning does in the Senators at Reading" - Harrisburg Senators News

• Triple-A Syracuse: "Syracuse set a season high for runs in an inning with seven in the first, with Matt Antonelli and Carlos Maldonado homering in the frame." - "Chiefs homer 6 times, clobber Mud Hens 17-2" - Syracuse Chiefs News

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

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "Whatever steps, however small, one can take towards learning to reduce the influence of the negative emotions can be very helpful." - 

• NATSTOWN: 

• "Don’t look now, but some of the guys on this team are actually hitting. Throughout the season, Mike Morse has been a great hitter, but nobody else has done it consistently." - "Finally, Some Hitters Are Hitting" - The Nationals Review

• "The Nats manager has always preferred to play the Earl Weaver style of baseball, getting runners on and driving them home, as opposed to the Whitey Herzog philosophy of bunting runners over and playing 'small ball'". - "GAME 109 REVIEW: Nats Break Out the Bats Against Braves, Win 9-3" - Dave Nichols, NatsNewsNetwork

• "Ankiel, Desmond, Morse go deep. John Lannan settles down for 8th win." - "Davey's Kind of Game" - Nats Enquirer

• "Wayne Tyson, the father of our Aerys Rays writer Sarah Tyson, was a high school and junior baseball coach for 26 years in Florida.  He was at the simulation today..." - "Strasburg Throws Final Sim; Ready for Rehab" - Keara Dowd, Win for Teddy

• "More important, in this writer's opinion, is what Rizzo did not do. He did not trade closer Drew Storen for Twins CF Denard Span." - "Focus on the Rest of 2011" - Michael J. Perkins, Washington Nationals Daily News

• NL EAST UPDATES: 

• Mets: "Gary Carter’s daughter had good news to report on Tuesday." - Gary Carter's Tumors Are '80 Percent Better,' Says Kimmy Bloemers, Daughter Of Ex-1986 New York Mets Star" - CBS New York

• Marlins: "Older people telling me, ‘Keep it up,’ ‘You make me proud,’ ‘I’m going back to work myself now,’ stuff like that," [Jack] McKeon said. "It makes me feel great." - Florida Marlins should bring Jack McKeon back - Greg Cote - MiamiHerald.com

• Phillies: "If you are a Philadelphia sports fan, you believe you are long-suffering, that the sports gods have been particularly unkind to you." - "Philly a city of winners and optimists" Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Daily News