Wire Taps: Washington Nationals Finish Season Series With New York Mets At 1:10 PM EDT Today.

• Programming Notes: 1:05 PM EDT TODAY. With wins in four straight and five of their last six, the Washington Nationals are making a late-season run of sorts, aiming for third place in the NL East and inching back towards .500. The Nats have an opportunity to sweep the Mets in the last game of 2011 with their divisional rivals. Last night's win gave Washington a 9-8 edge over New York this year, a win this afternoon will give them a W in the season series. Mets' right-hander Chris Schwinden makes his second major league start this afternoon. Nats' lefty Tommy Milone makes his third MLB start, and the second against the New York Mets he faced in his debut back on September 3rd. Can the Nats sweep the Mets? Can Tommy Milone get his first MLB W a night after Brad Peacock's first win? 1:05 PM EDT TODAY. MASN HD, MLB.tv, SNY in NY, 1580 WHFS, 1500 WFED, Sirius/XM ch. 183, en espanol Sirius/XM ch. 175. Who's Watching The Nationals?

• LINKS AND LINKS AND...

• NATS BEAT: 

• "'I thought he looked fantastic, not only his composure, but how he threw the ball,' [Peacock's coach at Palm Beach Central Scott] Benedict said." - "Former Palm Beach Central star Brad Peacock earns first major-league win" - The Palm Beach Post

• "At each stop along the way, Jerry Peacock has pulled up his lawnmower trailer, hitched onto the back of his van, and watched his son." - "Brad Peacock's dad there for every stop along the way" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "With the help of manager Davey Johnson, shortstop Ian Desmond has found his stroke at the plate." - "Desmond finds that Johnson's lessons pay off" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "In closing the Nationals’ last three wins over the past three nights, Drew Storen has made things progressively harder on himself." - "Drew Storen survives a ‘dramatic’ ninth inning vs. Mets" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "The Nationals can take over third place in the NL East and sweep the Mets with a win tomorrow. But the story tonight was Peacock." - "Nationals win 70th game behind Peacock's strong debut" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "The China National baseball team will train from Sept. 18 to Oct. 15. The team will stay on-site to train and play 11 exhibition games against Major League teams." - (ed. note - "Including the Nats on Sept. 29.") - "Baseball: Chinese, Italian national teams returning to Vero" - TCPalm.com

• "'To tell you the truth, I thought I was going to be nervous, but just like my last outing, once I made that first pitch, I was fine,' Peacock said." - "Washington Nationals at New York Mets: Feather in his cap: Peacock wins first start" - Bill Ladson, MLB.com WSH Recap

• "Tommy Milone will face the Mets for the second time in three career starts. He allowed four earned runs over 4 1/3 innings the last time he faced them..." - "Washington Nationals at New York Mets: Mets try to snap funk in finale with Nationals" - Nate Mink, MLB.com

• "Five years later, Peacock proved that not only can he throw even better than he did back then, but along the way he’s also learned how to pitch." - "Brad Peacock earns 1st major league win as Nats edge Mets 2-0" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• Michael Morse On The MLB Network's Intentional Talk

• "Since Burnett switched sides of the rubber, he has appeared in 22 games and allowed three earned runs in 192 / 3 innings, good for a 1.37 ERA." - "Sean Burnett moved across the rubber and changed his season" - Adam Kilgore, Nationals Journal - The Washington Post

• "'[The bullpen session] was great. Better than the first one,' Mattheus said. 'The ball is coming out real good. I had no issue with the arm, which is the biggest thing...'" - "Mattheus throws 'pen session without problems" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "Brad Peacock's first major league start could net him a win, and even if it doesn't, it's probably given the Nationals plenty of confidence he's for real." - "Brad Peacock throws five shutout innings in debut" - Ben Goessling, MASNSports.com

• "It's official. The Mets are not going to the playoffs." - "Washington Nationals at New York Mets: Mets try to snap funk in finale with Nationals" - Nate Mink, MLB.com Preview

• "Outfielder Corey Brown underwent surgery on Wednesday because of a staph infection in his right knee, and he is out for the season." - "Brown's season officially over" - Bill Ladson, nationals.com: News

• "Along with Ross Detwiler, Tom Milone and a host of other candidates, Peacock will come to spring training next season with a shot at ending it as a member of the team's Opening Day rotation..." - "Peacock's future and Ankiel's catch" - Amanda Comak, Washington Times

• "When Brad Peacock began this season at Class AA, he assumed he would not pitch in the majors this year, an attitude conditioned by his unconventional career path." - "Nationals vs. Mets: Brad Peacock earns win in his first major league start" - Adam Kilgore, The Washington Post

• Your Daily Message From The Dalai Lama On Twitter (@DalaiLama): "If you serve others as fully as you can, what you do will be a source of inner joy." - 

• NATSTOWN: 

• "Major League Baseball released its 2012 schedule Wednesday morning to the delight and disdain of several fans across the country." - "MLB releases 2012 schedule, but was timing right?" - MASNSports.com, Nationals Buzz: Ted Youngling

• "Congrats to Brad Peacock on first Major League win in first career start. Third place, here we come!" - "Brad Peacock earns first Major League win, shaving cream pie" - Nats Enquirer

• "According to eyewitness accounts and this post by The Washington Post's Dan Steinberg, the Washington Nationals have installed poles along the fences down each base line at Nats Park..." - "Nationals Install 'Safety Netting' at Nats Park" - Dave Nichols, Nationals News Network

• "Instructional League Roster – Final Thoughts" - NationalsProspects.com

• NL EAST UPDATES: 

• Phillies: "The Phillies are the first team in baseball to punch a ticket to October, but that is far from the stated goal." - "Phillies, behind Halladay, clinch a playoff spot" - Matt Gelb, Philadelphia Inquirer

• Marlins: "So, Charlie Manuel's protest regarding West and Pence should have no chance — based on the Pulli precedent." - "Marlins TV cameraman recalls giving umpire help on video replay" - David Brown, Big League Stew 

• Mets: "Again, it’s like torture whenever a Metropolitan squares to bunt. Why are they bunting, they don’t know how to bunt!" - "Steve Somers' Monologue: Why Are The New York Mets Bunting, They Don't Know How!" - CBS New York

• Braves: "That outburst was highlighted by Brian McCann's(notes) monster three-run homer in the sixth, which has been labeled by some as one of Atlanta's biggest hits of the season." - "Do closed-door meetings work? One did for the Braves on Tuesday" - Mark Townsend, Big League Stew - MLB Blog - Yahoo! Sports