The Boston Red Sox appeared to have plans for Penny to be traded or released, but they opted to put a struggling Matsuzaka on the DL, so Penny survives to start again. Penny has pitched to a 4.94 ERA on the season. Washington is in a good spot. They face Boston with their worst pitcher in the rotation, numbers-wise, and they feature their best in John Lannon. They have also been playing their best baseball of the season, winning two straight series against good teams from the East in Toronto and New York. It will also be the Red Sox first trip to Washington since the old days of the Washington Senators, dating back to 1971. The Sox have fared poorly behind Penny on the road at just 1-4 and with Lannon on the hill for the Nats this is their best shot. The Nats have been playing much better of late, and despite just a 12-23 mark at home, they are actually 10-7 in their last 17 to a would be runline of +1.5. They are playing well and have been a 58.8% winner against a +1.5 at home in their last 17, and 4-1 last five. I like them against the runline here.
