Bodog Beat

The Red Sox are next in line to beat up on the Nationals. (AP Images)

The Washington Nationals have taken two of three from a pair of the Boston Red Sox's AL East rivals, and now they'll get a crack at the division leaders tonight as the Red Sox open their first three-game series in the nation's capital since 1971.

Boston (-140 favorites) has won 13 of 18 games in June, a hot stretch that has expanded its division lead from a half-game over the New York Yankees to four full games.

The Nationals had their season-high four-game run snapped on Sunday with a 9-4 loss to the Blue Jays, but still feel positive with the Red Sox coming to town.

John Lannan, the only non-rookie in Washington's rotation, will get the start for the Nats.

Brad Penny is 12-5 with a 2.54 ERA in 20 starts against the Nationals' franchise, whom he hasn't faced since 2007.

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