Brad Penny Tries To Stop Early Red Sox Slump

It's unlikely Brad Penny viewed himself as any kind of a stopper as he prepared for his first start as a member of the Boston Red Sox. But with the early mini-slump the Red Sox find themselves in, he has acquired that very role.

Through four games, the Red Sox sport an unattractive 5.14 team ERA. Jon Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka struggled in their first outings of the season, allowing nine runs in 10.1 innings combined.

Tim Wakefield gave the Red Sox a quality start Friday night against the Angels, allowing three runs in six innings and working out of some major jams. But he took the loss (0-1), as the Red Sox could only muster four hits and an unearned run against Jered Weaver.

Penny is 1-3 with a 4.99 ERA in five career starts against Anaheim. He opposes lefty Joe Saunders (1-0), who started on Opening Day for the Angels and allowed three hits and two walks in seven shutout innings.

Saunders is 8-0 with a 1.84 lifetime ERA in April, and was 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA against the Red Sox in 2008.

Without Kevin Youkilis' 10-for-16 start to the season, the Red Sox' .235 team batting average would look even uglier. It will not be easy to break the slump against Saunders, but a solid start from Penny would give them a good chance.

He will be on a pitch count of 85-90, according to Ian Browne, so he will need to be efficient to get through more than five innings. He is still building his arm up to full strength, so it's likely he'll be on a definite pitch count for at least his first few outings.

If Penny struggles, the mini-panic already brewing in Red Sox Nation could grow even larger. Red Sox fans can only hope that he's solid so the pessimism doesn't build to unnecessary levels.