BOSTON (AP) -Jon Lester is slated to return to the mound for the Boston Red Sox on Monday, nearly a year after his rookie season was cut short when he was diagnosed with cancer.
Lester was scheduled to replace Julian Tavarez for Monday’s game at Cleveland, the 23-year-old left-hander’s first major league appearance since he beat the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 23 last year. The Red Sox said nine days later that he had a treatable form of lymphoma.
“I can’t sit here and tell you there won’t be some emotion involved,” Red Sox manager Terry Francona said Sunday. “I think his folks are going to be there, which I’m sure for them will be extra special.”
Lester was 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 81 1-3 innings last year.
After undergoing treatment during the offseason, Lester rejoined the Red Sox during spring training and started the season on the disabled list. He was activated on June 11, but immediately was optioned to the minors.
He went 4-5 with a 3.61 ERA with Class A Greenville of the South-Atlantic League and Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League, winning three of his last four decisions. Lester was 4-5 with a 3.89 ERA in 14 starts with the PawSox and had a 2.08 ERA in three starts and Greenville.
Francona said the decision to recall Lester made sense from a baseball perspective and wasn’t influenced by emotion.
“We didn’t let it be, or he would have been here three months ago,” Francona said. “I wouldn’t apologize to be crazy about a kid like Lester – I’d be crazy not to. But I wouldn’t ever let that get in the way of making decisions.”
Francona said there will be no pitch counts or limitations on Lester, who allowed three runs and seven hits in seven innings against Ottawa on Wednesday.
Tavarez, 5-8 with a 5.27 ERA in 18 starts, will be switched to a reliever.
“He’s got a chance to really help our bullpen,” Francona said. “He’s a guy who can throw whenever you want.”
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