Red Sox's Lester to make first start since cancer diagnoses

BOSTON -- Jon Lester is slated to return to the mound for the Boston Red Sox today, nearly a year after his rookie season was cut short when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Lester was scheduled to replace Julian Tavarez for today'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.

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 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 Class AAA 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.

-- AP