Lester 'On Track' But Sox Will Be Cautious
BOSTON (CBS) – Red Sox starter Jon Lester gave everyone a scare when he left the mound July 5 with a back injury.
Luckily the Red Sox ace is expected to be fine, and sees his trip to the DL as just a precaution.
"We're on track. It's just one of those deals where we're waiting," the Sox left-hander said from the All-Star festivities in Arizona.
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The 10-game winner said he is feeling better every day, and is expected to start throwing again when Boston opens a three-game series with the Rays in Tampa on Friday. He would be eligible to start on July 22 against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway, but the team will be cautious in getting him back and make sure he is 100-percent.
"It's one of those deals we're just trying to prepare for the rest of the season," said Lester. "We're not preparing to make a start next week; it's important but not as important as a start in September and October."
Along with Josh Beckett, Lester has anchored a Red Sox staff that has been bitten by the injury bug. He was the fourth starter to land on the DL this season, joining Daisuke Matsuzaka (Tommy John) and Clay Buchholz (Back) who are currently on the list. John Lackey also spent time on the DL with an elbow injury.
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Lester was named to his second All-Star team over the weekend despite the injury. It was obvious he would not play, but it was an honor the 27-year-old could not pass up.
"I chose to go because I don't know how many there will be," he said.
Lester pitched a perfect sixth inning in the 2010 All-Star game in Anaheim. He got future teammate Adrian Gonzalez to ground out to second to end the inning.
