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Lester progress

We'll start with some good news for everyone who is a fan of Jon Lester -- which should be pretty much everyone.

Manager Terry Francona announced today that Lester will make one more start in Greenville (on Friday), where he's been since spring training ended. He'll follow that up by coming to Boston on Sunday. Lester will throw a side on Sunday, then he'll sit down with Francona and others in the organization to discuss his situation.

Next up for him after that?

He'll start in Rochester on April 25, a Wednesday. So, clearly, progress is being made. Essentially the organization wants to get him to a point where he's not coming back from the cancer and the chemo. They want him to be back -- not on a pitch count, just letting the game determine his outings. He gets about 85 pitches in his next start.

We'll have more later from Francona, plus I talked to Coco Crisp about batting second, which will be posted soon. (So many people asked about him in my chat today that I thought I'd bring it to you straight from the source.)

And, with that, the lineups...

Red Sox

1. Julio Lugo, SS
2. Kevin Youkilis, 1B
3. David Ortiz, DH
4. Manny Ramirez, LF
5. J.D. Drew, RF
6. Mike Lowell, 3B
7. Coco Crisp, CF
8. Doug Mirabelli, C
9. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

SP - Tim Wakefield

Blue Jays

1. Alex Rios, RF
2. Matt Stairs, LF
3. Vernon Wells, CF
4. Frank Thomas, DH
5. Lyle Overbay, 1B
6. Aaron Hill, 2B
7. Jason Phillips, C
8. Royce Clayton, SS
9. John McDonald, 3B

SP - Tomo Ohka