Lester Placed On Disabled List; Aceves Will Start Sunday

Update: Lester has been placed on the 15-day disabled list after an MRI confirmed that he has a strained lower latissimus muscle on his left side.

Terry Francona:

We were actually planning on possibly skipping him on Sunday anyway and having him come out of the chute last [after the All-Star break] just because of the load he will carry. This kind of makes this a no-brainer. I already talked to him today. He didn't put up much of a fight.

Scott Atchison is up from Pawtucket. Lester is eligible to return on Friday, July 22, when the Red Sox host the Mariners.

However, Aceves has not been officially announced as Sunday's starter. 

Peter Abraham, Globe:

Jon Lester has a strained lower left latissimus, a large muscle that runs beneath the shoulder. ...

Lester said he was not concerned and did not see the injury as a long-term issue. ... Lester said he wanted to go back to the mound in the fifth inning but head athletic trainer Mike Reinold ruled against it.

Lester: "It wasn't one pitch; it was just the whole [fourth] inning." Lester got the side in order. The first out was Corey Patterson's comebacker that Lester fumbled a bit before making a low throw to first. Jose Bautista flew out to deep center, and Adam Lind was caught looking on a 2-2 pitch. Lester was shrugging his left shoulder a few times, perhaps trying to get it loose.

Rob Bradford, WEEI:

Matt Albers, he of a previous lat injury, told Lester it was 5-6 days before he was throwing and didn't feel anything again after that

Alfredo Aceves will start in place of Lester on Sunday against the Orioles. If Lester goes on the disabled list, he could return and pitch on Friday, July 22.