BOSTON -- Left-hander Jon Lester will return to the Major Leagues on Monday night when he starts for the Red Sox at Jacobs Field against the Indians.
It will mark Lester's first start for the Red Sox since Aug. 23, 2006, after which he was diagnosed with a treatable form of anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

Lester will replace Julian Tavarez, who has struggled of late, in the starting rotation. Tavarez is now in the bullpen and manager Terry Francona said the right-hander was available for duty during Sunday afternoon's game against the White Sox.

After undergoing six chemotherapy treatments, Lester was declared cancer-free in December. The Red Sox, respecting what he had gone through, brought Lester along slowly in Spring Training and let him pitch in the Minor Leagues for the first three and a half months of this season.

Lester's only setback during his comeback was in May, when he developed some cramping in his left forearm and was shut down for a couple of weeks.

He's made 17 starts in the Minor Leagues this season, 14 which have come at Triple-A Pawtucket. Lester is 4-5 with a 3.61 ERA over 84 and 2/3 innings. He's held opponents to a .247 average.

Last year, Lester was promoted to Boston in June and took a regular turn in the Boston rotation for more than two months, going 7-2 with a 4.76 ERA. For several years, he has been regarded as one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the Major Leagues.