"Having said he expects to pitch without any impediment from the left latissimus strain that caused him to go on the 15-day disabled list July 6, Red Sox lefthander Jon Lester is eager to return to the mound tonight to face the Royals at Fenway Park.

"I don't need [tonight's] start to put it to rest,'' Lester said Friday.

"We've tested it enough. I've had plenty of long toss, so it's definitely not something that's on my mind.''"