"Although Erik Bedard will not report to the Red Sox until today, manager Terry Francona said last night that the 32-year-old lefthander, who was acquired from the Mariners Sunday, will make his debut Thursday night against the Indians at Fenway Park.

The move pushes Jon Lester to Friday night's opener of a three-game series against the Yankees, with John Lackey going Saturday and Josh Beckett Sunday vs. the Yankees, who pulled within one game of the Red Sox in the American League East after Boston's 9-6 loss to the Indians last night.

"We don't have a day off until we leave to go to Seattle, so up to that point, we'll kind of stick with six starters,'' said Francona, who indicated Andrew Miller will be in the bullpen for Thursday's game as a backup to Bedard."