The Boston Red Sox sent Jon Lester down to the Portland Sea Dogs, and recalled lefty reliever Javier Lopez from Pawtucket. (See the Red Sox press release below).

Lester is expected to start for the Sea Dogs Monday at Hadlock Field against the Trenton Thunder. The reasong for Lester going to Portland instead of Pawtucket, reportedly is because Clay Buchholz is already set to pitch Monday for Pawtucket.

It sure does help the Sea Dogs in a key game.

The move gives Boston another lefthander out of the bullpen for the Chicago series, and it also is a step in setting the Red Sox playoff roster.

If Lopez is on the the major league roster on Aug. 31, he will be automatically eligible for the playoff roster.

Lester, who is not expected to be back with Boston until September, could still be named to the playoff roster, but he would have to replace someone on the disabled list.

However, as the No. 5 starter and an unlikely bullpen candidate, it seems Lester would not be needed on the playoff roster.

Here is the press release:

BOSTON, MA—The Red Sox today recalled lefthanded pitcher Javier Lopez from Triple-A Pawtucket of the International League.

To make room for Lopez, who will join the team for Thursday’s game in Chicago, lefthanded pitcher Jon Lester has been optioned to Double-A Portland of the Eastern League.

The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

Lopez is 2-1 with a 3.17 ERA in 17 appearances with Pawtucket this season. He has not allowed a run in his last seven outings with the PawSox, covering 3.1 innings. The lefthander will be making his third stint with the Red Sox this season and is 2-1 with a 2.87 ERA in 44 appearances.

Lopez opened the season with Boston and pitched 3.0 scoreless innings in four games before being optioned to Pawtucket on April 9. He was recalled by the Red Sox on May 11 and compiled a 3.18 ERA in 40 appearances before being sent to Pawtucket on August 5. Lopez did not allow a run in his final eight games with Boston, issuing just three hits and no walks in 5.1 total innings in that span.

Lopez is 9-5 with a 5.12 ERA in 242 career appearances with Colorado (2003-5), Arizona (2005), and Boston (2006-07).

Lester is 2-0 with a 5.67 ERA in six starts since being recalled from Pawtucket on July 23.

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