Jon Lester Expected to Return July 26 Against Kansas City Royals at Fenway, According to Manager Terry Francona

Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester is scheduled to return from the disabled list and start July 26 against Kansas City at home, manager Terry Francona told reporters Sunday in St. Petersburg.

The start would come exactly three weeks after Lester's last outing, which he left after four hitless innings with a lat strain. The injury put him on the disabled list the following day.

If the Red Sox stay in order until that day, Kyle Weiland would get two more starts.

Weiland essentially replaced Lester in the rotation when the southpaw went down with the injury. Weiland is scheduled to start at Baltimore on Tuesday and would be in line to go in the series opener against the Royals on July 25.