Lester tested for cancer  —  OAKLAND, Calif. - Not long after the Red Sox sent 22-year-old left-hander Jon Lester back to Boston to be evaluated by club medical officials, sources indicated that one of the club's most promising players is dealing with more than just a bad back.

Bird knows the feeling  —  On March 17, 1998, Indiana Pacers coach Larry Bird was in the midst of barking instructions to his players during a tight game against Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls when he suddenly felt his heart ``kick out.  ``It was all out of rhythm," Bird recalled.

Mound of troubles for Pavano  —  Carl Pavano was in New York yesterday, but he never set foot in Yankee Stadium, and never had to face his teammates.  And it may stay that way for a while.  —  Pavano yesterday was ordered back into Yankee oblivion — Tampa — after a complete medical procedure …

Mulder, Edmonds out for season?  —  Report: Cardinals could be without two key players  —  ST. LOUIS (Ticker) — The St. Louis Cardinals reportedly could be without lefthander Mark Mulder and center fielder Jim Edmonds for the rest of the season.  —  The web site of the St. Louis Post …

Liriano throws off mound, but Radke suffers setback  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano threw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since going on the disabled list Aug. 8 with a strained ligament in his pitching arm.  —  The news was not all good for Minnesota, though.

Soriano stable after line drive to head  —  SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mariners reliever Rafael Soriano remained in stable condition in an intensive care unit Wednesday morning after being hit in the head by a line drive Tuesday night.  —  Soriano sustained a concussion after being struck behind his right ear.

Atlas Slugged … There have been several indications that this just isn't Alex Rodriguez's year.  One came on June 30, the day after he hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th inning to beat the Atlanta Braves 4-3 and awoke to headlines that read "Okay, but Do It Again."

Padres discussing trade for Sox's Wells  —  Move for veteran lefty would come before Friday's deadline  —  PHOENIX — The Padres have had talks with the Red Sox about the possibility of bringing left-hander David Wells back to San Diego for the remainder of the season before playoff rosters …

Do-It-Yourself Game Post, Part Deux  —  This afternoon's ridiculous 10-9 loss to the Pirates probably has you feeling like that, doesn't it?  —  So YOU choose how you want this post to read.  —  This afternoon in Pittsburgh, took the field and against .  The final score was .

Oswalt, Astros agree to 5-year, $73 million extension  —  HOUSTON — Roy Oswalt got a $73 million birthday present from the Houston Astros.  —  The two-time 20-game winner agreed to a five-year, $73 million contract extension on his 29th birthday Tuesday, the biggest multiyear deal ever given to an Astros pitcher.

Dr. Strangeglove: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love Jose Reyes  —  I consider myself to sit on the fence of baseball and lean to the left.  I am a sabermetrician.  I look to reason, statistics, economics, and science to determine the best ballplayers at the best prices.

Reds ink Johnson to Minor League deal  —  Veteran right-hander pitched for Indians, Red Sox this year  —  LOS ANGELES — Doing what they can to bolster their playoff chances, the Reds made another addition to the pitching staff Wednesday when Jason Johnson was signed to a Minor League contract.

Mets talking to Rockies about Ardoin  —  The Mets, seeking to upgrade their backup catcher and add infield depth, are talking to the Rockies about acquiring catcher Danny Ardoin and infielder Luis Gonzalez for a minor-league pitcher, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Ardoin, 32, was designated for assignment by the Rockies last Friday.

Schilling reaches 3,000 career strikeouts  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — With a handful of ailing teammates back home in Boston and one in the hospital, Curt Schilling had a tough time celebrating his latest pitching feat.  —  The Boston ace became the 14th pitcher in major-league history …

Mulder considering season-ending surgery  —  Cardinals left-hander Mark Mulder is considering undergoing season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder, FOXSports.com has learned.  —  Mulder, 29, is expected to seek a second opinion before making his final decision.

A Scab By Any Other Name  —  The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) is often called — whether as praise or as caution — the most powerful trade union on earth.  There's no question about the powerful part: the MLBPA has, in less than four decades, taken baseball players …