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.

Mets' Offense Stands Out, but Defense Is Overlooked  —  For the last 11 games, the Mets have fielded every ground ball cleanly, caught every fly ball without incident and thrown every ball on target.  And yet over the same span, the most prominent story lines have centered on David Wright's slump …

Center of intrigue  —  Who is the team to beat in baseball's best race?  —  There are pennant races, and then there are pennant races.  —  The National League wild-card derby is an example of a close race that is existentially meaningless, like the debate over Pluto's loss of planetary status …

Notes: Girardi returns to Marlins  —  Hurricane's reduced threat allows manager to fly to St. Louis  —  ST. LOUIS — A night of watching on TV made Joe Girardi more anxious to rejoin his surging ballclub.  —  On Wednesday, Girardi got his chance, as the Marlins first-year manager rejoined his team in St. Louis.

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 …

Sox tickets?  Suddenly, they're not so hot  —  As team slides, demand cools and deals abound  —  Just a few weeks ago, it was a nearly impossible ticket to get — the Red Sox at home.  Now, tickets to Sox games are not only available, they can be had for face value or less.

Lynx headed for Pennsylvania in 2008  —  OTTAWA — Sports fans in the nation's capital just didn't seem to root, root, root for the home team enough, so Canada's last Triple-A baseball team is slated to head south of the border.  —  The International League has approved the majority sale …

Notes: Rotation having problems  —  Robinson concerned with starters not going deep into games  —  WASHINGTON — The Nationals' starting rotation has been struggling in a big way lately.  In their last 10 games, entering Wednesday's action, the starters were 1-7 with a 12.65 ERA (52 runs in 37 innings).

Tulowitzki gives glimpse of future … Troy Tulowitzki stood outside the Rockies' clubhouse at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, searching for a cellphone signal.  Through his eyes, it was easy to see the excitement over what the 21-year-old called the greatest day of his life.

JOSE RIJO  —  Jose Rijo's official title with the Nationals is special assistant to general manager Jim Bowden, but he's really a coach, scout, advisor and front-office executive rolled into one.  The gregarious native of the Dominican Republic won 116 games and was the MVP of the 1990 World Series …

BoSox close in on Wells trade; Padres likely buyer … The Red Sox moved steadily toward the completion of a trade of veteran left-hander David Wells, identifying Triple-A catcher George Kottaras as the player they want if they complete a deal with the Padres.